Singer Just Sam, who rose to fame after winning “American Idol” in 2020, is back busking in NYC’s subways.
The 24-year-old, who won ABC’s Season 18 of the hit competition, said they were “super embarrassed” to let fans know that they’ve resumed singing in public following the most important win.
Sam, whose real name is Samantha Diaz, shared several clips of singing Ariana Grande’s “Almost Is Never Enough” in a subway station on Instagram.
“Back in 2021, I used to be super embarrassed to be going back to the trains. I didn’t want people to know that I legit needed the cash & I didn’t want people to know that it wasn’t optional,” Diaz, who uses they/them pronouns, wrote in a since-deleted caption, in keeping with The Sun.
“I used to be disenchanted in myself for allowing myself to fall so low after winning ‘Idol,’ but then I needed to take it easy on me and do not forget that I began my journey with ‘Idol’ at 20 years old. Not even knowing anything about Hollywood or the music industry,” the singer said.
“Since then, I actually have learned a lot and I’ve been capable of take my experiences and share them with other artists in hopes that they don’t experience the identical things that I did in terms of making it on this life,” they added.
The Harlem-born singer won the primary distant finale in “Idol” history — the long-running contest left the stage in 2020 to the pandemic.
After emerging victorious on the show just three years ago, Sam pocketed the coveted $250,000 prize in addition to a recording contract from Hollywood Records.
But in 2022, the singer abruptly left the label and not using a single album release under their belt.
“I’m making music,” Sam said on social media on the time. “I just cannot afford to release music, because mixing and mastering music costs numerous money. And I invested in myself and ended up broke. That’s the reality.”
“It’s just hard because I’m coming out of pocket and I actually have bills to pay. And American Idol just isn’t going to pay my bills. Lionel Richie’s not going to pay my bills. Katy Perry’s not going to pay my bills. Luke Bryan just isn’t going to pay my bills. I actually have to pay my rent. I actually have to ensure that I’m eating each day, which is difficult to do.”
The singer noted that the uncertain time in the course of the pandemic left them doubtful of what was to come back, but added that they were “ready and waiting for whatever it was.”
“Everyone desires to know what happened and why this or why that & I’ll answer those questions someday, but within the meantime I’ll say this,” Sam’s caption continued. “I never expected to win, but I did, I used to be so grateful and I do know that folks are feeling like I allow them to down.”
Sam said they “used to feel like I let myself and everybody down too” but continues to imagine “that there’s more coming for me.”
“I do know that all the things happens for a reason and I do know that this too shall pass irrespective of what things may appear like immediately,” Sam added.
