While some seek fame and fortune on American Idol, those who are not so lucky are still struggling. INSIDE EDITION found Idol album, Sanjaya Malakar singing in a New York City subway and working as a bartender.
People in a New York City subway are doing double takes when they see a guy singing for spare change.
It’s Sanjaya Malakar from American Idol.
Watch More of our Interview with Sanjaya Here.
Die hard Idol fans will remember Sanjaya from season six.
He shot to fame on the show, not so much for his singing, but for his faux hawk. It became the most talked about hairstyle in American Idol history.
Sanjaya finished in seventh place, but still took the stage like a rock star during the season finale. But now, his performances are much low key.
"I am a working musician, I have to work to pay my rent. This is more for the music," he said.
While other Idol alums like Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood, and Kelly Clarkson, have found fame and fortune, Sanjaya, now 23, works as a bartender in New York City and sings in the subway, still hoping for music stardom.
"This is tragic!" says celebrity blogger Perez Hilton. But Sanjaya doesn't see it that way. He said, "Singing in the subway is just keeping me real."
