Adam Lambert opens up about mental health ‘dark period’ in emotional letter to fans
Adam Lambert has spoken about struggling with his mental health (Rachel Murray/Getty Images for GLAAD)
Adam Lambert has opened up about being “lonely and depressed” in a letter to fans.
The singer, who won American Idol in 2009 and tours with the surviving members of the band Queen, spoke about his mental health as he announced his first solo album in four years.
Adam Lambert: I pulled myself out of the darkness
In a letter to fans on Thursday (February 21), Lambert wrote about his mental health: “I love making and performing music, but there have been many times where I’ve had to compromise on my artistic vision, with executives making decisions based on money and not art.
“Don’t get me wrong—I’m VERY proud of my body of work. But I’m coming out of a dark period of second-guessing my own artistry and having my mental health suffer because of it.”
“My self worth was suffering, I was lonely, and becoming depressed.”
—Adam Lambert
He added: “I started asking myself, ‘Is all this hustle really worth it?’
“I put all my focus on work and started to feel detached in my personal life. My self worth was suffering, I was lonely, and becoming depressed.”
Lambert added that he pulled himself “out of the darkness… with a bit of professional help, and the support of colleagues, friends and family.”
Singer Adam Lambert wrote: “My self worth was suffering, I was lonely, and becoming depressed.” (Noam Galai/Getty)
The singer added that he has dropped his management and signed to a different record label for his upcoming album, ditching Warner Bros. Records for independent label EMPIRE.
Lambert has previously alleged that music executives had raised commercial objections to his genderfluid public image.
Adam Lambert single ‘Feel Something’ references mental health battles
Ahead of the release of the album, Lambert released track “Feel Something,” which references his mental health battles.
He explained: “This was written about me climbing out of the low period, defying my disillusionment, owning my needs, and opening my heart.
“The life of a bachelor can be a laugh, with plenty of flings, but after a while it starts to feel empty. Between frustrations with my career and many lost connections, I felt numb—and though I wanted to fall in love, I knew I wasn’t ready.
“That’s what inspired me to cry out, ‘I don’t need to feel love, I just want to feel something!’ It was in this realisation that I took my first step toward self-care and nursing my spirit back to health.
“This song is the emotional starting point of my new album.”
Lambert performed a well-received Cher tribute in December at the Kennedy Center Honours.
During the television special, Adam Lambert performed an acoustic rendition of Cher’s hit “Believe.”
Cher, who was seen sobbing in the audience during the performance, said she was “overwhelmed” by Lambert’s emotional tribute.
She later tweeted: “Tried 2 write Feelings About Adam Lambert Singing Believe In Words,but Cant seem 2.
“When Your senses are Overwhelmed All Can you feel with your ❤️.”
Lambert added: “It was a total honor @Cher!!!! You’re a goddess!”
