After weeks of tough competition and some truly unforgettable performances, American Idol officially crowned Jamal Roberts as the winner of Season 23 during the live finale on ABC. Jamal managed to win over millions of viewers, beating out the other two finalists—John Foster and Breanna Nix—to take home the title.
Host Ryan Seacrest called it the biggest finale vote in the history of the ABC version of American Idol, revealing that over 27 million votes were cast. That’s more than double the number of votes from last year’s finale, showing just how invested fans were in this season.
Each of the final three contestants gave it everything they had in their last chance to impress the audience. Breanna Nix delivered heartfelt and powerful ballads, singing In Jesus Name (God of Possible) by Katy Nichole and The Climb by Miley Cyrus—both emotional, faith-driven anthems. John Foster went the country route, sticking to patriotic and nostalgic classics like Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue by Toby Keith and Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver.
Jamal Roberts, however, brought something special. His performances were soulful and smooth, showcasing his emotional depth with First Time by Teeks and Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) by The Temptations. His unique voice and presence clearly struck a chord with viewers across the country.
After the votes were tallied, Breanna placed third, leaving John and Jamal as the top two. In a suspenseful final moment, Seacrest revealed that Jamal had won it all, officially becoming the new American Idol.
The grand finale wasn’t just about the competition—it was also a full-on celebration, with a star-studded list of performers lighting up the stage. Big names like Jelly Roll, Salt-N-Pepa, Goo Goo Dolls, Kirk Franklin, Brandon Lake, Jessica Simpson, and Patti LaBelle all performed. Even the judges—Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood—joined in on the fun, singing Richie’s classic hit Stuck on You together.
As the new champion, Jamal will now sign with Hollywood Records. According to Newsweek, he’ll receive about $125,000 up front, another $100,000 once he finishes his first album, and up to $300,000 in recording costs, which the label will recoup from his future earnings.
For more than two decades, American Idol has remained a consistent launching pad for new music stars, with legends like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood getting their start on the show. And now, Jamal Roberts is stepping into that spotlight, ready to begin his journey as America’s next big musical sensation.