Two weeks after winning American Idol Season 23, Jamal Roberts is beginning to reveal the deeper story behind the pain and passion that moved millions throughout the competition.
The 27-year-old soul singer from Meridian, Mississippi, who captured hearts with his emotional performances and quiet strength, sat down with Willie Moore Jr. on The Love You Moore Show on June 1, 2025, for his most vulnerable interview yet.
Though Roberts often kept his personal battles close to the vest during his Idol journey, the pain in his voice was undeniable. Judges and mentors — including American Idol alum Fantasia — frequently remarked that his performances felt like lived experiences. Now, Roberts is confirming that they were exactly that.
“I’m not trying to hurt nobody’s feelings,” Roberts said in the interview. “But when it’s your story, it’s your story.”
Raised by Love, Shaped by Absence
Roberts revealed that he and his older brother were raised by their father and stepmother Tabitha after their mother gave up custody when he was just two years old. Although his stepmom provided a deep well of love and support, the absence of his biological mother left a lasting wound.
“What was going through my mind is, ‘Why my mom not here?’” Roberts recalled. “’Cause I got kids and I’m not going to let my kids go nowhere. How did you get comfortable enough to let us slip through the cracks?”
What hurt even more, he said, was learning that his mother had other children later — while still keeping her distance from him and his brother.
“Was we not good enough?” he asked. “It still ain’t clicked yet.”
From Abandonment to Empowerment
Despite his pain, Roberts gives credit to his late stepmother for being the emotional backbone he needed. He spoke warmly about how she built him up when his father — though present — was emotionally reserved.
“I used to have self-confidence problems,” Roberts admitted. “But she was always there, saying ‘No, baby, you can do it. You can do anything you put your mind to.’”
Roberts paid tribute to Tabitha on Idol’s 2025 Mother’s Day episode, moving viewers to tears as he spoke of her impact — and her passing during the COVID pandemic.
“That woman was my angel on earth,” he said.
Healing Without All the Answers
Surprisingly, Roberts revealed that while his biological mother, Kim, is now back in his life — and involved in the lives of his three daughters — they have never discussed why she left.
“I never longed for knowing what happened,” he told Moore Jr. “If she wanted me to know, she would have told me.”
While Kim was present at Roberts’ Idol audition and cheered him on from the audience throughout the season, he says he’s come to peace with the silence about the past.
“My life now is my life, and all those mistakes have paved the road and made me who I am today,” Roberts said. “I’m fine. Yeah, I’m fine.”
A Voice That Carries a Story
Jamal Roberts’ voice carries more than melody — it carries memory, loss, perseverance, and grace. As a father of three girls, he says his experiences of abandonment have made him even more committed to showing up — every day, no matter what.
“There’s no giving up,” he said. “If I’m fighting for my kids, we’re going to keep fighting.”
Now with a $1 million record deal, a forthcoming debut album titled “Cowboy Confessions,” and fans across the world rooting for him, Roberts isn’t just singing — he’s healing, inspiring, and leading with love.
