Jamal Roberts Wins American Idol
The exceptionally talented Jamal Roberts is the newest winner of American Idol!
The Meridian, Mississippi native has wowed audiences for 24 weeks as a contestant on the 23rd season of the hit show. Jamal‘s love of his homestate of Mississippi, his charming and relatable demeanor and undeniable talent not only captivated a national audience, but has secured him a built-in fan base.
The 27-year old physical education teacher got his start singing in church. Encouraged by his grandparents, Jamal continued his pursuit of music and would go on to first appear as a contetest on BET’s gospel-themed singing competition Sunday Best, in 2020 where he made it to the Top 3.
Jamal is only the second Black male to win American Idol since Ruben Studdard won 22 years ago! Roberts’ historic defeat of John Foster and Brianna Nix was named the “biggest finale vote in show history” by host Ryan Seacrest.
Jamal Roberts‘ win means so much to many, but particularly to the people of Mississippi. He is a shining example that with faith—(he has never waivered in his faith and continued to put it on full display throughout the competition); and perseverance—(he auditioned for American Idol at two other times before ultimately being selected and winning the competition), anything is possible. He told Billboard, “I didn’t get defeated. I never gave up. I took the ‘no.’ I’ve always been able to take constructive criticism and use it for my gain, and try again. This has always been me.” He’s used his platform to speak about everything from underserved communities to mental wellness, as is displayed in his latest single, “Heal” released via 19 Recordings, Inc. The new single follows his 2020 release, “He’s Preparing Me.”
Roberts’ South Mississippi concert at Ground Zero Blues Club in Biloxi, MS on Friday, Aug. 8 is already sold out. More concert and album details to come…
As a native of Mississippi, I could not be more proud of the incredible, Jamal Roberts!
Jamal Roberts’ new single, “Heal” is currently available via all digital streaming platforms. Listen to it below…