LS ‘“My Life Has Changed”: Adam Lambert Shares the Touching Reason His Mother Cried When He Got the Call to Perform Queen’s Hits on Three Continents’
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
For Adam Lambert, the call to perform with Queen was more than a career-defining moment — it was a deeply personal milestone that reached back to his childhood and the unwavering love of his mother, Leila.
In a moving recent interview, the American Idol alum and global rock star revealed that when he first received the call to tour with Queen — performing songs made legendary by Freddie Mercury — his mother’s emotional reaction became one of the most meaningful moments of his life.
“My life has changed,” Lambert said softly. “But when I told my mom, she cried. Not because I was joining Queen — but because she knew what it meant for me to finally be seen, accepted, and doing what I love without fear.”
“She Was the First to Believe in Me”
Before the fame, the world tours, or the spotlight, there was Leila — the mother who never stopped cheering from the audience.
“She’s been my biggest supporter from day one,” Lambert recalled. “When I was 10, I’d be singing along to Freddie Mercury in my room, and she’d walk in and say, ‘That’s your voice, baby. Don’t hide it.’”
Those early words of encouragement shaped his courage to be authentic — onstage and off. “When you grow up different, even in small ways, you sometimes wonder if there’s a place for you,” he reflected. “But my mom always made me feel like I was already enough.”
“When I Said ‘Queen Called Me,’ She Just Started Crying”
In 2011, Lambert’s life took a remarkable turn when Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor reached out after his American Idol finale performance of We Are the Champions.
“I told her, ‘Mom, you won’t believe this — Queen wants me to sing with them,’” Lambert said. “She froze, and then she just started crying.”
Her reaction, he explained, wasn’t about fame — it was about recognition and validation. “She saw the whole journey — every struggle, every doubt,” he said. “For her, that call meant, ‘He found his place.’”
A Dream That Toured the World
What began as a single collaboration grew into an extraordinary partnership. Since 2014, Queen + Adam Lambert have performed on three continents — from sold-out arenas in North America and Europe to massive festivals in Asia.
Leila has attended several shows, often moved to tears as she watches her son take the stage to sing songs he once performed in his bedroom. “The first time she saw me sing Who Wants to Live Forever, she was crying in the front row,” Lambert said. “Afterward, she told me, ‘You’re honoring Freddie — and you’re still being you.’”
The Mother Who Keeps Him Grounded
Despite Lambert’s international fame, his mother has kept him grounded in the values she instilled long before stardom.
“After a big show, she’ll hug me and say, ‘You did great — now rest and eat something green,’” he laughed. “She’s still my mom. She doesn’t care how big the crowd was.”
That humility, he said, has helped him navigate the chaos of fame with perspective. “She always told me that music should connect people — not feed your ego. And with Queen, that’s what happens every night.”
“She Feels Freddie’s Spirit Too”
Lambert has always been clear that his role in Queen isn’t to replace Freddie Mercury but to honor his legacy while bringing his own artistry to the stage.
“I think that’s why my mom gets emotional,” he shared. “She grew up listening to Queen. She remembers Freddie. To see her son up there with Brian and Roger — it’s surreal for both of us.”
In one particularly touching moment, Leila told him she could “feel Freddie’s spirit” during a show. “She said, ‘He’s proud of you, Adam,’” Lambert recalled. “That meant everything.”
Tears of Gratitude
When asked what made his mother cry the day he got the call, Lambert paused before answering.
“They weren’t tears of shock,” he said. “They were tears of gratitude — for every year she watched me chase a dream that felt impossible. For every no that led to this yes.”
From a childhood spent singing Queen songs in his room to performing them across the globe, Adam Lambert’s story is one of perseverance, passion, and the enduring bond between a mother and her son.
“She’s seen the whole journey,” Lambert said. “And now she gets to see me living it. That’s the real dream come true.”
