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Jamal Roberts
Musical artist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Jamal Roberts (born November 6, 1997) is an American singer from Meridian, Mississippi who won season 23 of American Idol on May 18, 2025.[1]
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Background
Roberts is the father of three girls, and a physical education (P.E.) coach at Crestwood Elementary School in Meridian, Mississippi. When asked by Billboard what it is like to be a father, he said it is "the best thing that ever happened to me. They're [his children] very sensitive, especially with their daddy... you learn how to treat this one without making this one feel jealous."[1]
In addition to being an usher and singing in his church choir, he is also a drummer. His grandparents discovered that he could sing and encouraged him to perform in church. His paternal grandfather was a bishop and his maternal grandfather was a deacon.[1] In 2020, Roberts was a contestant on Sunday Best, a BET gospel music competition series in which he finished in the top three for the season.[2]
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Career
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2025-present: American Idol and touring
Roberts auditioned for the show twice before. During the second season for which he auditioned, he was asked to perform a second song but had only prepared one.[citation needed] His influences include The Temptations, David Ruffin, Jamie Foxx, B.B. King, Michael Jackson, Al Green, Marvin Sapp, the late Daryl Coley, and the late gospel singer Lee Williams of Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC's. Roberts reflected on what advice he would give to contestants on Idol: "Go with your first mind (meaning to avoid being indecisive, but follow your instinct). Anything that you do, do your best."[1]
Roberts' main strategy was to avoid being pigeonholed. He demonstrated his versatility by performing music from genres outside of his roots in soul and gospel music: "I went with Rick James... to Anthony Hamilton, to "Tennessee Whiskey," to Jelly Roll, to Disney, to Carrie Underwood. I've just been doing everything different(ly) and they haven't been able to put me in a box. I've been all over the place (stylistically)." Roberts also said he knew of American Idol judge Lionel Richie's familiarity with Rick James and wanted to highlight his diversity as an artist. Roberts has no intention of leaving Meridian, "I love my city... There’s no traffic! No waiting in line to eat! I love that in my life. I'm just going to keep singing."[3] Jelly Roll, the in-house mentor for season 23 of American Idol, told Roberts that "Liar" was "not his own song anymore" after Roberts performed his rendition of the song in Hawaii, and that he felt that Roberts sang it better than he could while performing in the Top 24 round of the contest. Jelly Roll felt after singing a duet with Roberts that "Liar" is "Jamal's song (now) and that he was singing Jamal's song tonight".[4]
Roberts was asked about his perspective on winning and said, "I took the 'no' (looking back at his first two unsuccessful efforts on the show). I've always been able to take constructive criticism and use it for my gain and try again."[1] During "Iconic Idol Moments" week, Roberts performed a cover of Tom Odell's song "Heal" (which he also reprised in the finale). According to critics, the performance was reminiscent of Fantasia's 2004 breakout moment of American Idol season 3 of "Summertime". Incidentally, Fantasia was the mentor for that week. His performance of "Heal" drew in viewers and similarly went viral online.[5] Roberts' rendition of "Heal" was released as a single on May 17, 2025. "Heal" is a cover song; however, Roberts wrote an original third verse to it, and the song represents a prayer.[6]
Roberts won American Idol on May 18, 2025, after receiving 26 million votes—a record for the ABC version of the show and nearly double the number of votes from the previous season. He is the second African American male winner in the show's history, and the first since Ruben Studdard won in 2003.[7][8] Idol judge Richie twice remarked that Roberts is "divinely guided"—first after he performed the Top 12 cover of "Heal" by Odell; and again, after a cover of The Temptations' "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" during the finale.[9]
On June 24, 2025, it was announced that he would appear as a support act for Brandy and Monica's 2025 The Boy Is Mine Tour, alongside Kelly Rowland and Muni Long; the tour is due to commence in October 2025, and finish in December 2025.[10][11]
Performances and results
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Discography
Singles
Notes
- "Heal" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Digital Song Sales
References
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