Jamal Roberts, a 27-year-old physical education teacher—who was crowned the winner of Season 23 of American Idol—is from Meridian, Mississippi.
The victory was announced during the live finale on the night of May 18, as he had achieved a record-breaking 26 million viewer votes.
John Foster of Addis, Louisiana, and Breanna Nix of Denton were the runner-up and third-place finisher, respectively, in the singing competition aired live on ABC.
Roberts became the first Black man to win the American Idol title since Ruben Studdard, an American singer and actor, in 2003.
The Top 14 contestants crowded around him in celebration for his winner’s song when Roberts sang Anthony Hamilton’s “Her Heart.”
He had just welcomed a baby girl into the world, as his crowning marked the latest celebration this month.
After the finale taping wrapped, Roberts told the media on the Idol red carpet that he was going to see his daughter, Gianna, who was just nine days old, in Mississippi.
He also has two other daughters—Harmoni and Lyrik.
After Roberts returned to Mississippi to meet the new baby, the elementary school coach said he doesn’t expect Roberts will leave teaching behind for good, necessarily.
The singer, also a devoted father of three, balanced his teaching duties at Crestwood Elementary School with his passion for music.
His musical roots trace back to his childhood, and he had auditioned for American Idol twice before.
