American Idol Season 23 Ends with Record 26M Votes for Jamal Roberts

Jamal Roberts, a 27-year-old physical education teacher from Meridian, Mississippi, has won Season 23 of American Idol. The finale aired on Sunday, May 18, and concluded with Roberts defeating fellow finalists Breanna Nix and John Foster after a night of intense performances. . (ALSO READ: Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning First Reviews: Tom Cruise Delivers a “Masterclass in Filmmaking”)

Jamal Roberts’ “Her Heart” Performance Wins America Over

Jamal Roberts secured the title with a powerful rendition of Anthony Hamilton’s “Her Heart”, which earned high praise from the judges and viewers. He followed up with performances of “First Time” by TEEKS and “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)” by The Temptations after being announced as the winner.

The finale attracted over 26 million viewer votes, the highest since American Idol moved to ABC in 2018. His win marks a major moment for the long-running talent show, as Jamal Roberts, a public school teacher and father of two, brought emotional storytelling and soul-driven vocals to the forefront this season.

The finale also featured guest performances from Salt-N-Pepa and Patti LaBelle, with all three finalists performing live for the final audience vote.

Roberts now moves forward with a recording contract and is expected to release original music in the coming months.