Just Sam

Season 18 · Winner

Where are they now

Just Sam signed with Hollywood Records and 19 Recordings after winning in May 2020 and left the label about a year later without releasing an album. They released independent singles in 2021 and said in 2023 that they had gone back to singing in New York City subways for money. By late 2023 they had signed with an agent at CrowdMGMT, and on April 28, 2024 they returned to American Idol as a guest performer.

Key figures

Interest over time

Monthly views of the English Wikipedia article, March 2020 – September 2026.

Won American IdolSubway singing reportedGuest on American Idol
On Idol

Career

  1. 2020

    American Idol, season 18

    Winner

    February 16 – May 17, 2020

  2. Release · May 2020

    A single version of the finale performance of Andra Day's "Rise Up" was issued by Hollywood Records right after the win.

  3. Record deal · May 2020

    After winning season 18, signed an exclusive recording contract with Hollywood Records and 19 Recordings.

  4. 2021

    Other

    Went back to singing for money in New York City subways, starting in 2021 by their own account; they made this public on Instagram in 2023.

  5. Release · March 13, 2021

    Released the independent single "Africando", co-written with Cat Clark and distributed through DistroKid.

  6. Release · September 28, 2021

    Released a second independent single, "Change", written and recorded with Cat Clark.

  7. 2024

    Television · April 28, 2024

    Returned to American Idol as a guest performer and sang Whitney Houston's "One Moment in Time".

More milestones

  1. Other

    Had signed with a new agent at the management company CrowdMGMT by late 2023.

  2. Record deal

    Left Hollywood Records about a year after the win without releasing an album; in early 2022 they said they had paid the label to reclaim songs already recorded.

Sources

Compare Just Sam with others

Other season 18 finalists

Season 18: all finalists and their careers · Semifinalists