Sophia Michaels
Just Sam won season 18 in May 2020. The final episodes of the season were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They signed with Hollywood Records after they won the show, but did not release any albums with them. They have released five non-album singles independently.
In April 2023, Just Sam began posting videos of themself singing in the New York City Subway on Instagram. “Back in 2021, I was super embarrassed to be going back to the trains. I didn’t want people to know that I legit needed the money & I didn’t want people to know that it wasn’t optional,” they wrote in a since-deleted Instagram caption, per The Sun.
“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,” they continued. Just Sam also said that they will one day tell their full story, but added for now, “I know that everything happens for a reason and I know that this too shall pass no matter what things may look like right now.”
