Andy DehnartJim Verraros, who was a finalist on the first season of American Idol, He’s released his first album, Rollercoaster, and its first single “You Turn It On” “recently hit No. 21 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart,” TV Guide reports. He’s also appeared in the film Eating Out (which will be released on DVD at the end of the month).
But he did all this despite the show’s help. He says, “I’m on my own. As far as support from them, I get nothing. They crank ’em out [every season]. While you’re on the show, you’re treated well. Afterward, it’s, ‘See ya.’ It’s too bad, but it’ll make my success taste all the sweeter because I didn’t need their help. Although I am grateful for the start they gave me three years ago.”
Jim also tells TV Guide that he’s not the only gay person to have been on the show. He’s just “the only openly gay one.” But he doesn’t expect any revelations from the others. “I don’t expect another Idol to come out anytime soon. I hope they do. You just take a look at a few of ’em and it’s like ding ding ding! But honestly, coming out and being true to myself is one of the easiest things I’ve done in my career,” he says.