During Monday night’s episode of American Idol, Jamal Roberts delivered one of the most talked-about performances of the season, transforming the beloved Beauty and the Beast theme into a soulful R&B ballad. Judge Lionel Richie was left in awe, questioning how Roberts managed to reimagine such a classic song in a completely different genre — and still make it work.
But despite the onstage confidence and vocal mastery Roberts displayed, the Mississippi native was dealing with major doubts behind the scenes. During his rehearsal with guest mentor Lin-Manuel Miranda, the 26-year-old confessed that he was struggling to connect with the Disney song assigned to him. “I’m worried, I’m stressed,” Roberts admitted candidly. “I’m not saying I can’t do it, but it probably will be one of the biggest challenges of the season for me.”
With only five contestants remaining in the competition, Monday’s episode saw each singer perform two Disney-themed numbers, while viewers across the country cast their votes live throughout the night. Roberts first delivered a high-energy performance of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” from Remember the Titans, showing off his powerful vocals and signature gospel-infused energy. But it was his second performance — the Beauty and the Beast theme — that truly showcased his artistic versatility.
While Miranda praised Roberts as having “an unbelievable gospel-R&B voice,” he acknowledged that Roberts appeared emotionally disconnected from the song during rehearsals. “He looked terrified of this song,” Miranda remarked. “I just saw him reading the lyrics, and I don’t think he connects with this song.”
That tension, however, seemed to vanish by the time Roberts took the stage. Luke Bryan applauded the performance with enthusiastic encouragement, saying, “Jamal, let’s win this thing baby!” Lionel Richie echoed the sentiment, stunned by how Roberts had made the Disney ballad his own. “How do you make ‘Beauty and the Beast’ an R&B song?” Richie asked. “Only you could pull that off.”
By the end of the night, host Ryan Seacrest revealed that Roberts had advanced to the Season 23 finale alongside fellow contestants John Foster and Breanna Nix. Unfortunately, it marked the end of the journey for Slater Nalley and Thunderstorm Artis, who were both eliminated.
As Roberts heads into the finale, he carries with him the momentum of a breakout performance that demonstrated both musical creativity and emotional growth — cementing his place as one of the most compelling artists in the competition.
