With a heart full of emotion and a voice that brought the audience to its feet, American Idol standout Jamal Roberts delivered a stirring tribute to his late stepmother with a soulful rendition of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come.”
The performance, part of Season 23’s Mother’s Day-themed Disney Night on May 11, 2025, left judge Lionel Richie visibly moved, declaring that Roberts gave him goosebumps from head to toe.
Throughout this season, Roberts has proven himself to be one of the most emotionally resonant vocalists in the competition—but his latest performance may have been his most personal yet. Dressed in a black-and-gold jeweled suit, the Meridian, Mississippi native channeled both grief and gratitude as he honored his stepmother Tabitha, who raised him and passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I want to take the time to acknowledge her because she’s the reason I’m here,” Roberts said in a heartfelt segment before taking the stage. “She’s the reason I kept pushing, the reason I didn’t give up. She didn’t have children of her own, but she treated me like I was hers.”
As the opening notes of Cooke’s iconic civil rights-era ballad rang out, Roberts commanded the stage with controlled power and aching vulnerability. His voice swelled with each verse, capturing the pain of loss and the hope of perseverance—a performance that earned unanimous standing ovations from the judges.
“You just proved why you are here in the top seven and why you should continue to be here,” said Carrie Underwood, visibly moved by the tribute. Luke Bryan added, “How good you are is really humbling and amazing to me.” Richie, awestruck, quipped that there’s “no way” Roberts is singing songs like that without being “an old man,” marveling at the depth of his artistry.
Roberts’ performance came as part of a milestone episode of American Idol, in which the top seven contestants each sang two songs—one Disney classic and one dedicated to a mother figure in their lives.
The May 11 show also marked the franchise’s first-ever double Disney Night, aired live coast-to-coast, with voting open during the two-hour broadcast. The top five contestants were revealed by host Ryan Seacrest at the end of the night, as the competition inches closer to its grand finale.
Whether or not you’re familiar with Sam Cooke’s anthem of change, Roberts’ performance was a masterclass in emotional storytelling through song—and a powerful reminder of how music can honor the ones we’ve lost, while still lifting us forward.
