Season 9 contestant Casey James came closer to winning 'American Idol' than many people realize. The Texan finished third behind Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox, but one could argue that with the release of his debut album, his future is the brightest of the three. James jokes that if fans didn't already know him as a long haired blond, he'd cut his curly locks and grow a thick beard, but that doesn't seem likely anytime soon. In the two years since the show ended he has kept a similar look, but is now a little less tan. He also seems to have groomed his chest hair some and taken a razor to his face.

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