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Adam Lambert: A Gay 'Idol' Hits No. 1
www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1095859/adam-lambert-a-gay-idol-hits-no-1 … via @billboardbiz
For the first time, one "American Idol" replaces another at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 as Adam Lambert's "Trespassing" debuts atop the list with 77,000 sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. His arrival bumps last week's leader, Carrie Underwood's "Blown Away," to No. 3 (54,000; down 55%). Lambert finished in second place on the 2009 season of "Idol" while Underwood won the 2005 edition.
It's Lambert's first No. 1 album and his second major-label studio set. It follows 2009's "For Your Entertainment," which debuted and peaked at No. 3 with 198,000 sold in its first week. It was blocked from No. 1 by Susan Boyle's "I Dreamed a Dream" (a debut at No. 1 with 701,000) and Andrea Bocelli's "My Christmas" at No. 2 (218,000).
And now, for the bad news. The 77,000 start for "Trespassing" is the smallest sum at No. 1 on the chart since Aug. 20, 2011, when Adele's "21" sold 76,000 in its 12th nonconsecutive week atop the list. Trespassing has the smallest sales week for a No. 1 debut since Amos Lee's "Mission Bell" started in the penthouse with 40,000 on the Feb. 12, 2011, chart.
More fun "Idol" facts: Lambert is the seventh "American Idol" finalist to reach No. 1, following Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Chris Daughtry (of Daughtry) and Scotty McCreery.
Further, as an American Idol rules the chart for the third straight week, it's the longest that the show's spawn has monopolized the No. 1 slot. There have been two-week runs atop the list, but from a single album-like Underwood's "Blown Away" in the past two weeks.
gay pride: Adam Lambert also brings gay pride to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 this week, as he arguably becomes the first out gay man to have a No. 1 album.
Lambert came out in a cover story in Rolling Stone magazine in June 2009 - shortly after he finished in second place on "American Idol." His family and friends knew beforehand, but "Idol" audiences were in the dark about his sexuality.
Now, here's where Lambert's achievement requires a few caveats.
First, while other gay singers have been No. 1, they've done so before they came out to the public. That's a key achievement in Lambert's feat on the Billboard 200.
For example, Lambert's fellow "American Idol" alum, Clay Aiken, debuted at No. 1 in 2003 with his first album (and so far only No. 1), "Measure of a Man." However, he didn't come out until five years later, in People magazine.
