When Chord Overstreet first walked onto the set of Glee in 2010, nobody—not even the creators—really knew what to do with him. He was this blonde kid with massive lips and a guitar.
He looked like a Justin Bieber clone but sang like a soul singer from the 70s. Honestly, he was a bit of an anomaly in the halls of McKinley High. Most fans remember him as Sam Evans, the "Trouty Mouth" jock who stole Quinn Fabray’s heart and eventually became the emotional glue of the New Directions. But the story of Chord Overstreet on Glee is way weirder than just some high school drama.
The Audition That Almost Didn't Happen
Did you know that Glen Powell was actually in the running for the role of Sam? Yeah, the Top Gun: Maverick star and Chord are actually best friends. They were in the waiting room together, sweating it out for the same part. Imagine a world where Glen Powell was the one singing "Billionaire" in the shower. It feels wrong, right?
Chord got the call from his agent and had exactly 30 minutes to get to the audition. He grabbed his guitar and basically sprinted. He didn't even read lines at first. He just played three songs. Within 24 hours, he was in a studio recording his first track for the show.
That’s the kind of chaos Glee thrived on.
One day you're a Nashville kid trying to make it in LA, and the next, Ryan Murphy is telling you that you're going to be the next big thing. It was a whirlwind. Initially, there was a lot of talk that Sam was supposed to be Kurt’s boyfriend. The writers were leaning that way. Then, they saw the chemistry between Chord and Dianna Agron. They pivoted. Suddenly, "Fabrevans" was the new "it" couple, and the gay jock storyline was pushed back until Blaine Anderson showed up.
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The Season 3 Disappearance (And the Drama Behind It)
If you were watching back in 2011, you remember the "Where is Sam?" era. It was a mess.
At the end of Season 2, Chord was told he wouldn't be a series regular for Season 3. They offered him a recurring guest spot instead. Basically, they wanted him around but didn't want to pay the full-time rate. Chord, backed by his team, said "no thanks." He decided to go focus on his music career instead.
The fan backlash was intense.
"Save Sam Evans" started trending everywhere. It’s one of the few times in TV history where the fans actually forced the hand of a powerful producer like Ryan Murphy. By the middle of Season 3, Sam was back. The show explained his absence by saying his family moved for work and he was secretly working at a strip club to support them.
Classic Glee.
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They leaned into the "White Chocolate" persona, and Chord took it all in stride. He’s always been pretty self-deprecating about the whole thing. He knew the show was ridiculous, and he played Sam with this earnest, slightly goofy energy that made the character impossible to hate.
More Than Just "Trouty Mouth"
We have to talk about the music. Sam Evans wasn't the "best" singer in the club—not when you have Lea Michele and Amber Riley in the room. But he had flavor.
- "Billionaire" – This was the introduction. It set the tone for his entire run.
- "Lucky" – The duet with Quinn that launched a thousand ships.
- "Human Nature" – This Michael Jackson cover with Mercedes is arguably one of the best duets in the entire series. The vocal blend was actually insane.
- "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" – A stripped-back, slow version that showed he actually had some range and emotional depth.
Chord has said in interviews that Glee was basically a "bootcamp" for his music career. He grew up the son of country legend Paul Overstreet, so music was in his blood, but he was actually terrified of singing in front of people before the show. He told People magazine that his leg wouldn't stop shaking during his first few performances.
The Legacy of Sam Evans
By the time the series ended in 2015, Sam Evans was the one left holding the keys to the kingdom. He became the coach of the New Directions. It was a full-circle moment.
Most people don't realize how much Chord contributed to the vibe of the later seasons. When the original cast started graduating and moving to New York, the show felt fractured. Sam was the bridge. He stayed behind, he bonded with the new kids, and he kept that "underdog" spirit alive.
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Since the show ended, Chord has actually had a massive hit with the song "Hold On." It’s a platinum record. Most people who hear it on the radio probably don't even realize it's the guy who used to do Justin Bieber impressions on Fox. He’s also starred in Acapulco on Apple TV+, proving he’s got staying power beyond the tracksuits and slushies.
What We Can Learn from the Sam Evans Era
The real takeaway here? Don't let a "recurring" offer diminish your value. Chord walked away when he felt undervalued, and he came back on his own terms. That’s a boss move for a 22-year-old in Hollywood.
If you’re revisiting the show today, keep an eye on the background of the scenes. Chord is almost always doing something weird—an impression, a dance move, or a funny face. He never took the spotlight too seriously, and that’s why Sam Evans remains one of the most beloved characters in the Glee universe.
To dive deeper into Chord's post-show work, check out his Tree House Tapes EP or his more recent singles like "My Ex." You'll hear a completely different side of the artist who once sang about being a billionaire.
The next time you're scrolling through TikTok and see a "Glee core" video, remember that Sam Evans was the heart of that choir room. Go listen to "Human Nature" on Spotify—it still holds up, even a decade later.