Where Is Just Sam Now? American Idol Alum Details Return to Subway Despite Huge Win

If you're a couch potato, you would have known that Just Sam was deserving of their win at "American Idol" Season 18. Their powerful voice was unmatched compared to their peers at the time, which is why it was particularly shocking to know that they'd returned to the subway to express their talents, not in the studio.

Despite winning the same competition that launched the career of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Adam Lambert, among many others, Just Sam seemed to be on a different side.

Just Sam Returns To NYC Subways To Sing For Money

In an interview with TMZ Live, Just Sam revealed that as they won "Americn Idol," she was met with a very different fate than they initially thought.

"I was like, 'That's it, me and my mother will never experience the same struggles again.' And really, that's not what it was," she told the outlet. "It was also difficult because I was the only American Idol in history to win at the beginning of COVID, and everything was shut down."

Sam recalled that back then, people refused to work in a studio because of the flight risk of COVID-19, which prompted them to live at a hotel for a couple of months. But despite all of these, Sam learned a lot from working briefly with her label.

She pointed out that it was "OK" to record in someone else's house studio and put music, saying that people would hear you because you put your "heart" into your music. Sam also remained hopeful and optimistic, believing that their work is "going to pay for itself in the future."

Now, Sam revealed that there had been a change since it was revealed that she returned to the subways for money earlier this year.

"So many people are reaching out and showing love, and I have opportunities that my team and I are working on and collaborations that we're going to make happen soon," they confirmed.

Just Sam Embarrassed To Perform On Trains

In a now-deleted screen capture by The Sun, Sam confessed they were "super embarrassed" to return to the subway and ask for money because they didn't want people to know she was barely scraping by.

"I was disappointed in myself for allowing myself to fall so low after winning Idol, but then I had to take it easy on me and remember that I started my journey with Idol at 20 years old. Not even knowing anything about Hollywood or the music industry," she recounted.

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American Idol