Lambert also shares his tips for dealing with jet lag, how to pack like a “tornado,” and more.
Performing to packed stadiums and singing some of rock’s most iconic hits with legendary band Queen has allowed Adam Lambert to travel the world. And while his recent turn as the mysterious emcee in Broadway’s Cabaret has him temporarily settled in New York, he’s still exploring new territory.
Lambert first worked with Queen when he competed on the eighth season of American Idol (where he finished as runner-up). It was there that iconic members of the band, Brian May and Roger Taylor, were struck by his incredible voice—and the rest is history. Lambert first performed as a guest vocalist for Queen before officially becoming the headliner for the “Queen + Adam Lambert Tour” in 2012, and even performed with them at the 91st Academy Awards in 2019.
Fast forward to 2024, and Lambert is making his Broadway debut in the fall, but he’s no stranger to theater. He was a cruise ship actor and also toured the country with Wicked.
“Returning to this beautiful, nostalgic place of my youth has, to be honest, been refreshing and refreshing,” Lambert told Travel & Leisure recently. “Also, playing a character, there’s the freedom to play someone else. One of the things that attracted me to being an artist in the music industry was the freedom to be myself. Now, I’m back to that freedom and immersing myself in the character.”
This sense of liberation is something Lambert experiences on his travels, too. The 42-year-old singer, who has four solo albums to his name, told T+L that he loves performing in Europe, especially Amsterdam, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. While he particularly enjoys the progressive culture of Amsterdam and Norway, when it comes to the audience, he recommends Bologna, Italy.
“I mean, it was like there was a whole choir in the audience, and they were all singing along. It was the same in Seoul, South Korea,” he said. “It was like there was music in the background! It was awesome!”
“I don’t like to make big plans because I change my mind impulsively,” he said. “I like to play it by ear and see how I feel. I’ll do some research because I like to have options.”
When should I pack? He needs options, too.
“Have you noticed this trend?” he jokes. “I’m like a tornado. I tend to overpack because I’ll be in my closet and overprepare. I tend to overpack and then I can’t wear the clothes I want to bring.”
Between his solo tours and those with Queen, Lambert has traveled to many continents, including Australia and Asia, but he says Egypt and the Amalfi Coast are still on his list. His favorite hotels include the Waldorf Astoria in Amsterdam and the Corinthia in London. He says Ammanzoe, the Aman resort in Porto Heli, Greece, is also incredible.
He won’t be traveling this holiday season, as he’ll be performing for an audience in Cabaret at the August Wilson Theater. “I’m working on my holiday, but this show is so important and it means so much to be on stage and tell this story.”
Andy
Adam Lambert’s career trajectory is so inspiring! From being the runner-up of “American Idol” to touring the world with Queen, to taking the lead in Broadway, he has proved with his strength that talent will never be buried.
Lucas
Overpacking and not being able to wear – isn’t this a common problem for every traveler? (Laughs) I didn’t expect that superstars have the same troubles as us, and I instantly felt down-to-earth!
Charles
The Italian audience brought their own choir, and the fans in Seoul sang along throughout the whole process… The cultural differences in performances mentioned by Lambert are so interesting. It turns out that music is the real world language!
Jack
I would rather perform “Cabaret” on Broadway than rest during the holidays – this love of performance is simply engraved in my DNA! Looking forward to his new travel notes on Egypt and the Amalfi Coast~