Jamal Roberts Emerges Winner of American Idol Season 23

Meridian native, Jamal Roberts has emerged as the winner of American Idol Season 23, marking an historic milestone.

Recall that American Idol Season 23 premiered on March 2, 2025, on ABC, with Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood as judges.

Jamal Roberts beat out fellow finalists John Foster and Breanna Nix in the finale, which aired on May 18, 2025, hosted by Ryan Seacrest.

The finale saw over 27 million votes cast, exceeding the previous season’s aggregate.

As the winner, Roberts will receive a recording deal with Hollywood Records, including a signing advance of around $125,000, another $100,000 upon completing his first album, and a recording budget of up to $300,000.

This win marks a significant milestone, as Roberts becomes the second Black man to win the competition in 22 years, following Ruben Studdard’s win in Season 2.

Interestingly, Roberts is a father of three daughters and shared the news of his youngest child’s birth, prior to the finale .