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2 ‘American Idol' contestants eliminated as Top 8 revealed: Who shined on ‘Ladies' Night'?

2 ‘American Idol' contestants eliminated as Top 8 revealed: Who shined on ‘Ladies' Night'?

Yahoo05-05-2025
Tonight on American Idol, country superstar Miranda Lambert mentors the Top 10 contestants as they celebrate iconic women in music. Following feedback from judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan, America votes live for the Top 8.
After the Top 10 perform, host Ryan Seacrest "dims the lights" as two hopefuls are eliminated.
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Lambert will also hit the stage to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her platinum-selling album Kerosene. The Grammy winner marked the milestone with a special vinyl re-release of the two-decade-old album on April 25, featuring the previously unreleased track "I Don't Love Here Anymore." Lambert earned a nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for Kerosene's title track in 2007, but coincidentally lost to Carrie Underwood for "Jesus, Take the Wheel." That same year, Underwood also won Best New Artist, securing the first two of her eight career Grammys.
The "Ladies' Night" episode of American Idol airs live coast-to-coast on Sunday, May 4 (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT). Follow along with our live blog below to see each performance. Plus, vote for your favorite in our poll once the entire Top 10 has performed!
SEE 'American Idol' shocker: Filo is eliminated in the Top 12 after ironically singing 'I'm Not Going'
8 p.m. — Previously, on American Idol: The Top 10 finalists were announced on April 28 after celebrating "Iconic Idol Moments." Jamal Roberts ("Heal"), John Foster ("I Told You So"), and Gabby Samone ("A Song for You") won Gold Derby's poll as your favorite performers. Ché ("Dancing on My Own") and Filo ("And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going") were eliminated.
John Foster Age: 18 Hometown: Addis, La. Performance: "Something to Talk About" by Bonnie Raitt Carrie's comments: "You are the one we have watched grow the most throughout this entire process. Every single time you step on the stage you feel more comfortable." Lionel's comments: N/A Luke's comments: "Your charisma meter is peaking off the charts right now."
Kolbi Jordan Age: 26 Hometown: Tulsa, Okla. Performance: "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac
Josh King Age: 24 Hometown: Charlotte, N.C. Performance: "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele
Dim the lights! Based on America's vote, these two artists were eliminated on Sunday, May 4:
SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions
Launch Gallery: 'American Idol' Season 23 cast: Meet the Top 24 finalists
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Music Industry Moves: HarbourView Acquires Stake in Kelly Clarkson's Music Catalog
Music Industry Moves: HarbourView Acquires Stake in Kelly Clarkson's Music Catalog

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Music Industry Moves: HarbourView Acquires Stake in Kelly Clarkson's Music Catalog

HarbourView Equity Partners has acquired a portion of Kelly Clarkson's catalog, including: 'Since U Been Gone,' 'Because of You,' 'Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You),' 'Behind These Hazel Eyes,' and 'Underneath the Tree.' 'My music is such a huge part of my journey – not just professionally, but personally,' said Clarkson. 'Knowing these songs will continue to be heard and discovered by new generations means everything to me. I'm grateful to HarbourView for valuing and supporting this catalogue the way they do.' More from Variety Music Industry Moves: Óscar Maydon's Indie Label Inks Víctor Mendívil; TikTok Unveils Songwriter Features Music Industry Moves: Republic Records Announces Partnership With Savan Kotecha's Visva Records Music Industry Moves: Universal Music and Patrick Whitesell Announce Joint Venture; Amazon to Livestream Erykah Badu Juneteenth Concert Clarkson rose to stardom in 2002 as the inaugural winner of 'American Idol,' and has since solidified her place as a three-time Grammy Award winner, including two wins for best pop vocal album – a category she was the first artist to win twice ('Breakaway,' 'Stronger'). She also holds the record for most nominations in that category, with six different albums recognized. 'Kelly Clarkson is a one-of-a-kind artist whose voice and songwriting have left a permanent mark on music and pop culture. In addition to her musical genius, Kelly is a multi-hyphenate in entertainment, which is very aligned with our platform at HarbourView which invests across the broad entertainment segment,' said Sherrese Clarke, founder and CEO of HarbourView Equity Partners. 'Her catalogue is filled with anthems that have defined moments for millions of people. We're thrilled to partner with Kelly and help ensure these songs continue resonating for decades to come.' The deal was negotiated with Clarkson's legal representation by David Byrnes of Ziffren Brittenham LLP. HarbourView was represented by Cynthia Katz and Heidy Vaquerano of Fox Rothschild LLP. + TuneCore has appointed Nicki Shamel as head of U.S. operations. She will be based in TuneCore's headquarters in New York and be responsible for managing the platform's artist roster. Shamel will also oversee a team of employees focused on artist acquisition, growth and development strategy throughout the U.S. Prior to joining TuneCore, Shamel served as senior vice president at AWAL, where she grew the global commercial partnerships team, spearheading the company's digital strategy across major DSPs. Shamel said: 'I am honoured to join TuneCore at this pivotal moment in its mission to empower and develop independent artists. TuneCore's commitment to artist development, combined with best-in-class technology and innovative programs like TuneCore Accelerator, is unmatched at propelling the careers of independent artists, and I am grateful to TuneCore's leadership for trusting me to drive the next phase of the company's artist development strategy in the U.S.' + Sony Music Publishing Nashville has signed rising country artist and songwriter Adrien Nunez to a global publishing administration agreement. A Brooklyn native and former University of Michigan basketball standout, Nunez has emerged as a country, pop, and hip-hop artist. In just under a year, Adrien has amassed over 100 million streams and counting with his 2024 breakout single 'Low Road' with Avery Anna, as well as his latest singles including 'Don't Wanna Go Home.' Nunez said, 'I'm excited to be working with Synnovea, Rusty, and the entire Sony Music Publishing family. I can't wait to see what we achieve together.' + Alt-rock and pop-punk artist LØLØ has signed to LA-based indie Fearless Records with a brand new single release, 'The Devil Wears Converse.' On signing LØLØ, Fearless Records President Andy Serrao commented, 'We are thrilled to have LØLØ as part of the Fearless family. She's a smart and sophisticated songwriter and vocalist and a proven live performer. We are excited about being part of this next phase of her career.' Wednesday, July 23 The Guild of Music Supervisors has announced Questlove as the keynote speaker for its upcoming State of Music in Media Conference. The speech, titled 'Music, Culture & the Power of Storytelling', will explore how music and iconic soundtracks shape culture and connect generations in visual media. Additional guest speakers at the event will include Marcus Miller, director Reginald Hudin, and music supervisors Mary Ramos, Laura Webb, Yvette Metoyer, Amanda Krieg Thomas, Morgan Rhodes and Jordan Young. The speech will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 16 on the West Los Angeles College Campus. + Joel Little, the songwriter and producer best known for collaborating closely with Lorde on breakout single 'Royals' and beyond, and Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) have announced Little's signing of an exclusive worldwide music publishing administration agreement with the company. 'I'm thrilled to begin the next chapter of my career with the incredible team at UMPG,' Little said in a statement. 'It's especially meaningful to reunite with [UMPG executive vice president and head of U.S. A&R] Jennifer Knoepfle, who has been such an integral part of my journey and success over the years. I'm excited to see where we can go from here.' Little is managed by Page 1 Management. + AEG has announced Jim King as its new head of CEO of AEG Presents UK, the company announced today. In addition, Steve Homer will transition to a new position as president, UK Touring at the company, as part of King's team. King was most recently CEO of European Festivals for the company. 'Jim's appointment is both a recognition of his achievements and a key strategic step as we continue aligning and expanding our UK and European business strategies,' said Adam Wilkes, president & CEO of AEG Presents Europe and Asia Pacific, to whom King will report. 'His vision and leadership have been central to shaping the company's presence and footprint across the region, and I'm confident that under his guidance we're well positioned for even greater success in the United Kingdom and across the continent.' King joined AEG Presents in 2008. + Singer-songwriter David Longstreth, best known as the frontman for The Dirty Projectors, has signed with Wise Music Group and WME. Longstreth explained that he wants to expand his oeuvre in a big way. 'I want to write film scores, operas, ballets, symphonies, concerti, songs and chamber works of every stripe,' Longstreth said in a statement. 'In joining the Wise and WME rosters, I couldn't be more honored to be among so many of my favorite living composers — Missy Mazzoli, Bryce Dessner, Tyshawn Sorey, Terry Riley, Philip Glass and John Adams at Wise, and Emile Mosseri and Ludwig Göransson at WME.' Longstreth previously scored this year's A24-produced film The Legend Of Ochi and 2024's Love Me, starring Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun. + Live event producer Chaz Hamman has announced the launch of his new company, Hungry Ghost Management. Clients at launch include FragmentNine, Lightswitch, Notan Creative and creative director Sean Kusanagi. Hamman was previously at Red Light Management for 13 years, implementing large-scale touring strategies and productions, before moving to Terrapin Station Entertainment in 2020. + Derek Cournoyer has been named Kobalt's new senior vice president of global digital business. In the role, Cournoyer will be key in negotiating strategic partnerships with companies such as YouTube, TikTok and Meta, as well as pioneering initiatives with emerging media segments in the creator economy, web3 and AI. Cournoyer has spent the majority of his career at Kobalt, first joining the company in 2011 in the synch department and, after some time at the social singing app Smule, returning to Kobalt in 2019 as senior director, synch and business development. 'We're at a turning point in the music industry as AI transforms the landscape and micro-licensing opens up powerful new pathways for the creator economy,' Cournoyer said in a statement. 'Kobalt is not just adapting to this moment – we're built for it. With one of the most sophisticated metadata infrastructures in the business, we're positioned to license music smarter, faster, and more strategically.' 'As a tech-forward music company, it is crucial that our songwriters are protected and are positioned to earn income from emerging technologies,' said Bob Bruderman, chief digital officer at Kobalt. 'Derek has played a vital role in forging innovative deals with new partners while ensuring that we have strong relationships with the major digital services and platforms. I am pleased to be able to recognize his contributions by expanding his role at Kobalt.' + Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced a strategic partnership with the company Liquidax Capital to 'accelerate the development of UMG's music-related AI patents,' the company wrote. Liquidax will support UMG with development, filing and licensing around AI-related patents. UMG and Liquidax have already collaborated on 15 patents, the companies write, covering musical collaboration, multimedia content creation, health, rights management and administration. 'We are taking a very active role in fostering innovation,' said Chris Horton, svp of strategic technology at UMG, in a statement. 'Building on our historical and contemporary track record of cutting-edge R&D, scientific advancements and successful patent applications, we are looking forward to significantly advancing our internal efforts, with a dedicated focus on AI technology. And we're very pleased to be entering into this collaboration with Liquidax, with whom we intend to develop a strong strategic relationship that will amplify our ability to develop IP and take it to market, accelerating the evolution of the music ecosystem.' Monday, July 21 Incubus — the Grammy-nominated rock band comprised of Brandon Boyd, Mike Einziger, José Pasillas II, Chris Kilmore and Nicole Row — has signed with CAA for agency representation. The news comes as Incubus wrapped a tour in the United States, during which they performed their 2001 album, 'Morning View,' in full along with hits from throughout the band's career. The outing marked the second leg of an arena tour that initially launched in 2024. The group has also confirmed there is new music on the horizon. Incubus are managed by Velvet Hammer Music and Management Group, and represented by Todd Cooper from Greenberg Traurig, LLP. + Empire has appointed Jennifer Way as executive vice president for Nashville. In this role, she will lead the overall strategy for the Nashville team and its day-to-day operations, including signing and developing new talent, supporting each artist's creative vision with campaigns, cultivating new business opportunities and driving the continued growth of Empire Nashville's roster. 'I'm thrilled and honored to be joining Empire – a team of disrupters who prioritize originality, innovation and artist-first thinking at every turn,' said Way. 'I'm inspired by Ghazi and the culture he has built, and I'm excited to dive in and contribute to the continued success of this incredible team as we redefine together what a modern music company can be.' 'Jennifer is a powerhouse whose vision and track record align perfectly with our mission to redefine what's possible in music,' said Empire Founder and CEO, Ghazi. 'Her deep roots in Nashville and ability to break global stars make her the perfect leader to continue to drive our momentous country music division forward.' Most recently, Way served as senior VP of marketing at Sony Music Nashville, where she oversaw the label group's domestic and international marketing efforts which included digital marketing, artist development, creative, content development and media. + UnitedMasters Africa has released a 12-song compilation album titled 'Most Likely.' 'Most Likely' brings together 12 emerging talents from across Africa and the diaspora, paired with top producers and mentors for three transformative days of collaboration and creation. From the introspective 'Mind' by Nigerian breakout Salle to the bold genre fusion of 'Check It' by Rigo Kamp, the album pulses with artistic freedom and regional flavor. Other standouts include 'Ka Ma Gbadun' by Romi, 'Not A Love Song' by Zimbabwe's Kyla Blac, and 'Thinking Of You' by Tolani. The camp featured mentorship from respected figures like Sarz, WurlD, Blaqbonez and Louddaaa, and included producers from the Sarz Academy alongside producer talents TwitchPapii, Dunnie, Le Mav, Saszy, Yosa, and Ramoni. + Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis and actor Shane Powers have started a 'concert-friendly' canned coffee brand called Jolene. As part of Jolene's first product launch include its smooth organic black coffee, and Jolene White, an oat milk latte in a can that uses organic coconut sugar and organic coffee. + MusExpo, in partnership with the artist discovery and development firm A&R Worldwide, will recognize Reynold D'Silva, founder and CEO of Silva Screen Music Group, as the recipient of its prestigious 'Lifetime Achievement Award' at the 26th global edition of MusExpo. The award will be presented during a special luncheon on March 23, 2026, at Castaway in Burbank, Calif., during the event's run from March 22–25, 2026. D'Silva's dynamic 50-year career in music has been defined by bold innovation, genre-defying ventures, and a relentless commitment to musical artistry and cultural preservation. From his early days performing in India's first disco at the Taj Palace Hotel in Mumbai, to launching one of the world's most respected independent music companies, D'Silva's journey is a testament to passion turned purpose. + Amazon Music has announced the exclusive pre-sale of Selena's 'Dreaming of You' 30th anniversary vinyl, celebrating three decades of her music. This special edition debuts in the Latin Music Vinyl and CDs Store, a new dedicated vinyl marketplace for Latin music on Amazon offering an extensive selection of Latin vinyl records and limited-release collections. With the Latin Music Vinyl and CDs Store, fans can explore popular albums and hard-to-find gems, browse curated collections, receive personalized recommendations, and follow their favorite and rising Latin music artists on Amazon Music to stay up to date on the latest vinyl drops. 'Latin music continues to shape the sound of today, with fan demand driving growth across every format, including a notable rise in physical formats,' said Rocio Guerrero, director of music, Latin-Iberia, Amazon Music. 'The Latin Music Vinyl and CDs Store celebrates that momentum by giving fans a space to discover and collect the music they love and learn more about the artists behind it. This new destination brings together the nostalgia of vinyl collecting with convenient shopping features on Amazon.' + Sony Music Nashville has signed pop singer-songwriter Ian Harrison. Harrison's first release on the label, 'Not The One,' is out now. The single was co-written by Harrison, Daniel Agee and Nick Wayne, with Agee also producing. 'So blessed to be a part of the Sony Nashville team,' said Harrison. 'I'm thankful that I'm surrounded by a group that truly believes in the music!' Harrison is represented by Zach Beebe of OTRmgmt and WME with publishing through Warner Chappell. 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New Shows & Movies To Watch This Weekend: ‘Happy Gilmore 2' on Netflix + More
New Shows & Movies To Watch This Weekend: ‘Happy Gilmore 2' on Netflix + More

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New Shows & Movies To Watch This Weekend: ‘Happy Gilmore 2' on Netflix + More

This weekend, settle in with one of the many great movies that have arrived to streaming, like the new Happy Gilmore sequel on Netflix, the A24 horror-comedy Death of a Unicorn on HBO Max, The Phoenician Scheme on Peacock, or the arrival of Wicked to Prime Video. (Looking for a new show to watch? Netflix is releasing the second half of The Sandman season 2, and the new songwriting docuseries Hitmakers this week, too.) Not sure which new releases to check out? Let us here at Decider help you figure out what to watch this weekend and where to stream it. New Movies & Shows To Stream This Weekend: Happy Gilmore 2, Wicked, Death of a Unicorn and More I've been waiting three decades for another warm glass of shut the hell up and it's finally here. Happy Gilmore 2 arrives to Netflix this week, and we're thrilled to confirm that Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald and Ben Stiller have all joined Adam Sandler for the sequel. Also out this week is Wicked, which is now on Prime Video, and the weird, darkly funny Death of A Unicorn, which drops on HBO Max this Saturday. New on Netflix July 25: Happy Gilmore 2 Nearly 30 years after the original came out, Happy Gilmore 2 is arriving on Netflix. The original film introduced us to Happy Gilmore, one of Adam Sandler's most beloved characters of the 1990s, a hockey fanatic who realizes he can turn his slapshot into a lucrative golf swing. The sequel, out on Netflix this Friday, reunites much of the original cast, as well as cameos from several pro golfers, and Bad Bunny, too. WHERE TO WATCH HAPPY GILMORE 2 New on Prime Video July 25: Wicked Oscar-winner Wicked has already been available on demand and Peacock at various times over the past year, but this week it also drops on Prime Video, so if you haven't yet watched 2024's musical/pop cultural phenomenon of the year, there's no better time, especially since part two arrives this November in theaters. WHERE TO WATCH WICKED New on Max July 25: Death of a Unicorn Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega star as Elliot and Ridley Kintner, a father and daughter who accidentally kill a unicorn on the way to a weekend getaway in Death of A Unicorn. When Elliot's billionaire boss (Richard E. Grant) learns about what happened – and hears the creature's blood seems to have magical, curative properties, he decides to experiment with it and see what else it can do. Will Poulter, Anthony Carrigan, Sunita Mani, Jessica Hynes, and Téa Leoni co-star. WHERE TO WATCH DEATH OF A UNICORN Full List of New Movies and Shows on Streaming This Weekend: The options above only scratch the surface, so you know that this weekend's full lineup will have amazing options for what to watch this weekend! For the full breakdown of the best movies and shows to stream now, or if you're still undecided on what to stream this weekend, then check out the complete list below: New on Netflix – Full List Released Thursday, July 24 A Normal Woman (ID) *NETFLIX FILM Hitmakers *NETFLIX SERIES My Melody & Kuromi (JP) *NETFLIX ANIME The Sandman: Season 2 Volume 2 *NETFLIX SERIES Released Friday, July 25 Happy Gilmore 2 *NETFLIX FILM The Winning Try (KR) *NETFLIX SERIES Trigger (KR) *NETFLIX SERIES New on Prime Video – Full List Released Thursday, July 24 WNBA on Prime Video (2025) *Prime Video Live Sports Released Friday, July 25 Wicked (2024) New on Hulu – Full List Released Thursday, July 24 Bakeaway Camp with Martha Stewart: Complete Season 1 Mad About You: Complete Seasons 1-7 (Sony) Match Game: Season 6 Premiere (ABC) Summer Baking Championship: Complete Season 2 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Season 4 Premiere (ABC) Released Saturday, July 26 BBQ Brawl: Complete Seasons 1 and 2 Chopped: Complete Season 61 Tournament Of Champions: Complete Season 6 Tournament of Champions VI: The Qualifiers: Complete Season 6 Ultimate Summer Cook-Off: Complete Season 1 New on HBO Max – Full List Released Friday, July 25 AEW Special Events, 2023C (2023) AEW Special Events, 2024C (2024) Care Bears: Unlock the Magic S1F: The No Heart Games (2024) Death of a Unicorn (A24) Released Saturday, July 26 The Pioneer Woman, Season 39 (FOOD Network) New on Disney+ – Full List Released Saturday, July 26 BBQ Brawl (S1-2, 14 episodes) Theme Song Takeover (S4, 6 episodes) Ultimate Summer Cook-Off (S1, 4 episodes) New on Starz – Full List Released Friday, July 25 BMF: Season 4, Episode 7 New on Peacock – Full List Released Thursday, July 24 Love Island: Beyond the Villa, Season 1 – New Episode, 60 min (Peacock Original)* Released Friday, July 25 The Phoenician Scheme Released Sunday, July 27 Tár* What Else Is Streaming New This July? What you see above is just a portion of the new movies and shows you can watch this month if you've got more than one streaming service subscription. We update our guides to the new releases on the most popular streaming platforms every month, so you can stay on top of the freshest titles to watch. Here are full lists, schedules, and reviews for everything streaming: New on Netflix this month New on Amazon Prime this month New on Hulu this month New on Disney+ this month New on Max this month New on Paramount+ this month New on Peacock this month New on Starz this month New on Acorn TV this month New on BritBox this month New on Tubi this month Liz Kocan is a pop culture writer living in Massachusetts. Her biggest claim to fame is the time she won on the game show Chain Reaction.

Jamal Roberts Shares How His Life Changed Since Winning ‘Idol' & Why He Never Wants to Leave ‘Mississippi'
Jamal Roberts Shares How His Life Changed Since Winning ‘Idol' & Why He Never Wants to Leave ‘Mississippi'

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Jamal Roberts Shares How His Life Changed Since Winning ‘Idol' & Why He Never Wants to Leave ‘Mississippi'

Someone has already suggested to Jamal Roberts, the 23rd and most recent winner in American Idol's long history, that his first post-Idol single should become the new state song of Mississippi. Born in Meridian, Miss., Roberts is sharing his first post-Idol single, 'Mississippi,' today. It's a biographical, emotional composition, and Billboard has the exclusive premiere below. On a flight from Los Angeles to Nashville, songwriters Emile Ghantous and Daniel Capellaro found themselves sitting one row from Roberts and they started talking about writing a song for the newly crowned Idol winner. After a three-way conversation, they worked with Roberts to fashion an ode to his home state – about missing it and everything there while living far away in a big city, echoing the time Roberts spent away from his daughters while in Los Angeles. Songwriter Christian Stalnecker finished the song with them and Ghantous produced at Electric Blue Studios. More from Billboard 'American Idol' Champ Jamal Roberts Debuts at No. 1 on Hot Gospel Songs Chart With 'Heal' Britney or Whitney? 'Who Wants To Be a Millionaire' Hot 100 Question Trips Up Drew Carey, Aisha Tyler & Audience Kesha Reveals Cassie Ventura Sent Her Flowers Ahead of MSG Concert: 'Love You Sweet Girl' Billboard met up with Roberts in the recording studio in North Hollywood where he recorded the song to find out about his life since Ryan Seacrest opened an envelope just two months ago and read his name out loud as the season 23 victor. Since then, his coronation song 'Heal' debuted atop Billboard's Hot Gospel Songs chart. 'Mississippi' is out on 19 Recordings, available Thursday (July 24) at midnight ET here. Future releases will be issued by Roberts' new label, BMG. Before we talk about the new single, let's go back to the last few moments of the season 23 finale. You were standing on stage with fellow contestant John Foster and Ryan was about to open an envelope and read the name of the winner. What was going through your mind? I was thinking, 'Jamal, it's up to America to decide not who was better, but who do they want to represent America as an Idol.' It was during these last moments that I finally gave myself some applause. I applauded myself for getting this far, staying the course and doing all the things that were necessary and needed in this competition. I'd been able to show my heart and show my love for music and the journey. I thought win or lose, good job. And when Ryan said my name, I couldn't believe it. There were fireworks and stuff and flying out of the sky and I'm asking myself, 'Did he just call my name? He called my name!' That moment will always be special to me. I was smiling, trying to make sure I'm looking right for the camera, but in my head, I'm thinking, 'You did it. You came this far. You could be your authentic self. The world sees that and now they know Jamal Roberts.' I was going to be okay either way, but I worked hard. I came out there every show with something different, something new to the table, something appealing and I felt like I was versatile. I felt worthy of being the American Idol. But win or lose, I felt like I would have a successful career. It was a win-win situation. How has your life changed since that moment? My life has changed drastically. I went home and thought I could do the same thing I was doing before I left and I found that to be a lie. You were teaching. Right. 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.' So I had to make that ultimate decision. As an employee, I had to leave, but I still show up and volunteer all the time because this is where my passion is and my heart is, as well as music. But America voted for me, so they expect to see something. They expect me to put in a little more work and I have the work ethic and I'm ready. What have you been doing since the finale? Right after the show, everybody wanted to hear [the coronation song] 'Heal.' I was everywhere, traveling all over the world, and then I got a chance to sing on the BET Awards with Kirk Franklin and Tamar Braxton and Muni Long. That was a wonderful experience. I got to meet a lot of people I looked up to and for all of them to embrace me, it felt amazing. And now I've just been added to the ['The Boy Is Mine'] tour with Monica and Brandy and Muni Long and Kelly Rowland. It starts in October. What is it like going out now when you walk into stores or dine in restaurants? Typically, I can't go to the store now and when I do step out, I have to have security and all the safety measures and it just gets overwhelming sometimes. We saw your daughters on . How do they feel about all of this? Lyrik is always saying, 'Daddy, I remember you got the Golden Ticket.' She still talks about that and they still talk about going to Disneyland. They talk about their experiences, the impact it had on their lives and the impact it has on their lives currently. Sometimes I have to send them with their godmother or mom when they want to go somewhere fun because going with me can be overwhelming for them. They don't realize that now because they're so young, but eventually they'll get it. In your new single, you sing the lyric, 'I'm missing you in Mississippi.' What does this song mean to you? I love Mississippi. People try to get me to move, but it's just so peaceful and just so down to earth. Emile, Daniel and Christian were writing it and I put my two cents here and there, changing things around and making it suitable for me. 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. And in the song, if you listen closely, you'll hear how I feel. How did the recording sessions go? My recording sessions were pretty authentic. I'm able to get in there and sing and give it some soul and give it those heartfelt moments. When you've experienced it and lived through it, it's easier to sing about. So it's easy to sing about the love I have for Mississippi and what makes my heart smile and what is my peace, because nobody knows that better than me. So the record is amazing. It paints a picture. It's not just about Mississippi. Even though I'm dedicating this to Mississippi, I know that anyone who has moved away is missing home or missing a loved one that left and you think about them all the time. My kids are in Mississippi and all my childhood memories, so when I'm singing 'missing you In Mississippi,' I'm not just talking about one particular place. I'm talking about that peace, that moment, that memory. There's a whole bunch of compassion in there. When you first heard the finished recording, what did you think? The finished recording after it was mixed and mastered? I thought, 'Man, this has got to be a hit. It's so smooth.' I went around Meridian, and I let a couple of people from my hometown hear the whole song. One friend of mine told me, 'This is a hit song, but it's so sad.' But that just goes to show what kind of picture it painted and how it grabs onto those heartstrings and that's what I really wanted. Your vocals on 'Mississippi' remind me of one of the greatest singers of the 20th century, Sam Cooke. He started out singing gospel and then turned to secular music and you seem to be following the same path. When you say gospel and secular, I plan on doing pop and hip-hop. I plan on doing it all. Gospel is where I come from. Singing gospel gave me that passion of being able to commit to a song like I do, even if it's a secular song. So I'm always going to stick with my gospel roots, but you can't reach people singing gospel all the time. Sometimes there's a song like 'Mississippi' that will open people's eyes and let them say that's okay, so I feel like I'll do both. Do you have plans to record an album? Like I told my label and producers and my manager, I don't want to put out an album right now. Why don't we just do what we're doing? Keep people wanting more and let them support me 100% and I'm loving that. Even though 'Mississippi' is just coming out, trust me, we've got more stuff cooking and it's going to be amazing. Stay tuned. Not far from where we're sitting, season 15 winner Nick Fradiani is starring as Neil Diamond inat the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. A lot of Idols have done theater and film. Would you be interested in acting? About a month ago, I was pitched about doing an Otis Redding story. We'll see how it goes, because I'm really excited about that if that comes into play. It's something that I'm very interested in. Like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding is one of the greats. Do you know his music? I'm a fan. Anybody that can grab you and take you on a journey, you understand what they're talking about. Otis was a storyteller and a powerful singer. We first talked when you and I asked you then what was the most important thing you learned on your journey. But your time on the show continued for a few more weeks. Looking back on the entire season, what would you currently say was the most important thing you learned? You've got to pace yourself and you've got to have patience. Being an artist is a labor. Are you willing to do all the work and all the labor that comes with being an artist? And I understand now that Idol builds you and teaches you what it's going to take to be on this national level. They prepare you to be the best you can be. 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