Editing Jim Verraros (section)

===2007–present: Return to ''American Idol''-related projects, marriage, and ''Do Not Disturb''===
The 2007 book ''[[List of Chicken Soup for the Soul books#A-B|Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul]]'' by [[Jack Canfield]], [[Mark Victor Hansen]], and Deborah Poneman, features a chapter about Verraros, which Poneman called her favorite story in the book. During a press interview, Poneman said, "I thought it was so amazing that a kid got to number eight or nine on 'American Idol' with parents who are deaf...His story makes me cry, when he realized that even though the whole country was cheering for him because they loved his voice, the two people that he loved the most would never be able to hear him sing."<ref>{{cite web |author=Myrna Petlicki |date=January 17, 2008 |title='Idol' worship |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-11E58C504D38DF58.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503042200/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-11E58C504D38DF58.html |archive-date=May 3, 2018 |access-date=May 2, 2018 |work=[[Pioneer Press#Pioneer Press Community Newspapers|Glenview Announcements]]}}</ref> Verraros appeared at multiple [[book signing]]s in Illinois during January 2008 with Poseman and ''American Idol'' [[American Idol (season 6)|sixth season]] finalist [[Gina Glocksen]].<ref>{{cite web |date=January 13, 2008 |title=Lit Listings |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-11E28D1C61E644B8.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503111347/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-11E28D1C61E644B8.html |archive-date=May 3, 2018 |access-date=May 2, 2018 |work=Chicago Sun-Times}}</ref>
{{quote box|width=22%|If 'You Make it Better', a single released in 2007, says anything it says Verraros is a talented singer that can do more than just make club music for the crowd he keeps on catering to. Maybe it's time to pull the shirt back down and expand his horizon with credible and relatable lyrics and music.|source= —Samuel Lora, writing for the ''Washington Examiner'' in August 2009, after the release of "Touch (Don't U Want 2)" and "Electric Love" as singles.<ref name="Examiner"/>}}

Throughout the first half of 2008, Verraros recapped the [[American Idol (season 7)|seventh season]] of ''American Idol'' for ChicagoPride.com<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicago.gopride.com/entertainment/column/index.cfm/col/446|author=Jim Verraros|title=Idol Chatter – American Idol: Season Seven; Miami|work=ChicagoPride.com|date=January 30, 2008|access-date=May 3, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504090245/http://chicago.gopride.com/entertainment/column/index.cfm/col/446|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicago.gopride.com/entertainment/column/index.cfm/col/458/printerfriendly/true|author=Jim Verraros|title=Idol Chatter – Top Boys|work=ChicagoPride.com|date=February 26, 2008|access-date=May 3, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504090815/http://chicago.gopride.com/entertainment/column/index.cfm/col/458/printerfriendly/true|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicago.gopride.com/entertainment/column/index.cfm/col/464|author=Jim Verraros|title=Idol Chatter – American Idol: Season Seven; Final 12|work=ChicagoPride.com|date=March 12, 2008|access-date=May 3, 2018|archive-date=February 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221112053/http://chicago.gopride.com/entertainment/column/index.cfm/col/464|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicago.gopride.com/entertainment/column/index.cfm/col/501|author=Jim Verraros|title=Idol Chatter – American Idol: Season Seven; Neil Diamond Week|work=ChicagoPride.com|date=May 5, 2008|access-date=May 3, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504090419/http://chicago.gopride.com/entertainment/column/index.cfm/col/501|url-status=dead}}</ref> and co-hosted video recaps of that season with Penny Frulla for [[AfterElton.com]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newnownext.com/new-video-blog-idol-chat-with-jim-verraros-penny-frulla/3/2008/|title=New video blog! Idol Chat with Jim Verraros & Penny Frulla|work=[[NewNowNext]]|date=March 3, 2008|access-date=May 3, 2018}}</ref> He was also featured on [[Usmagazine.com]] as a guest recapper for that season's Top 12 episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usmagazine.com:80/node/16062|author=Jim Verraros|title=Idol Recap: Top 12 Get a Taste of Beatlemania!|work=[[Us Weekly]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320003846/http://usmagazine.com:80/node/16062|archive-date=March 20, 2008}}</ref> In January 2008, the ''[[Media in Chicago#Community|Chicago Free Press]]'' named Verraros "Best LGBT Musician of 2007" in its "Pressie Awards". In a subsequent [[Myspace]] post expressing his gratitude for the award, Verraros announced that his second album, which still had not been released, would be called ''Do Not Disturb'' (AfterElton.com had previously reported that the album would be called ''Chapter Two'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://popdirt.com/jim-verraros-thanks-fans-second-album-coming/66548/|title=Jim Verraros Thanks Fans, Second Album Coming|work=Popdirt.com|date=January 13, 2008|access-date=May 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newnownext.com/the-first-gay-american-idolist-turns-24/2/2007/|title=The First Gay American Idolist Turns 24|work=NewNowNext|date=February 7, 2007|access-date=May 3, 2018}}</ref> Verraros accepted the Pressie award in March,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicago.gopride.com/calendar/event.cfm/id/54430|title=An Evening with Jim Verraros at Minibar|work=ChicagoPride.com|date=March 21, 2008|access-date=May 3, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504090541/http://chicago.gopride.com/calendar/event.cfm/id/54430|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Idol Chat Top 12">{{cite AV media|url=http://www.veoh.com/watch/v643971537WfxHsJ|people=Penny Frulla, Jim Verraros|date=March 2008|title=Idol Chat with Jim & Penny: The Top 12|medium=video|access-date=May 3, 2018|publisher=[[AfterElton.com]]|time=00:52–01:00; 10:46–11:00}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpyUZOR2yUI&list=PLECF42E34C79499B7&index=0|people=Penny Frulla, Jim Verraros|date=March 22, 2008|title=Idol Chat with Jim & Penny, Week Five|medium=video|access-date=May 3, 2018|publisher=AfterElton.com|time=00:44–00:59}}</ref> around which time he said that ''Do Not Disturb'' would be "coming out in the next couple of months."<ref name="Idol Chat Top 12"/>

Verraros cameoed as a priest in ''[[Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!]]'', which was released in the Summer of 2008.<ref>{{cite web |author=Dennis Harvey |date=August 13, 2008 |title=Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild! |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-184745454.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926124451/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-184745454.html |archive-date=September 26, 2015 |access-date=May 5, 2018 |work=[[Daily Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://seattle.gopride.com/news/interview.cfm/articleid/130401|author=Andrew Davis|title=Jimmy Clabots|work=seattle.gopride.com|access-date=May 5, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|date=June 28, 2008|title=Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!''—Credits''|publisher=[[TLA Releasing]]}}</ref> That same year, the [[electronica]] album ''Ear Therapy'' was released by DJ Russ Harris, which features Verraros on the track "Another Lifetime",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/5TdDJhqYNcDDuIqzrQCORs|title=Ear Therapy|work=[[Spotify]]|date=January 2008 |access-date=January 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ear-therapy-mw0000781216|title=DJ Russ Harris – Ear Therapy – Overview|work=AllMusic|access-date=January 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reverbnation.com/djrussharris/song/388473-another-lifetime-ft-jim-verraros|title=Another Lifetime (ft. Jim Verraros) by DJ Russ Harris <nowiki>|</nowiki> ReverbNation|work=[[ReverbNation]]|access-date=January 3, 2019}}</ref> and the following year, Verraros released three new singles on [[iTunes]] – "Touch (Don't U Want 2)" on January 20;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/touch-dont-u-want-2/318096668|title=Touch (Don't U Want 2) by Jim Verraros on iTunes|publisher=[[iTunes Store]]|date=January 20, 2009 |access-date=May 8, 2018}}</ref>{{efn|A snippet of "Touch (Don't U Want 2)" had previously been previewed on ''Idol Chat'', the video recap series that Verraros did for AfterElton.com with Penny Frulla in 2008. Verraros had also released the song through his MySpace page around that time.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=http://www.veoh.com/watch/v6382800eEmAt8tz|people=Penny Frulla, Jim Verraros|date=March 2008|title=Idol Chat with Jim & Penny: The Top 16|publisher=AfterElton.com|time=10:58–11:12}}</ref>}} "Electric Love" on May 26;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/electric-love/318097452|title=Electric Love by Jim Verraros on iTunes|publisher=iTunes Store|date=May 26, 2009 |access-date=May 8, 2018}}</ref> and "Do Not Disturb" on November 9.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/do-not-disturb/348536282|title=Do Not Disturb by Jim Verraros on iTunes|publisher=iTunes Store|date=November 9, 2009 |access-date=May 8, 2018}}</ref> All three songs were written and produced by Gabe Lopez, whose official website announced that the accompanying album's release date had been pushed back to late 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gabelopez.com/2010/|title=Gabe Lopez – Home|work=gabelopez.com|access-date=May 8, 2018|archive-date=May 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509020442/http://www.gabelopez.com/2010/|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{efn|An August 2009 article by the ''Windy City Times'' had previously reported that the album ''Do Not Disturb'' would be released that summer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/images/publications/wct/2009-08-12/current.pdf|title=Verraros to Release 2nd CD|work=Windy City Times|date=August 12, 2009|access-date=May 8, 2018|page=17}}</ref> Shortly before his wedding in September 2009, Verraros said that the album would "definitely be released by the end of the year".<ref name="San Francisco">{{cite news|author=Eric Ross|title=Legal or not – American Idol contestant gets ready to marry his same-sex partner|work=[[San Francisco Examiner]]|date=September 3, 2009}}</ref>}} Samuel Lora of the ''[[Washington Examiner]]'' gave "Touch (Don't U Want 2)" a negative review, calling it "simple and vapid".<ref name="Examiner"/> He also wrote that the song "is overdone with heavy beats and crowding vocals".<ref name="Examiner"/> "Electric Love" fared somewhat better with Lora, who called it "pretty decent" but also felt that it was mimicking the sound of other, more successful artists. Lora likened the song to a "less powerful" version of "Larger Than Life" by the [[Backstreet Boys]] or something by "[[Nick Carter]] if he were making Justin Timberlake music".<ref name="Examiner"/> Lora had kinder words for "You Make It Better", which had been released as a single two years earlier.<ref name="Examiner"/>

In November 2009, Verraros served as a judge for Rialto Idol, a singing competition held by the [[Rialto Square Theatre]] for the [[ComEd]] Festival of Trees.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 11, 2009 |title=Ex 'Idol' Coming to Rialto |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-12B9FFB923BFDB00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510115154/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-12B9FFB923BFDB00.html |archive-date=May 10, 2018 |access-date=May 9, 2018 |work=The Herald News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=January 24, 2010 |title=The ComEd Festival of Trees transformed the magnificent Rialto Square ... |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-12DCA018A3CD19A0.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510115058/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-12DCA018A3CD19A0.html |archive-date=May 10, 2018 |access-date=May 9, 2018 |work=The Herald News}}</ref> ''Entertainment Weekly'' reported in March 2010 that Verraros was looking for "an indie label to release [''Do Not Disturb'']."<ref name="Catching Up"/> Several years earlier, in 2006, Verraros had mentioned the possibility of his second album being released through [[Sony BMG]]'s then-newly formed gay-focused label, "Music With a Twist".<ref name="Speak Free 2"/> Ultimately, ''Do Not Disturb'' was released on October 18, 2011, through Red Queen Music – Sound Axis. Ten tracks are included on the album,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/bn/album/do-not-disturb/473829938|title=Do Not Disturb by Jim Verraros on iTunes|publisher=iTunes Store|date=October 18, 2011 |access-date=May 13, 2018}}</ref> out of dozens that were written and recorded throughout the development process.<ref name="Pulse"/> Verraros told ''Entertainment Weekly'' in 2010 that ''Do Not Disturb'' would likely be his final album, saying "I think I'd like to just pull away [from singing] and focus [more on acting]."<ref name="Catching Up"/>

====Marriage====
{{quote box|width=33%|People say, 'Why are you even doing it if it's not even legal?'  We don't have to wait for the government to tell us it's okay, we're doing it anyway. It's more about our family and friends and people we care about witnessing something that is true and beautiful.|source= —Verraros on his marriage to Bill Brennan.<ref name="Greg"/>}}

On September 6, 2009, Verraros married Bill Brennan in their shared home state of Illinois.<ref name="Dream Wedding"/><ref name="Greg">{{cite web|url=http://greginhollywood.com/american-idol-alum-jim-verraros-is-getting-married-on-saturday-in-a-splashy-chicago-wedding-11497|author=Greg Hernandez|title=American Idol alum Jim Verraros is getting married on Sunday in a splashy Chicago wedding|work=Greg in Hollywood|date=September 4, 2009|access-date=May 8, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Ties Knot">{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/143173/idol-alum-jim-verraros-ties-knot-with-boyfriend|author=Gina Serpe|title=Idol Alum Jim Verraros Ties Knot With Boyfriend|publisher=E!|date=September 9, 2009|access-date=July 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="My Wedding">{{cite web|url=http://www.mywedding.com/billandjim/stories.html|author1=Bill Brennan|author2=Jim Verraros|title=Jim Verraros & Bill Brennan – Our Story|work=[[Meredith Corporation|mywedding.com]]|access-date=May 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=September 4, 2009 |title='Idol' finalist to wed partner in Oak Brook |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-12AA4A1C4BE87E10.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509075514/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-12AA4A1C4BE87E10.html |archive-date=May 9, 2018 |access-date=March 8, 2018 |work=Chicago Sun-Times}}</ref><ref name="and boyfriend">{{cite web|url=http://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8235316|author=Brett Anthony|title=Jim Verraros and boyfriend wed on Sunday|work=ChicagoPride.com|date=September 7, 2009|access-date=May 8, 2018|archive-date=May 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509075806/http://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/8235316|url-status=dead}}</ref> The couple first met through MySpace in 2005, at which point they decided to meet in person, after realizing that they only lived about twenty minutes away from each other.<ref name="Dream Wedding"/><ref name="Greg"/><ref name="My Wedding"/><ref name="and boyfriend"/> A few months later, they moved in together. Brennan proposed to Verraros two-and-a-half years after they began dating.<ref name="Greg"/> Although Illinois did not legally recognize gay marriage in 2009, Verraros said that he and Brennan "wanted the day to be a reflection of [their] love and commitment to each other as well as a statement to other gay couples in Illinois".<ref name="Dream Wedding"/><ref name="and boyfriend"/> Each of the [[groom]]'s fathers served as their [[Best man|best men]] in the wedding.<ref name="Dream Wedding"/><ref name="Greg"/><ref name="Ties Knot"/><ref name="and boyfriend"/> The song "You Make It Better" from the film ''Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds'' was written by Verraros about Brennan and was included in the music set list for their wedding.<ref name="San Francisco"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mywedding.com/billandjim/music.html|title=Jim Verraros & Bill Brennan – Music|work=mywedding.com|access-date=May 10, 2018}}</ref> The marriage was later legalized in [[Iowa]].<ref name="San Francisco"/>

Brennan is the president of Bridal Expo Chicago and Bridal Expo Milwaukee.<ref name="Greg"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mywedding.com/billandjim/blog_post_37371.html|author=Bill Brennan|title=Jim Verraros & Bill Brennan – So Many Details-Oh My|work=mywedding.com|date=August 8, 2009|access-date=May 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://solutionsbridal.com/from-the-bridal-connoisseur-himself/|author=Ken|title=From the Bridal Connoisseur himself!|work=solutionsbridal.com|date=September 12, 2015|access-date=May 8, 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509080408/https://www.solutionsbridal.com/from-the-bridal-connoisseur-himself/|archivedate=May 9, 2018}}</ref> In 2006, Verraros signed an [[endorsement deal]] to serve as spokesman for the business;<ref name="Impact"/><ref name="Official Website News"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/02/14/brides-gone-wild/|author=Emily Nunn|title=Brides gone wild!|work=Chicago Tribune|date=February 14, 2006|access-date=May 8, 2018}}</ref> he eventually became executive vice president.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://durpettievents.com/2011/08/6thingsjimverrari/|author=Jim Verraros|title=6 Things You Don't Know About: Jim Verraros|work=Michelle Durpetti Events|date=August 29, 2011|access-date=May 8, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Planit">{{cite web|url=http://www.planitnorthwest.com/2014/01/08/local-american-idol-contestants-move-on-after-show-appearances/a5jb3am/?photo=3|author=Jami Kunzer|title=Local 'American Idol' Contestants Move On After Show Appearances|work=[[Northwest Herald|planitnorthwest.com]]|date=January 8, 2014|access-date=May 8, 2018}}</ref> Kelly Clarkson and Verraros maintained a friendship after competing on ''American Idol'' together, and Verraros helped design the [[headpiece]] that Clarkson wore for her 2013 wedding.<ref name="Planit"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2013/10/22/another-american-idol-alum-helped-design-kelly-clarksons-wed.html|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Another 'American Idol' Alum Helped Design Kelly Clarkson's Wedding Headpiece|work=[[ABC News Radio]]|date=October 22, 2013|access-date=May 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brides.com/story/kelly-clarkson-wedding-photos-temperly-wedding-dress|author=Caitlin Van Horn|title=Kelly Clarkson Weds Brandon Blackstock in a Gorgeous Temperley London Dress|work=[[Brides (magazine)|Brides]]|date=October 21, 2013|access-date=May 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://people.com/style/kelly-clarksons-wedding-dress-all-the-details/|author=Alex Apatoff|title=Kelly Clarkson's Wedding Dress: All the Details!|work=People|date=October 21, 2013|access-date=May 9, 2018}}</ref>

By 2019, Verraros and Brennan had separated. Verraros is currently engaged.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/JimVerraros/status/1129986111898640384|author=Jim Verraros|title=@JimVerraros|date=May 18, 2019|access-date=May 21, 2019}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=July 2024}} On November 20, 2021, Verraros married Sean Michael Buck.<ref>{{cite web | title='American Idol's' first gay finalist is now a total hunk, married, and living his best life | website=Queerty | date=January 3, 2023 | url=https://www.queerty.com/american-idols-first-gay-finalist-now-total-hunk-married-living-best-life-20230103 | ref={{sfnref | Queerty | 2023}} | access-date=July 15, 2024}}</ref>