'American Idol' on Mississippi city honor: 'I don't want it' following threats
One honor he's passing on, though, is recognition from a Mississippi town, saying there have been threatening messages from those unhappy with him being honored there.
The Meridian, Mississippi, native won Season 23 of "American Idol" in May.
Ahead of several concerts scheduled across his home state, the singer declined acceptance of a key to the city from Laurel, Mississippi, revealing there had been negative comments and threats, including people saying they would bring guns to an August concert at which he is performing.
He made the revelation after a local concert promoter posted on social media that Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee had given him permission to give the "American Idol" champ a key to the city on Aug. 2 at the Noir & Blanc concert Roberts was headlining.
"I did not ask for a key to the city," Roberts said in a Facebook Live.
Roberts said some were angry because he doesn't live in the town and they had cited others who they say live in the area and deserve the honor.
"Y'all should get it and give it to them, somebody that's deserving, I guess. … You know, been working in the community for years. But I don't want it," he said on Facebook.
Roberts politely declined and thanked the mayor, adding: "But, respectfully, keep it."
The singer still plans to perform at the upcoming event.
The city has a population of about 16,900 and is between Hattiesburg and Meridian. It's known for its history, architecture and Southern charm. Ben and Erin Napier made the town a national name with their show "Home Town."
Laurel's overture to Roberts followed the recent presentation of a key to the city to the singer and his children by Atmore, Alabama, at a June show there.
Roberts said the town "made us feel like we were at home."
"Thank y'all for loving on my babies and accepting me just the way I am," he wrote on Facebook on June 14.
Roberts was a physical education teacher at Crestwood Elementary School in Mississippi before appearing on "American Idol."
A dad to three daughters – Harmoni, Lyrik and newborn Gianna – he's the first Black man to win the singing competition since Ruben Studdard took the Season 2 title in 2003.
The second winner from Mississippi, Roberts tried out for the show twice before coming back and winning it all.
Ultimately, he won a golden ticket this year singing Rick James' "Mary Jane" during the audition rounds.
Roberts won Season 23 by earning the most fan votes out of 26 million cast. Host Ryan Seacrest said it was the "biggest finale vote in show history," according to PEOPLE magazine.
Roberts has 2025 Mississippi concerts listed on Eventbrite before the Brandy and Monica 'The Boy is Mine' Tour starts in the fall.
Shows include:
Roberts will be the only guy on Brandy and Monica's highly anticipated 'The Boy is Mine' Tour this fall.
Brandy and Monica: "The Boy is Mine" tour coming to Indianapolis
The 24-city outing marks the first time the two Grammy winners are co-headlining and is built around their 1998 duet 'The Boy is Mine,' which spent 13 consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
Also on the tour are more Grammy winners — Kelly Rowland and Muni Long.
The tour kicks off on Oct. 16 at Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and concludes Dec. 7 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com.
*Muni Long will not perform.
Find Brandy x Monica tickets on Ticketmaster
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