Many fans and judges alike had a strong sense that Jamal Roberts was gaining powerful momentum heading into the American Idol Season 23 finale. Judge Luke Bryan even admitted he had a “gut feeling” Roberts would win. But according to Roberts, fellow finalist Breanna Nix was the first to call it—months before he was crowned the winner on May 18, 2025.
That early belief in his journey may explain why Nix, who finished third, was visibly emotional during Roberts’ final performance. She clung to his arm and wiped away tears as he sang his victory song—a moment that resonated with fans across the country.
Roberts told TV Insider that Nix first made her bold prediction during Hollywood Week, which, although aired in March, was filmed back in January at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. “She told me, ‘You’re anointed,’” he recalled. “‘You’re going to win this.’ I’m looking at her like, ‘Girl, hush! What are you talking about?’ But she stood on that, every performance.”
Nix was so convinced of Roberts’ destiny that she documented the moment on video. On May 20, just two days after the finale, she posted the clip publicly. In it, she approaches Roberts—then a stranger to her—and says, “Hey! I know you don’t know me, I’m Breanna … and you’re gonna win American Idol.” At the time, Roberts dismissed her as being a little overzealous, but her prediction ultimately proved prophetic.
“I had my phone out, I was recording,” Nix told Entertainment Tonight. “He was like, ‘You’re crazy!’” But she never wavered. Even on finale night, as she stood onstage with Roberts and fellow finalist John Foster awaiting the first round of results, Nix stood by her belief. “Well, I know I’m leaving,” she told Roberts candidly. “It’s going be between you and John and you’re going to win.” Roberts just smiled and said, “Okay, Breanna.”
Despite her third-place finish, Nix is already finding success beyond the show. Her debut single, “Higher,” released through American Idol’s label partner 19 Recordings, quickly soared to number one on the iTunes country chart. On the morning of May 19, she shared a screenshot of her track’s position, which showed John Foster’s “Tell That Angel I Love Her” holding the number two spot.
Later that day, American Idol’s social media team revealed that the Top 3 contestants also dominated the iTunes overall music chart. Roberts’ single “Heal” reached number one overall, followed by Nix’s “Higher” at number two and Foster’s “Tell That Angel I Love Her” at number three.
Whether or not she took home the title, Breanna Nix’s intuition and unwavering support for her fellow finalists—as well as her rising chart performance—signal a bright future ahead. Her words may have predicted Jamal Roberts’ victory, but her voice is proving she’s a star in her own right.
