'American Idol' Winner Returns To Singing In Subway Stations For Money

Samantha Diaz, the 2020 American Idol winner has left viewers shocked after it was revealed that she is singing in subway stations again.

The singer posted a video of herself on a New York City train singing Beyoncé’s hit single “Listen.” The video also shows her carrying a donation box and states that is how she makes a living.

In a now-deleted post, Diaz wrote why she returned to the place it all started for her. “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,” the Harlem native wrote.

She continued, “I didn’t want people to know that it wasn’t optional. 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.”

The caption went on to say, “Since then, I have learned so much and I’ve been able to take my experiences and share them with other artists in hopes that they don’t experience the same things that I did when it comes to making it in this life.”

Reports state that Diaz had parted ways with Hollywood Records after winning the competition and tried to release music as an independent artist. She also put on her IG that she thought that Hollywood was different from what she experienced.

“I thought it was gonna be easy, just go to the studio, record, put out music. And that’s not how the world works. That’s not how the industry works. It takes time, it takes money that I don’t have. It takes patience,” she wrote.

Samantha added, “I have people who are helping me. I’m putting out music when I can and when it’s ready. It’s just hard because I’m coming out of pocket and I have bills to pay. And American Idol is not going to pay my bill. Lionel Richie’s not going to pay my bills. Katy Perry’s not going to pay my bills. Luke Bryan is not going to pay my bills. I have to pay my rent. I have to make sure that I’m eating every day, which is hard to do.”

What are your thoughts?