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Adam Lambert comes out

Posted: 10:42 AM ET

So it's official: After several months of playing coy -- or, at least, letting people believe what they wanted -- Adam Lambert has told Rolling Stone that yes, he's gay.

And what's the big deal?

"I don't think it should be a surprise for anyone to hear that I'm gay," Lambert told the magazine in this week's cover story, just out.

It may not be a surprise, but it was the topic of water-cooler conversation throughout "Idol's" 2009 edition. The New York Times wrote a story wondering if an openly gay person could win "American Idol." Entertainment Weekly put Lambert on the cover and featured a Mark Harris story about how the contestant had shaken up the show.

There's no question he did. Like him or not, Lambert's guyliner and often dramatic (some would say screeching) interpretations of songs including Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" and *%@#! for Fears' "Mad World" earned him more chatter than any other "Idol" contestant, including eventual winner Kris Allen.

"Love him or hate him, Lambert has added an element to the competition that has been woefully lacking in seasons past: a contestant so unique that you can't wait to see what he will pull next out of his bag of tricks," wrote CNN.com's "Idol" blogger Lisa Respers France, earning another avalanche of pro- and anti-Lambert commentary.

For his own part, Lambert would rather just sing, thank you very much.

"I'm trying to be a singer, not a civil rights leader," he told Rolling Stone.

And he'll have plenty of opportunity now. As expected, Lambert just signed a record deal with the "Idol"-connected 19 Entertainment and RCA Records. His debut album is expected in the fall.

- Todd Leopold, CNN.com Entertainment Producer