The newest cast member joining the Fox series Glee, will be singer-songwriter Adam Lambert.
The 2009 American Idol runner up will act and perform alongside Jane Lynch, Lea Michele, Darren Chris and the other Glee greats in the fifth season of the musical sitcom, according to NY Daily News.
The announcement came Thursday night, with a tweet from Glee creator Ryan Murphy, saying, "I am thrilled to announce that the super-talented Adam Lambert is joining the cast."
No specificities were provided about the type or duration of the role Lambert will be playing on the show, or where his character will be set. He may be a guest, like previous American Idol alum Jessica Sanchez in season four of Glee as rival diva singer Frida Romero, or could have a more stable and permanent role on the show. Given the divided settings of McKinley High School and New York City, either setting is also plausible for a character that the bold performer will be playing, according to Access Hollywood.
Prior to Murphy’s tweet, Lambert, a big fan of the show, said it was "so cute" and painted, "a picture of what it's like to be an arts kid in high school ... 'Glee' is really irresistible — it's charming," according to MTV News.
This will be Lambert’s second major network TV role, the first being his recent appearance on the ABC Family series Pretty Little Liars. Known for his flashy musical performances, the 31-year-old should fit right in on Glee.
The show’s ratings have dropped pretty drastically since its spectacular first seasons. Down to 6 million viewers from its original 11 million, Glee will see if Lambert’s new role will boost those numbers back up.
The fifth season is scheduled to air September 19th and will continue to a have 9 PM prime-time spot on the Fox network.