In discussing his 2009 coming out on the cover of Rolling Stone, singer Adam Lambert said that he wishes he had had more guidance.

Lambert ignored speculation about his sexuality as he competed on American Idol.

Soon after the reality contest came to a close, Lambert, who came in second place, officially came out in a Rolling Stone cover story.

In praising singer Sam Smith's coming out, Lambert suggested that his own coming out wasn't as smooth. “I'm so happy for him, and I'm happy his sexuality wasn't a big thorn in his side,” he told UK LGBT glossy Attitude.

In an OUT cover story, Lambert expanded on his remarks.

“It was just the way things went down,” Lambert said. “At that time, how many mainstream music artists did we have that were out? Elton John and George Michael – and his whole coming out was tabloid fun. There hadn't been a blueprint to follow. That was the one thing I wished I'd had: a little more guidance. There were definitely moments of frustration and pressure, but there's been a lot of goodwill as well, a lot of support from fans and media people, and it's balanced out. I don't have any sort of bitterness about it.”

British singer George Michael was forced to come out after a 1998 arrest for lewd conduct in a Los Angeles men's room.