While auditioning for American Idol, Jamal Roberts was just a Mississippi P.E. teacher with a powerful voice and a dream. That dream became reality on May 18 when he was crowned the Season 23 winner, sharing the stage with judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. His win brought him $250,000, a recording contract, and a moment in music history—becoming only the second Black man to win the title in the show’s 23-season run, following Ruben Studdard’s victory in 2003.
In addition to the life-changing victory, Roberts had another major reason to celebrate—he had just welcomed his third daughter, Gianna Grace, nine days before the finale. He revealed her arrival on Instagram with a heartfelt message and a photo of the newborn dressed in a ladybug costume, writing, “Hey world, meet my little ladybug, Gianna Grace Roberts. I’m so proud to be her father.” Already the proud dad to two older daughters, Harmoni and Lyrik, Roberts said right after the show ended that the first thing he planned to do was return home: “I’m going to see my daughter, Gianna. I’ve got a lot of making up to do.”
Roberts’ win came after auditioning for American Idol three times. He finally broke through this season with a soulful, genre-blending approach that won over America’s hearts and votes. His final performances included Anthony Hamilton’s “Her Heart,” delivered with emotional intensity and surrounded by his fellow contestants during his coronation moment. One of the finale highlights was his duet with Jelly Roll, which fans and critics praised as one of the most powerful moments of the night.
Following his win, Roberts sat down with reporters and admitted he was overwhelmed. “Ryan took so long, I didn’t even know he had called my name,” he said. “Then it was like, ‘He called me.’ It still hasn’t settled in yet. I was like, ‘I just won American Idol.’” He also seemed genuinely surprised to hear that his win made history. “I made history?” he asked backstage. “That’s good to know. That’s really good to know.”
Despite his growing fame and the promise of a major music career ahead, Roberts has no plans to leave behind the students who inspired him back in Meridian, Mississippi. “I wasn’t really doing the teaching thing for the money. It was really the kids, just my inspiration,” he explained. “So even if I could go back every now and then, just show up and be a part of something, I plan to do that.”
As for what comes next, the singer has kept his musical vision open-ended. Though his winning single “Heal,” originally by Tom Odell, wasn’t intended to be an R&B track, he reimagined it in his own soulful style—what Lionel Richie called “Jamalarizing.” Roberts explained his process simply: “I really studied the lyrics. I read them, I write them, and I put myself inside of them. I am, ‘What’s on this paper that I can relate to?’ And I just go from there.”
Fans who rallied behind him every week—contributing to what Ryan Seacrest called the “biggest finale vote in show history” with 26 million votes—continue to show their support online. Many described how Roberts’ authenticity, emotional depth, and vocal versatility made him their favorite from day one. One fan summed it up: “The choice was clear since day 1! Congratulations!!”
In a victory message to his supporters, Roberts made it clear this is just the beginning. “Now, I get to make music with the best in the world and share my story. But this isn’t the end… it’s just the beginning. From the bottom of my heart…. THANK YOU! None of this happens without y’all.”
