Winning a reality television talent competition comes with perks. Beyond being the titleholder and having your name attached to show’s legacy, winning American Idol means the opportunity to have a jump start with a binding recording contract. Your path is determined for you, and you hope you can capture the success individuals like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood found. But for some “losers,” not winning was actually a blessing in disguise.

As the runner-up of Season 8, Adam Lambert’s defeat shocked many Idol fans, but he’s fully aware that not winning gave him the opportunity to start a career that is one of the strongest in the show’s history. Thanks to the finale collaboration with Queen, he ultimately became their frontman, touring around the world with one of the greatest bands in history. He was able to put out five solo albums on his terms. He’s appeared as a judge, coach, or mentor on countless competition shows. He’s acted on film and TV. He finally fulfilled his destiny of appearing on Broadway this past year. But it’s very likely this path would not have been possible if he were the winner of American Idol.

How Did Adam Lambert Lose Again?

While I’m likely not the only one who still loses sleep as to how Adam Lambert lost American Idol, the reality is his loss stung. No shade to Kris Allen, but Adam Lambert was leaps and bounds the best vocalist and strongest overall during Season 8. Maybe it was Vote for the Worst’s crusade to get a White Guy With Guitar a victory. Maybe it was a less progressive mindset at the time, not willing to allow the series’ first loud and proud, openly gay contestant to become victorious. Had anyone graced the cover of Rolling Stone while fresh from the American Idol experience? Adam Lambert was the first of many things, but he certainly was not the first person to lose who should have won.

From the very first audition to that finale performance, if you examine Adam Lambert’s body of work on American Idol, many of his performances have gone down in history. His rendition of “Ring of Fire” may have scared Simon Cowell, but his haunting rendition set the tone of how he could reimagine a song into his own universe. His version of “Mad World” became the moment he earned official front-runner status. Never did he falter. All Adam Lambert did was define himself as the artist he aspired to be. Through his time with Queen and his solo work, everything that Adam Lambert did on Idol was projected straight into his career. Rarely, if ever, has another American Idol hopeful ever predicted their future while performing in the present.

Adam Lambert Forged His Own Path

He and Season 8 winner Kris Allen couldn’t be more different, so it may be harder to compare the what-ifs. Looking at Kris Allen’s trajectory post-show, there was little hope he could have a long-lasting career. The world was his oyster, and he didn’t take advantage of it. There wasn’t a large enough launch pad for Kris Allen to be the artist he aspired to be. There were many folk art guitarists that he had to compete with. Adam Lambert was unique in the world of mainstream pop music. There were certainly other queer singers occupying a similar space at the time, like Mika and Scissor Sisters, but his ability to become a new generation David Bowie or Elton John gave Adam Lambert a boost. His artistry, as a singer, and through his fashion, made him stand out. His Glambert fanbase rallied around him in a manner other Idol hopefuls rarely had.

Adam Lambert took the reins of his destiny. He faced immense scrutiny and setbacks after his first big award show performance with the infamous kiss, but he fought for himself and never gave up. He is proud of who he is. It’s why he’s still going strong in the entertainment industry. Once the dust settled, Adam Lambert’s debut album landed at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Whataya Want From Me” became a bona fide hit. Five international tours with Queen, plus a residency in Las Vegas, breathed new life into the group, allowing a new generation of fans to appreciate the band while never trying to disregard Freddie Mercury‘s legacy. He’s returned to American Idol as a mentor multiple times, including one whole season after he competed. He appeared on Glee and the FOX remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He’s been a main judge on international iterations of talent competitions, including the Australian versions of The Voice and The X Factor. After appearing in the ensemble of the LA sit-down of Wicked prior to Idol, he finally made his triumphant Broadway debut in Cabaret. I’m not saying none of this could have happened had he won, but the fire and passion of not winning certainly ignited something inside everyone who has believed in him.

For those Idol hopefuls eager to win Season 23, perhaps looking back at Adam Lambert’s journey can ease the stress of thinking winning means everything. It doesn’t. While the version of American Idol is quite different from what it was in 2009, the potential that the platform can offer is still the same. If there’s anything to learn about Adam Lambert’s career, it’s remaining true to who you are. Take those moments when you’re challenged to go outside your comfort zone as an opportunity to paint with other colors in your collection.