After winning season 23 of “American Idol” on May 18, 2025, and watching his first single — “Heal” — top the iTunes charts, Mississippi R&B singer Jamal Roberts is already thinking about the new music he hopes to record and release.

When asked by Access Hollywood which stars he’d love to collaborate with, Roberts had an immediate answer. “Oh, Jelly Roll and Fantasia on the first album — no doubt,” he smiled.

Given that both stars mentored Roberts during his “American Idol” journey and became huge fans, with Fantasia even casting her first-ever “American Idol” votes for him, the likelihood of those dream collabs coming to fruition is pretty high.

Fantasia Encouraged Her Fans to Vote for Jamal Roberts During Finale

When Fantasia was the celebrity guest mentor in late April, Roberts was sweating bullets before meeting her, given that he considers her one of his music idols.

“You don’t have the slightest clue how much I love Fantasia,” he told producers, and then was so nervous to meet her that he said he was just “trying to breathe” as the Grammy winner called him onto the stage to rehearse.

Once he got a big hug from Fantasia and sat down with her to talk, they worked on his cover of Tom ODell’s “Heal,” a song he didn’t know before that week. As he rehearsed, Fantasia was visibly wowed by the “pain” in his voice and his vocal skills. He blew the judges away with his rendition and wound up recording it as his first post-show single.

By the time the finale rolled around, Fantasia was cheering Roberts on from her home, watching live and encouraging her fans to vote for him — something she’s never done for a contestant. During the finale, she posted several videos to her Instagram stories. In one, she showed the TV screen after Roberts had finished performing and zeroed in on the voting instructions for him.

“Let’s go,” she said, turning the camera on herself. “Now, normally I don’t do this, but let’s go. My people. Let’s go. I haven’t watched ‘American Idol’ in years but this young man reminds me so much of me. His story. He hasn’t been given anything. He’s always had to fight for it. Loves God. Loves his children.”

In another Instagram story, she wrote in white text on a black background, “I’ve never Voted but this time … Please Vote” and gave details on how to text votes for Roberts. That was then followed up by another video of her beaming as she watched Roberts singing just after being crowned the winner, laughing and shaking her head in amazement as he sang.

Jelly Roll Said He Loved ‘Everything About’ Jamal Robert

Roberts first captured Jelly Roll’s attention during the Hawaii round, when he mentored him as the show’s artist-in-residence, alongside guest mentor performed the country superstar’s hit “Liar.” After hearing Roberts talk about how he’s tried to see the good and rise above the lack of hope in his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi, and then hearing him rehearse, Jelly Roll got choked up, wiping his tears and hugging him afterwards.

“Man, that wasn’t a performance, you were testifying,” he told Roberts. “I feel the pain in your voice. You know, you can’t teach that. I am your champion in this thing, man. I think you’ve got it. I think you represent a group of misrepresented people. Man, you got it, Jamal.”

Once Roberts performed it onstage, competing for viewers’ votes, Jelly Roll said from the audience, I would feel disrespectful to call this my song at this moment. This is now Jamal’s song. I was singing Jamal’s song tonight! Man, I am blown away. Everything about him — his story, his testimony, his love for his children, his community, his city — but most importantly, I love his voice!”

The duo performed two of Jelly Roll’s songs on the finale, “Unpretty” and “Liar,” and it was clear that Jelly Roll was amazed by Roberts’ voice then, too, bowing down to him afterwards.

As the winner of “American Idol,” Roberts will have the option to sign a development deal with 19 Recordings, the show’s record label partner, which is part of BBR Music Group. Conveniently, it’s also Jelly Roll’s record label, making a collaboration between the two even more likely.