In a heartfelt finale on Sunday night, Jamal Roberts – a humble 27-year-old P.E. teacher from Mississippi – was crowned the winner of American Idol 2025 (Season 23). Amid confetti and roaring applause, Roberts clinched the title after America cast a record-breaking 26 million votes, the “biggest finale vote in show history.”

The moment was overflowing with emotion as Roberts, who entered the competition as a relative unknown, stood on stage in tears of joy, grasping the microphone that had carried his soulful voice into the hearts of millions. His victory marks the triumphant culmination of a musical journey defined by perseverance, authentic talent, and an outpouring of love from fans.

From Classroom to Center Stage

Jamal Roberts’ road to stardom was anything but overnight. A native of Meridian, Mississippi, Roberts grew up singing in church from the time he “started at the age of two,” encouraged by a family deeply involved in gospel music. By day, he worked as a gym teacher at a local elementary school, nurturing kids in his community, but by night he nurtured a dream of music. In fact, this was not Roberts’ first attempt at Idol – he had auditioned twice in earlier years, once being told he was too young and needed more training, and another time finding himself unprepared with material. Instead of being discouraged, Roberts took those rejections to heart and used them as fuel. “I didn’t get defeated… I never gave up,” he said of those early setbacks.

Roberts even tried his luck on BET’s gospel competition Sunday Best during the 2020 COVID era, only to be cut before the finals. Rather than seeing it as a failure, he later reflected with gratitude that “if that never would’ve happened, this never would’ve happened,” believing that closed door led him to the Idol stage. His unwavering determination and faith set the stage for a comeback. In early 2025, Jamal finally earned his golden ticket on American Idol, delivering a moving audition of Rick James’ “Mary Jane” that immediately caught the judges’ attention. Lionel Richie praised his storytelling ability, telling Jamal, “You got the voice and you know how to tell a story. Priceless.” Luke Bryan loved the “southern soulfulness” in Jamal’s style, and Carrie Underwood encouraged the soft-spoken singer to “loosen up” and let his personality shine. With three emphatic yeses, the Mississippi teacher was on his way, embarking on the Idol journey he had fought for years to achieve.

Show-Stopping Performances That Won America Over

From the moment Jamal Roberts stepped into the spotlight, he delivered one show-stopping performance after another, each fueled by his rich, soulful vocals and genuine emotion. He proved his versatility during the season’s themed nights. On “Disney Night: Heroes and Villains,” for example, Jamal seamlessly went from an upbeat Motown classic to a tender movie ballad – in one night he belted out “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (as featured in Remember the Titans) and then poured his heart into “Beauty and the Beast,” the iconic Disney love song. His performances floored the crowd and the judges alike. It was here that Lionel Richie marveled at Jamal’s unique identity as a singer, noting that “When Jamal opens his mouth, he sounds like Jamal. He can sing a Disney song, [and] he sounds like Jamal…that’s a great performer.” In other words, whether Jamal was singing a soulful church hymn or a cartoon anthem, he made the song entirely his own – a hallmark of a true artist.

Throughout the season, Roberts delivered many memorable moments. He stunned viewers with passionate renditions of R&B and soul classics – from Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness” to Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” – infusing each song with raw emotion and gospel-inflected runs that often brought the judges to their feet. In the Top 8 week, he shared an especially personal moment: just hours after welcoming a new baby daughter, Jamal took the stage and dedicated his performance of “I Believe” (Fantasia’s famed Idol coronation song) to the “love that [he] feel[s] lifting [him] higher” – namely, the love of his children and hometown. By the time he reached the finale, Jamal had built incredible momentum as a front-runner.

During the grand finale, Jamal delivered what many consider his crowning musical moment with a soulful, show-stopping cover of “First Time” by TEEKS. The singer expertly made his final pitch to America with that 2021 neo-soul ballad, showcasing velvety vocals that soared to a climactic finish. The performance earned raves online – the official American Idol social media declared it an “instant classic Idol moment” that “hit different” for everyone watching. As a capstone to his journey, after being announced as champion Jamal tearfully reprised “Her Heart” by Anthony Hamilton – the same heartfelt song he’d sung back in Hollywood Week – turning his victory lap into a full-circle celebration. In that emotional performance, with confetti falling and his family cheering in the audience, every lyric seemed to echo the gratitude and passion of Jamal’s long road to this moment.

An Emotional Finale Night

The season 23 finale was an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. Jamal entered the night as one of three finalists (alongside 25-year-old Texas mom Breanna Nix and 18-year-old Louisiana student John Foster), all vying for America’s vote. After a series of powerhouse performances in the three-hour live show, host Ryan Seacrest announced that the top three would be narrowed to two – and in a tense early elimination, Breanna Nix was sent home in third place. That left Jamal and John as the final two standing, a Mississippi vs. Louisiana showdown between two Southern talents who had become close friends. Seacrest revealed that the finale had drawn over 26 million votes, more than double last year’s total – a testament to how passionately viewers were invested in these finalists. As the dramatic music swelled and the judges held their breaths, the nation’s votes named Jamal Roberts as the next American Idol. In that instant, the Meridian native’s life changed forever.

Roberts appeared momentarily in shock, covering his face as tears fell, before breaking into a jubilant smile. Confetti canons erupted and the audience of thousands (including Jamal’s family and friends) leapt to their feet with deafening cheers. The judges rushed on stage to congratulate him – Lionel Richie gave Jamal a proud hug, and Carrie Underwood beamed like a proud mentor. Luke Bryan was seen clapping and nodding, as if unsurprised by the outcome. (Indeed, Luke had boldly predicted before the finale that his “gut has told me Jamal has been a lead all year” – a natural star – and now the rest of the world is catching up to that fact.)

What’s Next for Jamal Roberts?

With the confetti now settled, Jamal Roberts is poised for an exciting future in music. By winning American Idol, he has earned a coveted prize package that typically includes a recording contract – opening the door for him to make his long-awaited debut album. The music industry has certainly taken notice of Jamal’s talent. “Right now, they’re falling in love with the artist,” Lionel Richie said of Jamal’s newfound fanbase, adding that the next step will be turning those voters into music buyers when Jamal releases original songs. In the coming weeks, Jamal will likely be in studio sessions and meetings with producers. Songwriters from Nashville to Los Angeles are surely eager to write for the soulful crooner who can infuse gospel passion into pop music. Given his ability to convey deep emotion in every cover he sang, many believe Jamal could carve out a niche in R&B/soul or even contemporary gospel once he starts recording.

Industry insiders are already buzzing about Jamal’s potential. His knack for interpretation (recall how he made even a Disney tune sound like a personal anthem) suggests that he’ll excel not only as a vocalist but also possibly as a songwriter with something to say. In fact, Jamal has already dabbled in recording – he independently released a single in 2020 – but now he’ll have the backing of a major platform and mentorship from Idol’s team to truly launch his music career.

As Jamal Roberts steps into the next chapter of his life, the excitement in the music industry is palpable. American Idol has a long history of discovering superstars – from Carrie Underwood to Kelly Clarkson – and many are already predicting that Jamal could be the next success story to emerge from the show. He has the voice, he has the heart, and he has the compelling story that resonates with people.