American Idol Winner Jamal Roberts Reveals What He’s Doing Once Gets Home as Judge Luke Bryan Says He’s a ‘Fan’
NEED TO KNOW
- Jamal Roberts reveals his plans after winning American Idol
- Roberts reveals his reaction to Breanna Nix predicting his win early on in the season
- The judges share their thoughts on Roberts’ victory
After winning season 23 of American Idol, Jamal Roberts has one thing on his mind — and that’s sleep!
Speaking with reporters in a roundtable interview after the Sunday, May 18 finale, Roberts revealed his plans after being crowned the winner.
“I’m going to take a nap,” Roberts, 27, said to PEOPLE.
During the finale, a video was shown where contestant Breanna Nix — who came in third place — predicted Roberts would be the winner earlier in the season. Reflecting on that moment, Roberts didn’t want to believe it.
“I was like, ‘Girl, hush. Be quiet,'” Roberts told reporters. “I feel amazing. She was like, ‘You’re anointed.’ She said, ‘It’s a different anointing.’ She said, ‘You’re going to win this.'”
Meanwhile, judge Lionel Richie said Roberts “can go any way he wants” in his career.
“He can go country tomorrow. I mean, as far as I’m concerned, he’s off to the races,” Richie told reporters after the show.
“And I think what I loved the most was what America needed to see was the two of them standing together,” he added of Roberts and the runner-up, John Foster. “That’s what I pray for for America, because we’re a melting pot. We’re not just one particular tribe. And so to see them together was just the picture I was hoping for.”
Judge Luke Bryan — who previously expressed he had a “gut feeling” about Roberts — said he “wanted him to win”
“And when I say that, you never want to take away from what John Foster did. John Foster is incredible, and I think John will do… He’ll do really well in music, but when I look at Jamal’s whole approach at singing, he’s a really great singer,” he clarified. “I think that’s what American Idol is about, great singers winning, and he is a great one… when I listen to [him], he really moves me. I am really a fan of him.”
Christopher Willard/Disney via Getty
Judge Carrie Underwood, who won the show in 2005, shared a piece of advice for Roberts.
“At the end, I got to tell him congratulations. I said, ‘Now, go do great things.’ Because it’s such an incredible launching pad, springboard, opportunity. He’s got to hustle. He’s got to work hard,” the “Before He Cheats” singer said. “He’s got to make a lot of big decisions, and then say some prayers and see where the good Lord takes him.”
On Sunday night, Roberts — who’s a gym teacher at a local elementary school in Mississippi — sang “Her Heart” by Anthony Hamilton to mark his win.
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