Jamal Roberts’ unique record and many more unknown things about the new American Idol winner—all you need to know!

Jamal Roberts, a teacher from Mississippi, won the American Idol title in its 23rd season.
He beat co-contestants Breanna Nix and John Foster in the finale held on May 18.
Here are all things you need to know about the new Idol, from his humble beginnings to his unique record on the show.

Mississippi-based teacher Jamal Roberts beat John Foster and Breanna Nix to win the American Idol title in the Season 23 finale held on May 18. Roberts won the hearts of the judges and fellow contestants with a soulful rendition of Anthony Hamilton’s Her Heart. The winner’s title was awarded to a Black man for the second time in history after Ruben Studdard.

Roberts won the competition after securing 26 million votes in the finale. The three judges of the competition, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood, were first impressed by the singer’s version of Rick James’ Mary Jane. Here are a few things that you might not know about the new American Idol.

7Jamal Roberts is not planning to leave teaching

Jamal Roberts during his appearance on American Idol Season 23 | Credits: ABC

As fans know by now, the latest winner of American Idol is a physical education teacher from Meridian, Mississippi. He teaches at Crestwood Elementary School. Despite spending a good portion of his days at school teaching kids, he was able to commit himself to his musical dreams.

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Now that he has won the title and has a potential music career in front of him, fans might want to know if he would leave teaching altogether. Well, he has answered the question at the red carpet of American Idol.

He told USA Today that he did the teaching job not for the money, but for the kids who served as an inspiration to him. He stated that he would continue to teach the kids. He shared:

I wasn’t really doing the teaching thing for the money. It was really the kids, (who are) just my inspiration. So even if I could go back every now and then, just show up and be a part of something, I plan to do that.

During an interview with Billboard, he shared that he was a handful, but his teachers never gave up on him. He shared that they saw his flaws and his gift, and made things easier for him. He added that he had some great principals along the way.

6He owed his musical career to his grandparents

Jamal Roberts with Ryan Seacrest on American Idol Season 23 | Credits: ABC

Jamal Roberts’ talent in singing was discovered by his grandparents. He shared with Billboard that he started singing at a very young age, right from when he was two. Hailing from a religious family, his first stage happened to be the church. He shared that he had a granddad on his father’s side who was a bishop and a granddad on his mom’s side who was a deacon. He shared:

I started singing at the age of two. My grandparents found out I could sing and I started singing in church and [covering] the Temptations and Michael Jackson. I had a granddaddy on my dad’s side who was a bishop and a grandad on my mom’s side was a deacon, so I was in church every time the door opened. I was the usher, and I was in the choir and I used to play the drums.

He shared that he knew music was going to be his career, sharing that he loved singing and that it was fun. His feelings about a musical career were reinforced by his grandmother, who used to tell him, “When you get a job that you love doing, you stick with it.” The church and his family both had a huge role in his winning the American Idol title.

5Roberts released his first song five years ago

Jamal Roberts during his appearance on American Idol Season 23 | Credits: ABC

Outside of the church, Roberts didn’t sing much on public stages during his school days. He didn’t want to sing in choirs or musicals, but he shared that he won every talent show he was in. He shared that he sang in his room. Roberts told Billboard, “I would sing to myself or create music, and it actually sounded good. When I got older, I felt better because I thought I had something special.”

Roberts didn’t release his first self-written music until five years ago. He shared, “The title is ‘He’s Preparing Me.’ It was one and done. I’ve written more, but I haven’t released anything else.” He was 23 at the time. He mentioned David Ruffin, Jamie Foxx, B.B. King, Michael Jackson, Al Green, Marvin Sapp, Daryl Coley, and Lee Williams as his musical influences.

4He previously attended American Idol auditions twice

Jamal Roberts’ first appearance on American Idol Season 23 | Credits: ABC

Jamal Roberts grew up watching the long-running television show, but added that he didn’t usually get to watch it live due to Sunday church. However, he shared that he and his brother used to guess the eliminations each week and the final winner. He shared with Billboard:

Sundays we’d still be in church, so I didn’t get to catch it live, but when I used to go back and watch it, me and my brother tried to put together who was going to win and who would be kicked out next.

He had attended auditions for American Idol twice before he got in the third time this year and won the title. He recalled his first audition when he was told that he was too young for the competition. The judges told him that he needed vocal training.

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During his second audition, he made the mistake of preparing only one song. He advanced to a point where he needed a second song and therefore fumbled the chance. After successfully entering the competition in his third attempt, Roberts told Billboard:

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 got a ‘yes’ from all three judges, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood, after his first performance, although he got some critical comments. Roberts took the comments seriously and worked hard at delivering the best throughout the competition. He was Bryan’s favorite to win a week before the competition (via PEOPLE).

3American Idol taught him to stay true to himself

Jamal Roberts with John Foster on American Idol Season 23 | Credits: ABC

Jamal Roberts got one comment from a judge on American Idol that stuck with him. He shared that Lionel Richie told him that he was exploding when he was on stage doing what he loved to do. Richie further told him that he would hate to see Roberts go. Roberts told Billboard about Richie’s words:

He said, ‘When you are on stage and get to doing what you’re doing, you’re exploding. I hate to see you leave.’ That stuck with me. It means I’m doing something right.

He also shared another important lesson that American Idol had taught him. He shared, “I’ve learned to stay true to yourself. Don’t second-guess yourself,” adding, “Go with your first mind. Anything that you do, do your best.”

Interestingly, Richie had only great words to share after Roberts’ finale performance. He shared about the performance, “You got the voice, and you know how to tell a story. Priceless.”

2Jamal Roberts welcomed a baby just days ago

Jamal Roberts during his appearance on American Idol Season 23 | Credits: ABC

The American Idol title is the second-best thing Jamal Roberts achieved this year. Just a few days ago, Roberts welcomed a baby girl, his third child, into the world. On May 16, Roberts revealed the news of his newborn baby to the world via his Instagram.

The baby was dressed in a little ladybug costume. Roberts wrote in captions, “Hey world, meet my little ladybug, Gianna Grace Roberts. I’m so proud to be her father.” According to Roberts, all he wanted to do after winning the title was to go and see his daughter.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jamal Roberts (@officialjamalroberts)

He shared with USA Today, “I’m going to see my daughter, Gianna. I’ve got a lot of making up to do.” Jamal has two other daughters: Harmoni, 6, and Lyrik, 4. Roberts’ relationship status remains unclear at the moment. However, he told Billboard that he had kids before marriage. He opened up about being a dad with the outlet:

Growing up in the church, of course we knew to be married before we had kids. I wasn’t, but being a dad is literally the best thing that ever happened to me. It calmed me down and gave me a better look at things and actually having girls teaches you how to treat a woman. They’re very sensitive, especially with their daddy. So you learn how to treat this one without making this one feel jealous.

He also shared that his school teachers were his role models for being a parent. The name of the children’s mother has not been publicly shared.

1Jamal Roberts is the first Black man to win American Idol since 2003

Jamal Roberts in American Idol Season 23 finale | Credits: ABC

As the Season 23 winner of American Idol, Jamal Roberts also became the first Black man to win the title since Season 2. In the second edition of the event in 2003, Ruben Studdard became the first Black man to win the title in the event’s history. Roberts mentioned Studdard as one of the former Idols that he looked up to.

When Roberts was crowned the winner, host Ryan Seacrest announced that he won after the “biggest finale vote in show history.” Roberts took to Instagram after the finale, sharing that he was still trying to process this unbelievable moment. He shared that the journey was bigger than him and thanked everyone who supported him along the way.

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A post shared by Jamal Roberts (@officialjamalroberts)

After his big win in the competition, he told Gold Derby, “I’m anointed. I will always remember that moment, because I’ve actually never done a snow angel before in the real snow. It was just amazing.” He further told the outlet that he was excited to get to work on “an inspirational soul” album after the win.

American Idol is now available for streaming on Hulu.