Jamal Roberts isn’t slowing down — if anything, he’s just getting started. Less than a year after winning American Idol, the Meridian, Mississippi native continues to prove that the judges and voters saw something special from the very beginning.
Roberts’ journey began in March 2025 when he first stepped onto the Idol stage and immediately won over Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood. Week after week, he showcased remarkable versatility, effortlessly moving across genres while maintaining his unmistakable gospel-rooted sound. On May 18, 2025, his consistency and star power paid off when he was crowned the winner — becoming only the second African American male to take the title in the show’s history.
Since then, Roberts’ rise has been nothing short of impressive. In under a year, he’s earned a Grammy nomination, topped gospel charts, and continued expanding his audience far beyond the Idol fan base. His latest milestone came on one of the biggest stages imaginable: the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship.
Ahead of the title game — where the Indiana Hoosiers secured their first-ever national championship — Roberts was invited to perform the national anthem in front of millions of viewers. Calm, confident, and pitch-perfect, he delivered a powerful rendition that stopped the stadium cold and reminded everyone why his voice resonates so deeply.
Sharing the moment on Instagram, Roberts expressed his gratitude, writing, “Truly honored to have sung the National Anthem at the CFP National Championship 🇺🇸. Beyond grateful for this moment.” He also used the spotlight to tease what’s next, announcing that his new single “Head Up” is on the way.
The performance quickly went viral, racking up more than 232,000 views and drawing overwhelming praise from fans. Comments flooded in, applauding both his vocal control and emotional delivery. Many called it one of the best anthem performances they’d heard, while others admitted they found themselves asking, “Who was that?” — a sure sign of a breakout moment.
Even American Idol weighed in, commenting simply, “Unbelievable!!! A true Idol.” It was a full-circle affirmation for a winner whose talent continues to speak louder than any debate about the show’s champions.
With his calendar already filling up, Roberts shows no signs of limiting himself. He’s teased upcoming genre-spanning music releases, a City Winery tour, performances around Super Bowl week, and of course, the upcoming Grammy Awards on February 1.
From the American Idol stage to a national championship spotlight, Jamal Roberts is building momentum the right way — through undeniable talent, humility, and performances that leave no doubt. The choice was right then, and it’s even clearer now.
