In the days since announcing a baby is on the way, Samantha Diaz — best known as Just Sam, the winner of “American Idol” season 18 — has been overwhelmed by the generosity of fans. After posting an online gift registry at the request of fans, Diaz expressed amazement at the response on July 19, 2025.
In one of several Instagram Stories, Diaz expressed feeling “truly surprised and grateful for how much I’ve received for my little baby.” As of July 20, the registry showed that about half of the wish list had been purchased, from large items like a crib and stroller to daily necessities like bottles and clothes. The singer did note in one Story that
Diaz experienced a financial tailspin after winning “American Idol” and has faced unspecified health challenges, including spending much of December 2024 in and out of the hospital. Diaz reported being back at the hospital on July 18 but was home the following day, posting a photo of Amazon boxes containing gifts delivered over the weekend.
Samantha ‘Just Sam’ Diaz Says Registry Gifts Are Huge Help Without Ability to Have Baby Shower
Diaz celebrated being physically able to carry a child in an Instagram post on July 15, writing, “I’m so happy to be on this journey and I have been wanting this for so long and wasn’t sure this was even possible for me so I’m beyond grateful and beyond excited to be on this journey and path to MOTHERHOOD!!!!!”
Sharing a sonogram image, photo of the pregnancy test, and a mirror selfie to show their growing baby bump, Diaz wrote, “I was told at just 20 years old that I may not be able to carry children of my own or that I may have to try IVF in order to have a successful pregnancy/birth. The past couple of years , I have been trying on and off and let me tell you .. I was really starting to lose hope.”
Diaz was the first openly LGBTQ+ and non-binary “American Idol” winner, according to a 2023 profile by the Washington Post. Though the mom-to-be didn’t mention a romantic partner in the July 15 pregnancy announcement, the Amazon registry lists “Samantha D & Heather C” as the parents.
In an Instagram Story on July 17, Diaz was “beyond grateful” for the response to the registry, writing, “Thank you so so much to everyone who has purchased something from our registry!!! Sadly, we won’t be having a baby shower due to our families being so spread out.”
In another Story on July 18, Diaz wrote, “SHOUTOUT to everyone who’s been checking on me. These past few months have been cray cray!! Also thank you and SHOUTOUT so much to the people purchased stuff on my registry. I already have so many items being delivered today. I’m truly surprised and grateful for how much I’ve received for my little baby 😭😭😭🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!”
Diaz competed on “American Idol” in 2020, after being discovered while busking in the New York subway system. When the COVID pandemic hit, many contestants appeared on the show each week performing from their homes, but Diaz remained in a Los Angeles hotel room.
The lack of available support and no ability to record anywhere after Diaz’s May 2020 win led the singer to back out of the record deal that came with the “Idol” win, unaware of the financial ramifications of leaving the contract, the singer told TMZ in 2023. Back in Harlem and trying to make ends meet, Diaz eventually returned to busking in the New York subway system and has done so on and off since.
Health Concerns Have Led Samantha ‘Just Sam’ Diaz Not to Perform During Last Months of Pregnancy
Diaz has struggled with undisclosed health challenges for years, including many hospital stays, and began 2025 with a vow to prioritize self-care.
On January 22, Diaz alerted fans via an Instagram Story, “Due to an upcoming medical procedure…I will not be able to accept any gigs from April 2025 – July 2025. This year I will not continue to overwork myself or my body for any amount of money! It’s not worth the pain. I will actually be on bed rest this time. Doctors orders!”
On April 6, Diaz updated fans in another Instagram Story, writing, “So sad that I won’t be able to perform for a while starting in the next few weeks, but also I trust God 😭😭🙌🏾🙌🏾 I will be back on stage no later than August if everything goes well 🙏🏾🙏🏾”
Diaz wound up in the hospital on July 18, writing in an Instagram Story, “I get so tired of always being in the damn hospital seriously so draining and annoying!!!” But the following day, Diaz updated fans with a Story that simply said, “Back in my own bed 😊”
An hour after reporting being back home, Diaz shared a photo of multiple Amazon packages and wrote, “Some more stuff has arrived 🥳🥳🥳👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Thank you so much to everyone who has purchased stuff on the registry”
The baby registry on Amazon lists August 31 as the due date for Diaz’s baby.
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‘American Idol’ Winner ‘Just Sam’ Amazed by Support After Revealing Pregnancy: ‘Truly Surprised’