Jamal Roberts gave a golden ticket-worthy performance and is now headed to Hollywood in the latest season of “American Idol.” Roberts, a Crestwood Elementary P.E. teacher, admits that he felt nervous during his audition.
He told WTOK, “I think I was more nervous. My nerves definitely took over. I stepped in there. Lights, boom. Action. And that was it. And I kid you not, when my song started, I forgot every word.”
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But he did it flawlessly.
Growing up, his grandparents constantly complimented him on his voice, the father of two explained. They would always allow him to sing and encourage him with words of affirmation, he said.
Roberts explained that when he first started singing the “Temptations,” his grandparents were like, “Yeah, this is it. You can sing.” And he has been singing ever since.
The Meridian native has sang for Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie in addition to performing for his family with the hopes of becoming the next American Idol.
However, this was not his first attempt at musical fame. Despite being in the top three of BET’s Sunday Best in 2021, Roberts was unable to win the season.
He stated, “Sunday Best has prepared me because it gave me thick skin. It broke my heart a little bit, you know? … Because I was expecting to be great, to do something great, and then I was told that I’m not.”
Roberts believes he’s a man with a God-given talent who wants to encourage many, including his hometown.
“The world is evolving. But the Word of God remains the same. When he tells you that your gift will make room, you really don’t have to be in a church. And you really can’t win souls stuck in those four walls anyway… I’m trying to bring back what I grew up in. That love. That peace. And try to get them not to lose hope. Don’t lose hope,” said Roberts.
He also hasn’t given up striving for a breakthrough.
He expressed, “I feel like I’m different. I feel like if you want something, and you ask me to do it, that’s what you can get. I mean, that’s just how I feel. I’m versatile. I’m in my own lane. I’ve got my own swagger about things. The way I do it is not the way you’ve heard it before. It’s always gonna be different.”
