During the first of two Disney-themed nights on American Idol season 23, Jamal Roberts secured his spot in the Top 5 with a Herculean performance. The elementary school teacher from Meridian, Mississippi joins Thunderstorm Artis, John Foster, Slater Nalley, and Breanna Nix in the Top 5. With just two episodes remaining, each performance is more important than the last. Roberts made his case for the finale with a song from the 2000 Disney film Remember the Titans.
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Jamal Roberts Performs “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” on ‘American Idol’
For American Idol‘s second night of Disney-themed performance, Top 5 finalist Jamal Roberts took viewers to church with a soul-filled rendition of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
jamal has the best vocals on the show and you cannot deny that AND he’s fun to watch.. also, that video before he took the stage made me tear up. his little girls are adorable 😭 #AmericanIdol
— darcy jade (@darcjade) May 13, 2025
Written in 1966 by dynamic Motown duo Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell scored a Top 20 hit when they recorded “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” Four years later, Diana Ross would record her own version, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her a Grammy nod for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell version features prominently in the 2000 sports classic Remember the Titans.
Oh, we needed that. Sing Jamal. 🔥 #AmericanIdol pic.twitter.com/mjbswvYEXd
— Lamont (@LamontJunior) May 13, 2025
Roberts, 27, punched his ticket to the Top 5 with two stellar performances during Sunday’s (May 11) episode. He kicked off the night with “Go the Distance” from Hercules, following later in the night with “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke.
“Everything we throw at you…you make it your own,” judge Carrie Underwood said after his first performance. “You make it fit you.”
[RELATED: 3 Quick Facts About ‘American Idol’ Standout Jamal Roberts]
Roberts Celebrates Top 5
There’s still a lot of competition left in this season of American Idol, and no doubt Jamal Roberts is feeling the pressure. However, ahead of Monday’s (May 12) episode, he took some time to celebrate his accomplishments on social media.
Won’t he do it??? Yes, he will!!!!” Roberts wrote. “Just like that, I’m in the Top 5. I am so thankful for everyone who voted and for the support that I have in my corner. I will never forget these moments.”
Featured image by Christopher Willard/Disney via Getty Images
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