It’s been a whirlwind year for American Idol Season 23 winner Jamal Roberts, and the love just keeps coming. Over the weekend, Roberts touched down in West Memphis, Arkansas, where he serenaded fans, handed out white roses, and—yep—accepted a key to the city. This time, with a big smile and zero hesitation.
“Thank you, Mayor Marco McClendon and West Memphis, for giving me a key to your city,” Roberts posted to social media, showing off the ceremonial key. “The love shown was unbelievable.”
That makes three keys to the city for Roberts, but only the second he’s accepted. The Mississippi native famously declined a previous key offered by officials in Laurel, Mississippi, following online backlash and threats related to the honor.
“You have people sharing the post, making threats, talking about they’ll have guns at the event,” Roberts said during a Facebook Live session at the time. “It’s a sad world we live in.”
But this time around, the vibes were all love. At the Southland Casino Hotel performance, fans were on their feet, the energy was electric, and the hometown hero took a well-deserved victory lap.
“Hmmmmm, feels like a good time already,” Roberts wrote on Facebook before the show. “I walked through the casino and the energy of the people was everything. PC Band, let’s go!”
Roberts, who made history as the first Black male winner of American Idol since Ruben Studdard in 2003, continues to rack up wins both on and off the stage. His story, going from elementary school P.E. teacher and father of three in Mississippi to national star, is inspiring fans across the country.
With his Boy Is Mine tour appearances and new music on the horizon, something tells us there will be plenty more keys—and roses—to come.
Photo Credit: Instagram – @OfficialJamalRoberts
