Adam Lambert Delivers Powerful ‘I Don’t Care Much’ Performance on The Tonight Show

Adam Lambert Brings Broadway to Late Night with a Haunting Cabaret Moment

In September 2024, Adam Lambert took on one of Broadway’s most iconic roles — the Emcee in the latest revival of Cabaret. Known for his powerhouse vocals and theatrical flair, the Queen frontman and American Idol alum made his stage debut in a role that blends darkness, charm, and emotional complexity.

On February 10, Lambert brought that same energy to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, delivering a mesmerizing performance of “I Don’t Care Much.” With the stage drenched in green light and a live band behind him, he channeled the smoky, melancholic atmosphere of Berlin’s Kit Kat Club, capturing the raw vulnerability at the heart of the song.

Originally released as a single in December, “I Don’t Care Much” also received a moody music video filmed at the actual Kit Kat Club set. On Fallon’s stage, Lambert offered more than a musical number — he gave a glimpse into the world of Cabaret, one note at a time.

Talking with The New York Times in December, Lambert described “I Don’t Care Much” as a “real emotional moment of struggle with indifference” for his character, adding that the Cabaret team “were so kind to raise the key to make it more of a torch song for me.”

When Adam Lambert stopped by TODAY in November, Al Roker asked what inspired him to take on the role of the Emcee in Cabaret. Lambert smiled and said the character had always intrigued him.

“It’s been on my shortlist of dream roles,” he said. “He’s just so weird, wild, and wonderful — I couldn’t resist.”

He described the Emcee as more than just a performer: “He’s kind of an abstract figure — a narrator of sorts. He welcomes the audience in and leads them through a story that surprises a lot of people. It’s not what most expect going in.”

Lambert stepped into the role following Eddie Redmayne, who received a Tony nomination for his own chilling and unforgettable take on the character.