“It’s slowly but surely sinking in,” says American Idol winner Jamal Roberts. The 27-year-old from Meridian, Miss., emerged victorious on May 18, taking home the title in the Season 23 finale of ABC’s singing competition. Roberts defeated finalists John Foster and Breanna Nix to claim the top spot.

“I’m still in shock. I’m still amazed,” he says of the overwhelming support he’s received. “My big dream is no longer a dream — it’s now a reality.”

Roberts has had his sights set on American Idol for years, catching occasional episodes despite his obligations as a “church kid.” The show often aired while he was at Sunday service, but he was committed enough to go back and rewatch the highlights.

“I watched a couple seasons,” Roberts tells Gold Derby. “Church kid — it usually comes on Sunday — so I missed it sometimes. But yeah, I knew the rundown. I knew what it consisted of. I knew about making right choices, choosing the right songs, and delivering each time.”

This thoughtful approach paid off, as Roberts captivated audiences week after week, culminating in the success of his first single “Heal,” which soared to number one on iTunes. Reflecting on that milestone, Roberts candidly shares his disbelief: “I don’t know what to say. It was amazing. I just didn’t expect it. This is my first time.”

He continues, saying, “People ask me all the time… ‘How do you feel? What do you think about that?’ I’m like, ‘This is my first time too, guys! This is my first time being number one.’ It was my first time on American Idol. It was my first experience. Everything is brand new to me, but I’m grateful and thankful for the opportunities.”

Photo by Disney/Christopher Willard
Roberts’ win can be attributed, in part, to his keen ability to choose songs that resonate deeply with him, a skill he honed throughout the competition. “I’m a lyric person,” Roberts explains. “If the lyrics speak to me and I can insert myself in a song in any way, then that’s the song for me. Anytime I can resonate with the lyrics and they mean something to me — whether it’s my past, whether it’s my future, whether it’s based on my faith — I’m able to insert myself and just create a whole new meaning with the song.”

While “Heal” clearly resonated with Roberts, he’s not ready to box himself into one musical genre just yet. “I love all genres of music. I’m strictly a church kid. I’ve got church roots. I’ve been in church all my life. ‘Heal’ definitely speaks to the soul and the minds, and I’m excited about that. But I do think any genre I sing, I’ll be able to draw people with the lyrics, with the emotion, and just change the whole view of the song.”

Throughout the competition, Roberts was tested in ways he never anticipated. He points to the Disneyland portion of the show as one of the most challenging experiences. “Having my kids there — I want to celebrate with them and have fun with them, but you’ve got to record 24/7 and still have to learn the songs. Even though you’re at Disneyland, songs still have to be learned. You have to be ready to get on stage in the next couple of days and perform — not one, not two, but four songs now. Four songs I completely did not know. I’d heard one before, but all those songs, like “Beauty and the Beast” and “I Can Go The Distance,” I mean, I didn’t know those songs. I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ I was freaking out, just having a mental breakdown. I was like, ‘What am I going to do?’ That was probably one of the biggest moments for me.”

Photo by Disney/Christopher Willard

Working with mentors was one of the highlights of Roberts’ journey, and one mentor in particular stood out. “Oh yeah, definitely Fantasia,” Roberts says emphatically. When asked what he learned from her, he shares, “She told me to be my authentic self. Don’t change for nobody — this is what works. I mean, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’ is basically what she was saying. And just keep being true to myself and true to my music.”

In the finale, Roberts and Foster stood side-by-side, waiting to hear host Ryan Seacrest announce the winner. “Absolutely nothing went through my head but, ‘Ryan is taking too long calling the name.’ That’s it. Who’s it going to be?”

Buzz has since circulated about a viral video showing Foster glancing over at Seacrest, as if he might have seen the results. Roberts denies noticing anything, saying Foster never mentioned it to him. “He did not. And I had my eyes closed, so I didn’t see him either.”

Photo by Disney/Christopher Willard

One of Roberts’ biggest supporters during the season was Jelly Roll, who Roberts now has plans to collaborate with. “Yeah, we’re already working on that now. We’re working on some stuff as we speak,” he reveals. “He FaceTimed me. I didn’t know who the number was, and then he texted me, ‘So you Hollywood now, you can’t answer the phone?’ I was like, ‘Man, I didn’t know who the number was.’ But yeah, we locked in. That’s my boy right there. He’s got my back. We’re going to have something coming soon.”

While Roberts’ victory was certainly special, his focus quickly turned to the accomplishments of others he cares about. Exhausted but grateful, Roberts quickly flew home to Meridien to see his former students at Crestwood Elementary. “I jumped back into work because the kids wanted to see me on the last day of school,” he reveals. “I just wanted to tell them how proud I am of them and their accomplishments this year.”

American Idol will return for Season 24 on ABC in 2026. It has not yet been confirmed if judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan will return.