HOT NEWS: Jamal Roberts’s Mother Kim Just Spoke Out from Meridian, Mississippi

In an emotional and long-awaited moment, Kim Roberts, the mother of American Idol Season 23 winner Jamal Roberts, has broken her silence in a heartfelt interview from their hometown of Meridian, Mississippi. Speaking to local press for the first time since her son’s meteoric rise to stardom, Kim opened up about faith, family, and the quiet strength behind the voice that’s captivated a nation.

Sitting on the front porch of the modest home where Jamal grew up, Kim appeared calm but visibly moved. Behind her, a neighborhood that had gathered to watch Jamal’s journey from church choirs to stadium stages waved and cheered as cameras rolled. Kim took a deep breath and smiled.

“I’m still trying to believe it all,” she said. “That’s my baby up there, singing like that, making people cry all over the world. It doesn’t even seem real.”

For Kim, a single mother who worked two jobs for most of Jamal’s childhood, life hasn’t always been easy. But through it all, she said music was always a light in their home — a way to heal, to hope, and to hold on.

“We didn’t have a lot,” she explained. “But we had each other. And we had music. Sunday mornings, Jamal would be up before me, humming gospel hymns while making breakfast. I used to call him my little radio.”

Kim credits her late mother — Jamal’s grandmother — for passing down the love of music and faith that shaped Jamal into the artist he is today. “She taught him his first harmony,” Kim said, tearing up. “She told him, ‘Sing to God first, and the rest will follow.’”

That spiritual foundation became a guiding force in Jamal’s life. When he faced bullying in school, financial struggles, and even bouts of self-doubt, he returned to the music of his roots — gospel, soul, and Southern blues — often practicing in the very church pews his grandmother once cleaned after service.

When Jamal first auditioned for American Idol, Kim said she wasn’t sure what to expect. “He had a voice, sure — we always knew that. But I didn’t know if the world was ready to receive him. He doesn’t look like your typical pop star. He’s a daddy. He’s Southern. He’s church.”

But America didn’t just receive him — they embraced him. Millions of viewers were drawn to Jamal’s vulnerability, his raw emotional delivery, and the powerful way he made every lyric feel like a prayer.

Kim said one of the hardest moments came the night of the Idol finale, when Jamal sang “A Change Is Gonna Come” with tears streaming down his face. “I was sitting at home holding his baby girl in my arms,” she said, her voice cracking. “And I just thought — this is full circle. My baby singing for change, and I’m rocking the next generation in our family.”

Since Jamal’s win, life in Meridian has changed. Neighbors have painted murals of him, a local park is being renamed in his honor, and the mayor declared July 1st as “Jamal Roberts Day.” But Kim says the biggest shift is the hope she sees returning to her community.

“Young people are looking at him and saying, ‘Maybe I can do it too.’ Not just music — but anything. College. Art. Business. He’s giving them permission to dream out loud.”

Despite the fame, Kim insists Jamal remains grounded. “He calls me every day,” she said, laughing. “Even if he’s on a plane or backstage. He always says, ‘Mama, I’m trying to stay me.’ And I tell him, ‘You’re doing just fine.’”

Kim also addressed some of the online rumors about Jamal’s career direction, including speculation about record deals and upcoming collaborations. “He’s getting offers,” she confirmed. “Big ones. But he wants to take his time. He’s not in it for fast fame. He wants his music to mean something.”

And what does she hope for her son as his journey continues?

“That he stays humble. That he remembers who he is, and who raised him. And that no matter how far he goes, he brings his people with him.”

As the interview wrapped up, Kim paused, looked out at the street where Jamal used to ride his bike, and whispered:

“You know what I’m proudest of? Not the voice. Not the trophy. But the man he’s become.”

With that, Kim Roberts — soft-spoken but strong — returned inside her home, carrying the quiet pride of a mother who knew long before the world did that her son was destined to shine.

And now, the world is listening.