'American Idol' Winner Laine Hardy Returns to Social Media for 'Next Chapter'

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Jill O’Rourke is a contributor at Talent Recap, writing news stories and recaps for shows like ‘AGT,’ ‘The Voice,’ and ‘American Idol.’ She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and Film Studies, and has been writing about pop culture since 2012, with previous bylines at Crushable and A Plus. Jill spends her free time binge-watching sitcoms and daydreaming about life as a hobbit

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American Idol Season 17 winner Laine Hardy has returned to social media after several months, and he’s looking ahead to “the next chapter of my life.” The singer was arrested last year following accusations that he bugged his ex-girlfriend’s dorm room.

Last week, Hardy took to Instagram to share several photos of himself, including a couple of onstage shots. It’s his first post on the platform since June. As the singer wrote in the caption, “Looking forward to this next chapter of my life.”

Hardy was arrested in April 2022 after he was accused of spying on a female student at Louisiana State University. He allegedly planted a listening device in her residence to record her conversations. To avoid jail time, Hardy enrolled in a pretrial diversion program.

“I’ve learned to just simply be grateful for anything, good/bad, positive/negative. It shapes you from who you were to how you were to how you are to who you are now,” Hardy wrote in his new post. “God’s word became a crutch for me throughout this process & it will stick like glue forever. He loves & accepts everyone, I’m no different than any of you. He’s a prayer away!”

Fans shared their support for the singer in the comments, with one person writing that they hope his “next chapter” includes new music. Hardy responded, “Well of course if that’s his will.”

SEE ALSO: ‘AMERICAN IDOL’ WINNER LAINE HARDY SHARES NEW SONG ABOUT WANTING TO BETTER HIMSELF

Hardy Parted Ways with His Record Label

Last October, Hardy shared on social media that he was parting ways with his record label, 19 Entertainment and Disney Music Group. He added that it was “time for me to take my career in a new direction.”

The singer has made sporadic social media appearances in the months since his arrest last year, sometimes to share original music with fans. In June of this year, he posted a photo of himself on a couch with his guitar beside him, writing on a notepad. He captioned it, “To be continued.”

Hardy first auditioned for American Idol Season 16, making it to the Top 50. He joined his friend Ashton Gill to play guitar in her Season 17 audition, and the judges encouraged him to audition as well. This time, Hardy made it to the finale and was named the winner.

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