Just Sam Started Busking Three Years After Winning American Idol
The American Idol 2020 winner Just Sam has returned for Season 22 and performed Whitney Houston’s song “One Moment in Time.”
Just Sam, whose real name is Samantha Diaz, was born on November 23, 1998, and is a singer-songwriter from New York.
Highlights:
- Just Sam won the 18th season of the famous reality show “American Idol.”
- Just Sam was diagnosed with PTSD, a mental health disorder.
- Just Sam returned to busking three years after winning the American Idol title.
- Just Sam has made her surprise appearance in season 22 of American Idol.
She rose to fame after winning the 18th season of the famous singing reality show American Idol.
Sam auditioned for the 18th season of American Idol in Washington, D.C, on October 14, 2019.
After surviving Hollywood Week and making it to the Top 5, she received the most votes to win, and finally, she was crowned the winner on May 17, 2020, beating the runner-up Arthur Gunn.
Just Sam Started Busking After Winning The Show
Just Sam was the first openly LGBTQ+ winner in American Idol’s history. After winning, she signed a contract with Hollywood Records, but the arrangement didn’t last long.
Sam left the label without releasing a single album under it. She explained,
“I thought it was gonna be easy. Just go to the studio, record, put out music, and that’s not how the world works. That’s not how the industry works. It takes time, it takes money that I don’t have. It takes patience.”
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Just Sam had to pay Hollywood Records to claim the music they recorded. The label said they broke in the process but planned to release the song “When I Can and When It’s ready.”
Later, in 2023, Sam revealed that she returned to busking in the subway trains, nearly three years after winning the reality show American Idol.
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Her situation strengthens the investigation of reality shows, including American Idol and The Voice, for their lack of support for contestants after the end of the show.
After that, rapper Lil Durk and producer Timbaland supported Just Sam. She was featured performing live on a post on Timbaland’s TikTok page.
Just Sam Was Admitted In Hospital
In 2022, American Idol winner Just Sam was admitted to hospital. Sam revealed that she was diagnosed with PTSD through a video.
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.
Andy Vermaut shares:American Idol Winner Just Sam Posts From a Hospital: “I Seriously Need Help”: Just Sam is on the road to healing after a harrowing week. The former American Idol winner, whose real name is Samantha Diaz, recently documented… https://t.co/slaa4hN9U9 Thank you. pic.twitter.com/2trAaew0XF
— Andy Vermaut (@AndyVermaut) August 27, 2022
Soon, her supporters rushed to the comment section to praise Sam for her bravery in discussing the diagnosis.
Previously, Through the Instagram post, Sam shared,
“I’m tired of being told that something is wrong but nothing is being done about it. I’m tired of feeling tired all the time, I’m tired of the pain and I’m tired of living like this every single day !”
Moreover, Sam shared a photo of a weighing scale in a hospital room with the caption, “100 lbs is crazy… I seriously need help.”
She has also shared a video from the unidentified medical facility with the caption, “I need a better hospital, bruh. I hate it here tbh.”
But as of 2024, Sam seems fit and healthy, considering her surprise appearance and performance in American Idol season 22.
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Additional Information
- Just Sam was rewarded with a $250,000 cash prize after winning the reality show American Idol.
- Just Sam was adopted by her grandmother Elizabeth at the age of 6 as her parents weren’t able to take care of her.
- Sam completed her education at Global Scholars Academy, where a teacher noticed she had something special on her voice when she sang Alicia Keys’ “Unthinkable.”
- Just Sam has one sister named Anabelle.
