AMERICAN IDOL Alum Adam Lambert Joins GLEE's Fifth Season!

Ryan Murphy Tweeted the news today that American Idol alum Adam Lambert will be joining the cast of Glee for the series fifth season on FOX. No word yet on whether his role will be as a series regular, in a recurring capacity, or as a guest star.

In joining GLEE, Lambert follows in American Idol winner Jessica Sanchez's footsteps. Sanchez played a recurring role last season as a singer for a rival school group.

FOX's Glee will also feature four new recurring characters this season, including at least three new female recurring characters: "African-American McKinley newbie Ruby, and twentysomethings Julie and Ryan." The fourth character is reportedly a male named Henry, but there are no details about him at this time.

Recently it was reported that Matthew Morrison, Chord Overstreet, Darren Criss, Lea Michele and Jenna Ushkowitz will all appear as series regulars while Jayma Mays and Dot Marie Jones are expected to make cameo appearances during the season.

The show's Melissa Benoist (Marley), Jacob Artist (Jake), Becca Tobin (Kitty), Blake Jenner (Ryder) and Alex Newell (Unique) have been promoted to series regulars, while series staples Heather Morris, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, and Harry Shum, Jr. will not return as regulars for the fifth season. Dianna Agron will also depart the series, except for an occasional guest appearance.

A finalist on the eighth season of the immensely popular American Idol, Lambert's 2009 album For Your Entertainment debuted at #3 on the Billboard Top 200,Top 10 in numerous countries worldwide and featured the singles"For Your Entertainment," "Whataya Want from Me" and "If I Had You." The album has gone on to sell more than two million copies and nearly five million singles worldwide.

Soon after the album release, Lambert headlined a worldwide concert tour, Glam Nation, becoming the first American Idol contestant to immediately tour worldwidE. Lambert's 2012 album Trespassing bettered his first album by debuting at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart - making Lambert the first openly gay artist with an album at the top of the charts.

Lambert has appeared onstage in BROADWAY BARES 23 and in the 1st National Tour of Wicked.

FOX premieres GLEE's fifth season on Thursday, September 19.