Jamal Roberts, a 26-year-old gym teacher from Crestwood Elementary School in Meridian, Mississippi, is making waves on season 23 of American Idol. He first caught everyone’s attention during his audition when he sang “Mary Jane” by Rick James. The judges loved it! Lionel Richie said, “You have a great voice and know how to share a story.” Luke Bryan liked how honest Jamal sounded, and Carrie Underwood told him to believe in himself more when he’s on stage.
During Hollywood Week, Jamal kept impressing everyone. He sang “Her Heart” by Anthony Hamilton, and Lionel Richie was amazed. He said, “Something special happened to your voice since the last time we heard you—God gave you a gift!” The audience cheered, and Jamal’s performance showed he was getting even better.
In the Showstopper round, Jamal tried something new. He sang “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton, which was different from the songs he picked before. This big moment helped him make it to the Top 24 in the competition. It was a proud step for him!
Before American Idol, Jamal was on another singing show called Sunday Best on BET in 2020, where he came in third place. When he’s not singing, he’s busy teaching kids how to stay active and healthy. He’s also a dad to two little girls named Harmoni and Lyrik, who must be so excited to see him on TV.
You can watch Jamal’s journey on American Idol and cheer him on as he keeps chasing his dreams! Check out his performances online to see how far he’s come.
