Three years after their American Idol victory, Samantha Diaz, widely known as Just Sam, has found themself responding to fans after being seen busking in subway stations.
While it's common to see videos of artists performing in subways or on street corners before they hit the big time, the reverse seems to be the case for the 24-year-old star.
Diaz - who reportedly goes by they/them pronouns - stole the hearts of judges and viewers alike during their stint on the 2020 series of American Idol.
Eventually, they went on to secure the top spot in the competition over runner-up Arthur Gunn. This triumph not only propelled them to national fame but also landed them a record deal with Hollywood Records.
Unfortunately, the fairy-tale success story took a turn as Just Sam parted ways with the label before recording their debut song.
The unexpected fallout resulted in financial difficulties for Diaz, who revealed that they had to pay the record label to maintain the copyright of songs they'd already recorded with them. In a bid to make ends meet, Just Sam turned to busking in the New York City subway.
The singer frequently posts videos of their subway performances on Instagram, with a standout rendition of Beyoncé’s 'If I Were a Boy'. As they busk with their microphone, speaker, and shoebox for donations, they reassure fans that their journey is far from over.
Take a look at one of their most recent videos:In a caption that has since been rewritten, they wrote: "I know that it makes a lot of people sad and many people are confused by me going back to busking for money, but please don’t worry. This is only part of the story; not the end of it."
They further affirmed that they've received an outpouring of support and love from fans over the past few weeks.
Just Sam concludes their message with a plea for patience: "In the meantime, I ask you all to just be patient with me because God is NOT through with me yet!!"
Fans have showered the star with a wave of supportive comments.
One dedicated follower wrote: "I saw you the other day and I was about to take the train and just couldn’t, I recognized your voice from far away, so pure and peaceful, I told my friend wait let me listen to [them] first, was just heavenly!
"You are blessed darling, keep blessing us with your voice in every corner, many people need a piece of you in their daily commute and know for fact that universe is working through your voice by giving others a moment of peace."
Another said: "yes !!! You will be back on a main stage soon . Hopefully some brands will reach out for some partnership with them . We will support for sure . Keep pushing."
Confirming that they now have an agent, Just Sam is asking fans to donate to their GoFundMe to help them with living expenses and travel as they continue to pursue their lifelong dream of becoming a superstar.