American Idol reunion! Adam Lambert dropped by The Jennifer Hudson Show on Wednesday (Oct 19) to promote his upcoming “The Witch Hunt” tour and his new song, a cover of Noel Coward’s “Mad About the Boy.”
Adam, who finished in second place on season 8, and 7th place finisher Jennifer Hudson on season 3, reminisced about their time on the show. They also performed a beautiful duet of the opera classic, “Nessun Dorma” alongside a very special guest, former American Idol music director, Michael Orland.
After showing a couple of old photos, including Jennifer with her fellow American Idol alums season 3 winner Fantasia and LaToya London backstage on the American Idol Live! tour in 2004, the host introduced Adam. Jennifer gushed that she “just loves” and is “obsessed” with him. “I think you are so amazing,” she says. Adam replied, “I feel the same way about you!”, adding “I could not wait to come on here and talk.”
“Neither one of us won American Idol, and look at us now!”
The two shared their American Idol audition songs. Adam, famously sang Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” That, after “confusing” the judges with a rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Rock with You.” Jennifer covered Aretha Franklin’s “Share Your Love With Me.”
Jennifer observed, “Neither one of us won American Idol, and look at us now!” Adam responded, “We’re doing alright!”
For both, their audition songs forecasted future success. Adam is now the Queen frontman, while Jennifer was Aretha’s personal pick to star in her biopic.
Former American Idol music director Michael Orland accompanies Jennifer and Adam for a performance of Nessun Dorma
Adam shared the story of how he came to perform the opera classic “Nessun Dorma” in Italy with Queen.
He took opera classes in high school, just to train his voice, and didn’t think much of it afterward. But when Queen travelled to Italy on tour, Adam sang a bit of the song during rehearsal. Guitarist Brian May began to play along. And the band decided “Let’s just do it tonight!”
As fellow American Idol alum and host Jennifer Hudson has also performed the song, the two joined forces on a duet of the classic song. An extra special treat: Former American Idol music director Michael Orland accompanied them on piano!
Jennifer explained that Michael, “taught us a lot of the music and the songs we got to sing,” adding “We shared a lot of the same experiences.”
“I should have warmed up!” said Adam. But he was terrific, despite singing the song in Jennifer’s key. She sang the highest parts. Still, Jennifer remarked, ‘The range on this man is insane!” adding, “The way you got up there, only you could do something like that.” She joked about the high key, “I’m sorry, but this show is for me, baby.”
Jennifer noted the three of them together: “This is the behind the scenes of what we would do…what we would go through–how they would train us and teach us songs to prepare to sing on the show for y’all.”
Adam will embark on his west coast “The Witch Hunt” tour,” including a four day residency at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas, beginning on October 19 at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, California. The run ends October 30 at the Palladium in Los Angeles. Get tickets HERE.
