Jamal Roberts’ New Single Has a Special Meaning

“American Idol” season 23 winner Jamal Roberts dropped his new single “Mississippi” on July 24 and he’s sharing what the song means to him.

“I wanted to paint a picture of what I miss and what I’ve come from and that what I do currently in Mississippi that gives me that ease and that peace of mind,” he told Billboard. “And in the song, if you listen closely, you’ll hear how I feel.”

Although Roberts is “dedicating” the song to Mississippi, there is a deeper meaning within its lyrics. “… when I’m singing ‘missing you in Mississippi,’ I’m not just talking about one particular place,” he explained. “I’m talking about that peace, that moment, that memory.”

Jamal Roberts’ Life in Mississippi

Roberts is a native of Meridian, Mississippi where he was a P.E. teacher before winning “Idol.” When he returned home, he found things had changed a lot due to his fame.

“The first day I went back to school after winning ‘Idol,’ people were coming up to the school [to see me] and I thought, ‘This won’t work,'” the singer revealed. He left the job, but continues to volunteer at the school “because this is where my passion is and my heart is …”

Roberts’ three daughters, Harmoni, 6, Lyrik, 4, and Gianna Grace, who was born while he performed on “Idol,” are in Mississippi as well. According to Roberts, the girls still talk about seeing him on the show, especially his middle child. “Lyrik is always saying, ‘Daddy, I remember you got the Golden Ticket,'” Roberts shared. “She still talks about that and they still talk about going to Disneyland.”

It’s clear that for Roberts, home is where the heart is and his new song reflects that. “… it’s easy to sing about the love I have for Mississippi and what makes my heart smile and what is my peace,” he explained.

What’s Next for Jamal Roberts?

According to Roberts, his plans for the future include branching out into different musical genres. “I plan on doing pop and hip-hop,” he revealed. “I plan on doing it all. I’m always going to stick with my gospel roots, but you can’t reach people singing gospel all the time.”

As for plans for an album, Roberts is taking a beat before that venture. “… I told my label and producers and my manager, I don’t want to put out an album right now,” he shared, adding that he is loving the fan support he’s been getting since his “Idol” win.

But don’t worry, Roberts does have even more music on the way. “Even though ‘Mississippi’ is just coming out, trust me, we’ve got more stuff cooking and it’s going to be amazing,” he revealed. “Stay tuned.”