A popular gospel singer has come out as bisexual, announcing plans to change his name and leave spiritual music behind to focus on a career as an R&B artist.

Singer-songwriter Aaron Thomas, 27, appeared on American Idol, Showtime at the Apollo, and BET’s Sunday Best. But despite a successful career as a gospel singer, he never felt entirely at home in that world.

"As a gospel artist, it was always challenging for me to be me," the singer, who now goes by Terrence Stone, tells Philadelphia Magazine.

"The expectations of the gospel industry is to present yourself as this perfect person, when I was far from that. The gospel industry always made me feel like I wasn’t good enough."

After facing depression and something of an identity crisis, he hopes that he can inspire people in a more authentic way.

"I’ve been sheltered almost my whole life. I lived my life according to others’ opinions of what I should do and who I should be... The more I grew as an artist and as a person, I knew that my gift wasn’t only for the church."

"I just feel like it’s time," Stone added. "The biggest failure in life is to wake up and say, 'I wish I did it.'"