Branden James

In April of 2020, responding to the isolation of the coronavirus pandemic, James & his partner James Clark began live-streaming concerts directly to their followers.

Regarding social media comments in response to his openness and to his performances, James stated: "Here’s something where I also changed my thinking. I stopped reading them... I just stopped reading them because I realized that, even though I can kind of laugh some things off — there’s a lot of controversial things in there — I don’t need that to be in my subconscious, and I feel like it is whether you choose to acknowledge it on a conscious level or not. It’s still in your subconscious and it can really play games with you. It gets in the room artistically. So honestly, I don’t know what’s out there right now and I’m kind of happy just to be in my own zone."

James returned to Chicago to perform at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on September 24, 2015.

James was featured in the lineup for Tim Janis' "The American Christmas Carol" on December 4 of 2015 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The event, which featured a full orchestra and a 200 voice choir, was held in celebration of the show's 10th year at Carnegie Hall. James was joined by special guests Neil Sedaka, Sarah McLachlan, Zachary Levi, Ioan Gruffudd and other performers. All proceeds from the show were earmarked for both Kate Winslet's Golden Hat Foundation, "which aims to change the way people with autism are perceived," as well as for Sarah McLachlan's School of Music, "which provides no cost music instruction to at-risk children and youths."

In the early part of 2015, James disclosed he was diagnosed HIV positive in his mid-20s. James stated: "I formed a major complex about what people would think of me. I kept it a deep dark secret to everyone except the trusted few." Regarding the response to this news, he stated "It was liberating actually, and I was shocked to see that people took it a lot less harsh than I ever anticipated." James had planned to go public about being HIV positive when he competed on America's Got Talent in 2013 but his partner at the time was afraid of the backlash.

James has been a "regular soloist" for the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California and has also performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" for the Chicago Bulls, the Chicago Cubs, and the Chicago Whitesox in Chicago, Illinois. He also sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the 2014 Gay Games held in Cleveland and Akron, Ohio. In 2007 he "appeared in concert at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Rome for Pope Benedict XVI celebrating the occasion of his 80th birthday." He has also performed for Nelson Mandela's family in South Africa. James has made television appearances in Denmark, Norway, Romania, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He has also performed around the world as part of the 12 Tenors.

By 2013 James was living in Chicago, Illinois (in the city's Lincoln Park neighborhood) singing in the chorus of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, in local venues including Chicago wine bars The Twisted Vine and Chicago City Winery, as well as at larger-scale events such as the Northalsted Market Days. In Chicago, he auditioned for America's Got Talent. Previously, James had auditioned for the "producer's table" at American Idol and The Voice.

In the summer of 2012, James was given the opportunity to headline a production: David King's "The Spirit of Dance" at the New York-New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada

Since 2012, James’ extended family has gathered every year at William R. Mason Regional Park in Irvine, California to host the "De Avila Dash," which consists of a one-mile walk or run "honoring the memory of the de Avila patriarch, Fred de Avila Sr."

In New York City, James developed a fondness for pop music and "became influenced by the styles of: Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Elton John, and Aretha Franklin." He lived in New York City for nine years, auditioning for opera and Broadway theater and performing for two seasons in the chorus at The Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center in New York City. In 2007, in the midst of a rising career in New York City, James "performed before Pope Benedict XVI at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City" as the member of a chorus.

Following his graduation from Irvine High School in 1996, James was accepted and went to study at The San Francisco Conservatory of Music. While a student at The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, James worked as a singing waiter in Switzerland during a summer break. Following his time at The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, James moved to New York City to pursue a career as an opera singer.

Branden James Smith (born June 19, 1978), known as Branden James, is an American tenor who has performed as a soloist with American symphony orchestras. James came to prominence as a contestant on America's Got Talent during the show's eighth season.