He may not think so, but Kris Allen will forever be linked to Adam Lambert.

Allen won Season 8 of American Idol on May 20, 2009. Lambert was the runnerup. That result came as a shock to most viewers of the show and Allen himself.

They did the Idol Tour together through the summer and into the fall, crossed paths on a Good Morning

America concert with David Cook and then parted ways.

Now, a year later, Allen’s role as the reigning Idol champ over, does he feel like he is finally emerging out from under Lambert’s shadow?

“I would hope because we are so different,” Allen told Idol Chatter last week from Mobile, Ala. where is was making a tour stop. “He’s (Lambert) such a different artist than I am. We are completely different personalities. I am not one of those guys who needs to draw a lot of attention and I am totally OK with that.

“He is one of those guys. Just being who he is he draws a lot of attention to himself. And it works for him. And the thing that I do works for me. I definitely don’t feel like I am under any kind of shadow though, not at all.”

Well, both of their shadows will be cast in the Bay Area this summer. Allen will be part of Summerthing! which is a free concert featuring Allen, Lifehouse and One eskimO from noon-4 p.m. June 27 at Speedway Meadow in SF’s Golden Gate Park.

Lambert is in the midst of his own tour and will make a stop at the Warfield in SF on July 25.