Adam Lambert Wows on 'IDOL', Earns Standing Ovation from Simon

Adam Lambert closed down AMERICAN IDOL tonight by singing a stunning rendition of "Mad World" by Tears for Fears, and his performance was a home run. The theme for tonight was "songs from the year the contestants were born", Lambert remarked that he was a 1982 baby and that "he loved playing dress-up, being a performer, gettting attention".

Adam sang the song by sitting in a chair with a hand held mike, pulling back when needed, making it a tender, stripped down performance. The audience reacted with a wild and emotional response to his vunerable vocals, but most surprising was Simon's actions after Lambert was done singing. The iconic Cowell simply stood up and said "words are unnecessary, but I want to give you a standing ovation."

The program ran out of time just at that moment so Simon was the only judge who had a chance to say anything; but his actions said all that was needed.

The New York Post announced earlier this week that Adam Lambert is the odds-on favorite to be the next "American Idol."

Oddsmakers from Latin American to London for the first time this week have made the show-stopping crooner such a prohibitive favorite to win this year's "Idol" that a $1 bet on him will pay only 80 cents reports the Post. To read the Post take on Lambert's chances, click here.

On last Wednesday's results show, Lambert was once again voted through, making him a member of the show's Top 8.

In addition to performing in WICKED, Adam Lambert also had a role in The Ten Commandments and appeared in The Zodiac Show.

AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America.

For more information visit, www.americanidol.com.

Photo Credit: Sarah DeBoer/Retna Ltd.

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