During Monday night’s episode of American Idol, Jamal Roberts stunned both the judges and viewers by transforming the iconic Beauty and the Beast theme song into a soulful R&B performance—an artistic risk that paid off, even as the Mississippi native admitted he initially struggled to connect with the piece.
In the penultimate round of Season 23, the Top 5 contestants each performed two Disney-themed songs, while live voting from viewers determined who would move on to the finale. For Roberts, the night began with a powerful rendition of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (featured in Remember the Titans), which drew immediate praise. But it was his second performance—“Beauty and the Beast”—that sparked the biggest reaction.
Before taking the stage, Roberts appeared uneasy during his mentoring session with guest advisor Lin-Manuel Miranda. Known for his award-winning work on Hamilton and Moana, Miranda quickly sensed something was off.
“He looked terrified of this song,” Miranda said. “I just saw him reading the lyrics, and I don’t think he connects with this song.”
Roberts himself admitted as much during rehearsal:
“I’m worried, I’m stressed,” he confessed. “I’m not saying I can’t do it, but it probably will be one of the biggest challenges of the season for me.”
Despite the pre-performance nerves, Roberts rose to the challenge under the bright lights of the Idol stage. His emotionally rich, R&B-infused take on the classic ballad brought down the house.
“How do you make Beauty and the Beast an R&B song?” judge Lionel Richie marveled. “Only you can pull that off.”
Luke Bryan added, “Jamal, let’s win this thing, baby!”
Interestingly, the one person who wasn’t as swept away earlier in the evening was Carrie Underwood, whose critique following Roberts’ first performance drew backlash online. She praised his voice but criticized his lack of movement on stage—a comment fans felt was unfair, especially when other contestants performed with minimal choreography.
Still, the audience made their voice heard. When Roberts took the stage again for Beauty and the Beast, the crowd erupted, practically drowning out Carrie’s chance to comment.
By the end of the night, it was Jamal Roberts, John Foster, and Breanna Nix who advanced to the Season 23 finale, airing Sunday, May 18 on ABC. Slater Nalley and Thunderstorm Artis were sent home.
Jamal’s journey, marked by emotional storytelling, vulnerability, and bold reinterpretations, proves that even songs you don’t initially connect with can become powerful performances in the right hands. And now, he’s one performance away from becoming the next American Idol.
