Jamal Roberts is still soaking it all in. Just weeks after being crowned the Season 23 winner of American Idol, the 27-year-old Mississippi native says it still feels like a dream.
“It doesn’t feel real yet,” he told Us Weekly. “It’s something I’ve dreamed about forever, and now it’s actually happened. I keep asking myself, ‘Am I still dreaming?’”
Roberts stole hearts with his powerhouse vocals and emotional performance of Tom Odell’s “Heal” during the finale on May 18, beating out runner-ups John Foster and Breanna Nix. But even with the confetti still fresh, Jamal admits one thing hasn’t happened yet: the prize money.
“No, I haven’t received it yet,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t even know where it is. I’m curious!”
When that $250,000 check does come through, Jamal already knows what he’ll do with it. No flashy cars or shopping sprees—just a smart move. “I’m putting it in the bank,” he said simply.
Jamal’s win also came with a fun bonus: a Disney Wish cruise trip for four, which he’ll take alongside fellow finalist John Foster. With world-class dining, live entertainment, and a stop at Disney’s private island, it’s the kind of prize that sounds like a dream for anyone—especially a dad of three.
And for Jamal, being “Daddy” is still his proudest role. His daughters—Harmoni, Lyrik, and newborn Gianna—don’t quite understand the scale of their dad’s win just yet, but they know one thing for sure: “Daddy won.”
“All they really know is that I was gone for a while, and now I’m back,” he shared. “And that I won something.”
Instead of throwing a big party, Jamal celebrated the way most parents might dream of—quietly, with the people who matter most. “I grabbed a hot fish sandwich and spent the day at home with my girls,” he said with a smile.
Even as his career takes off—he’ll be appearing at CMA Fest in Nashville next month—Roberts is holding tight to what truly matters. “They have my whole heart,” he said of his daughters. “Every moment I get with them is everything.”
From small-town teacher and dad to national sensation, Jamal Roberts is proving that winning isn’t just about fame or fortune—it’s about staying true to who you are and never forgetting where you came from.
