Adam Lambert in His Own Words: Sexuality, Kris Allen and Life After Idol

Rolling Stone's story "Wild Idol: The Psychedelic Transformation and Sexual Liberation of Adam Lambert" is on newsstands now. Check out our Lambert Hub for photos, video and more.

It was the conversation he could only have with us.

"Right after the finale, I almost started talking about it to the reporters, but I thought, 'I'm going to wait for Rolling Stone, that will be cooler,' " Lambert said. His patience paid off with a cover story in our latest issue (check out exclusive video of his cover shoot), and here, in his own words, more from Vanessa Grigoriadis' conversation with Lambert — his true thoughts on his Idol experience, his future in music and why he refuses to hide his sexuality.

On why he auditioned for American Idol:
I looked at the music business, and realized it is nearly impossible to make it with the way it is right now. No one is going to take a chance with an artist who is somewhat out there. The only way you have a chance being looked at by a label right now is if you are what everyone else is. So I realized that I wouldn't be taken seriously as a recording artist unless I had a huge platform. I saw that and I knew that Idol was the only thing that would do it — if it worked.

On Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta:
[Kris Allen] has a good heart and a good spirit. He's so mellow, he's so kick-back. He and I have a lot of love with Allison Iraheta: It felt like this kind of sibling thing. Just good energy, the three of us together. Kris and I both got very protective of her. We encouraged her to pick up the guitar and take risks musically. It always felt very positive ... good karma, you know? Kris doesn't need any advice, clearly. Even though he's really kick-back, he's got a very strong sense of self in a non-aggressive, non-intense way. It's cool.