MERIDIAN, Miss.—Car horns blared and people cheered in the streets of downtown Meridian, Mississippi, on Sunday evening as citizens heard the news that one of their own, Jamal Roberts, had won American Idol.
The season 23 finale of the singing competition aired live on ABC on Sunday evening, with John Foster of Addis, Louisiana, and Breanna Nix of Denton, Texas, announced as runner-up and third place, respectively.
The City of Meridian held a homecoming parade for Roberts last Wednesday, May 14. The parade route downtown was not far from Crestwood Elementary School, where Roberts is a physical education teacher. The school’s social media account shows the student’s warm reception to their beloved teacher a day before the homecoming parade.
Roberts sang three songs during the finale episode: “First Time” by Teeks, a Maori Indigenous singer from New Zealand. He then sang “Just My Imagination” by the Temptations after ABC aired footage of his hometown parade. His final song of the evening was his own new single, “Heal.” His musical style is inspired by soul music and gospel from his upbringing in his family’s church.
American Idol host Ryan Seacrest said that it was the “biggest finale vote in (American Idol) history,” according to People magazine. Roberts is the second Black man to win the talent competition since Ruben Studdard of Birmingham, Alabama, in 2003.
Roberts is the second Mississippian to win American Idol since the show’s first season in 2002. Trent Harmon from Amory, Mississippi, won the show’s 15th season in 2016, with La’Porsha Renae of McComb, Mississippi, placing second as the runner-up that year.
Several Mississippi officials congratulated Roberts for his victory.
“You’ve made us proud with your voice, heart, and grace,” U.S. House Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat who represents Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District, wrote on Sunday. “Thank you for representing our state so well, and thank you to everyone in Mississippi and beyond who believed in him!”
“MISSISSIPPI WINS AGAIN! Congrats to Jamal Roberts,” Gov. Tate Reeves wrote in a social media post on Sunday evening.
Roberts has been singing since the age of 2, he told Billboard magazine in an interview in April. His family was involved in church, and the community discovered his talent early on. Roberts participated in the choir and also played the drums, and though he didn’t participate in choir or musicals in school, he still won talent shows.
This year was his third attempt at auditioning for American Idol.
“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 told Billboard.
In a social media post after winning, Roberts described the moment as unreal.
“To be a role model for my girls, my city, and anybody out there chasing something bigger, this means everything,” he wrote. “Now I get to do what I love, with the best in the game, and share my voice with the world. This is my dream… and it’s just the beginning. I love y’all more than words can say.”