Is the third time the charm for American Idol Top 7 finalist Jamal Roberts? The P.E. teacher and proud girl dad recalled being turned away the first two times he auditioned. Undeterred, he decided to give it another shot for season 23. Outsinging the competition each week, Roberts is one of seven remaining contestants vying for the title. And tonight, he once again soared with this Disney classic.
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Jamal Roberts Performs ‘Hercules’ Tune on ‘American Idol’
As part of American Idol’s Top 7, Jamal Roberts traveled to Disneyland Resort with his young daughters. Sharing adorable photos of himself enjoying time with his girls, it was time to get back to work for Sunday’s (May 11) episode.
For the first of season 23’s two Disney-themed nights, Roberts belted “Go the Distance” from the 1997 animated film Hercules.
“Jamal said he’s a “lyrics guy” and he proves it every performance,” gushed one viewer on X/Twitter. “He enunciates beautifully. He sings from his soul.”
Go the Distance is the perfect choiceeeeee for Jamal #AmericanIdol
— kiana 🫧💓 (@thekianacg) May 12, 2025
Originally performed by actor Roger Bart in his titular role, the track received Best Original Song nods at both the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes. However, it (understandably) lost both to Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” from Titanic.
Ahead of his performance, Roberts took to social media to soak in the moment. “Sitting here reflecting on how American Idol has changed my life!!! I’ve grown so much as an artist, both physically and mentally!!” he wrote on Instagram. “Thank you, America, for taking a chance on me.”
[RELATED: Is ‘American Idol’ New Tonight (5/11)? How Many Episodes Until the Finale]
Next week, viewers will see one of the Top 7 crowned the next champion of American Idol. Season 23 wraps up with its grand finale Sunday, May 18, on ABC.
Jamal Roberts Wants to Make His Hometown A Better Place
Throughout his time on American Idol, Jamal Roberts has continually shouted out his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi. He told a local news outlet that the Meridian High School class of 2016 has “supported me wholeheartedly.” And he’s hoping to use his time on the show as a force for good for the town where he was born and raised.
“Everything is not peaches and cream,” Roberts said of his hometown during his audition. “There’s a lot of crime and all that going on. Things are getting worse. People are scared to even open up their mouth because somebody’s going to point a gun at them because they said the wrong thing. Some days you don’t even want to come outside.”
However, Meridian “could be a whole lot better than what it is,” he said. “So, I’m hoping that I can bring a little light to it.”
Featured image by Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images
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