Adam Lambert needs to amp up his androgyny on "American Idol"

The top 11 American Idol finalists perform tonight, and it's "Grand Old Opry" week, which makes you wonder what classic country tune will gay-fave Adam Lambert pick? For instance, does he really go for it and sing Tammy Wynette's "Stand by Your Man," or does he chicken out with something staid and manly, say from Johnny Cash?

That central issue — how much gender-bending is Adam Lambert going to do and will the voting audience punish him for it — actually applies to every performance night on AI. At least as long as he is on the show.

And then I'll probably stop watching because he's just about the only interesting thing on Idol these days.

GLAAD's website is describing Lambert as "openly gay." We can't find any specific quote from Lambert himself to confirm that, but it would be fair to call him openly androgynous at least.

Idol viewers may have first got an inkling that Lambert was something special when he sang Cher's "Believe" for his final performance during the Hollywood round.  That was pretty ballsy (though personally, I thought it was terrible.)

And then came all those pictures floating on the web of Lambert at Burning Man in glam rocker drag and macking on a male friend.  (Actually pretty hot.) Or that video of him performing a complicated dance routine to "Kiss and Tell." Say what you will, the man really knows how to work a pair of purple rubber tights and platform boots.

So far, the Idol voting audience seems to be behind the singer, and hasn't held all those drag photos against him. In fact, the popular Idol voting prediction site dialidol.com listed him as the second highest vote-getter last week (just after Danny Gokey).

His popularity is encouraging, and it might just embolden the singer to let his androgynous glam rocker freak flag fly even further.  To me, it seems like his most endearing quality.

A lot has been made of his singing talent, but while he may have perfect pitch and 8 octave range, I find the actual tone of his voice kind of screeching and unpleasant. To me he sounds like the lead singer for a gay AC/DC cover band.

Curious what AfterElton readers think of Lambert. Do like him, or are you rooting for one of the other contestants? After the break, we ask you to vote on your favorite!