Just Sam Is Alive

ORIGIN
Just Sam is an American singer and songwriter from New York City. The former subway singer won the heart of millions with a memorable run on season 18 of American Idol. She’s the first-ever At-Home American Idol winner. Sam is currently signed to Hollywood Records/Industrial Media’s 19 Recordings. Her debut single “Rise Up” is a cover of Andra Day’s 2015 song of the same name. Following her run on the show, Sam has appeared on television programs like Access Hollywood and Good Morning America. She was a musical guest on Live with Kelly and Ryan on May 18, 2020.

Sam was born Samantha Diaz on November 23, 1998, in New York City. She’s from the Harlem neighborhood of northern Manhattan. Sam is a product of the foster care system. Her birth mother spent time in jail and was unable to care for her. At age 6, Sam and her sister Anabelle were both adopted by her grandmother Elizabeth. The two share an unbreakable bond. Grandma Elizabeth is from Liberia. Sam began singing in the 7th grade. She developed confidence singing alongside her sister, and with her friend Tiffany.

CAREER
Sam performed outside her mom’s job before taking her talent to the NYC subways. In September 2018, Sam made her acting debut in the documentary short ‘Sam, Underground.’ The film was co-written and co-directed by Joe Penney and Ladan Osman. It runs for just under 10 minutes and it has been viewed 400K+ times on YouTube. The film details Samantha’s journey as a charismatic and talented singer. She sang in the subway carts for money, making up to $100 on good days. The video also revealed the origin of the stage name “Just Sam.” Sam’s first nickname was “Goy” – a blend of the words girl and boy. She was oftentimes bullied because of her appearance and sense of style. The nickname “Just Sam” was coined during high school.

Prior to her historic journey on American Idol, Sam tried out for two other talent competition shows. She auditioned unsuccessfully for America’s Got Talent and The Voice. The 18th season of American Idol ran from February 16 to May 17, 2020. It was hosted by Ryan Seacrest and featured judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie. For her American Idol audition, Sam performed Andra Day’s single “Rise Up.” All three judges gave her the green light. During the Hollywood Round, she sang “Hearts Ain’t Gonna Lie” by Arlissa, and “I’m Here” by Cynthia Erivo. She also performed a duet of Shawn Mendes‘ “Mercy” alongside fellow contestant Sheniel Maisonet.

For the Hawaii Round, Sam performed Selena’s single “Como La Flor” entirely in Spanish. It earned her a spot in the Top-40. For the live stages, Just Sam had to make the tough decision of staying alone in Los Angeles. Her Top-20 and Top-11 performances were “I Believe” (by Fantasia Barrino) and “Grandma’s Hands” (by Bill Withers) respectively. For the Top-7 Round, she gave beautiful renditions of “I Turn to You” (by All-4-One) and “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” (from Cinderella).

For the grand finale, Just Sam performed Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” and the aforementioned “Rise Up.” On May 17, 2020, after voting closed, Sam was crowned as the winner of season 18 of American Idol. Nepalese-American, Arthur Gunn, finished in 2nd place. The other 3 finalists were Dillon James, Francisco Martin, and Johnny West. The format for the 18th installment of American Idol was altered due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Contestants had to perform remotely from their homes in order to satisfy stay-at-home and social-distancing guidelines.

PERSONAL
Just Sam is around 5ft 5in tall and she’s a Sagittarius. She’s the first Latina and Liberian to win American Idol. Her net worth is estimated at $250 thousand USD. Previous American Idol winners received cash prizes in the ballpark of $250,000. Sam is part of the LGBTQ community. Her relationship status is currently unknown. Sam has 180K+ followers on Instagram. Her oldest post was a group pic with musician Ice-T.

Just Sam Bio, Net Worth, Height