American Idol winner Jamal Roberts ‘rejects’ key to Mississippi town after backlash and ‘threats’

American Idol Season 23 winner Jamal Roberts was taken aback by the backlash he received from the people of Laurel, a city very close to his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi. The 27-year-old Roberts, who recently gained national recognition after winning the popular singing reality TV show American Idol. He has been performing live in different cities since then.

Interestingly, as per certain reports, Jamal Roberts is the first African-American man to win American Idol since Ruben Studdard, who won the second season of the show in 2003. Roberts, who did a live show on June 14, 2025, in Atmore, Alabama, took to social media to share how moved and appreciative he was when he was presented with a key to the city by the mayor. It’s a traditional honor often given to visiting dignitaries and public figures by cities.

American Idol winner Jamal Roberts declines Laurel honor

The American Idol winner declined a similar honor planned for his upcoming performance in Laurel, Mississippi, in early August 2025. The rhythm and blues singer went live on Facebook on June 27, 2025, to speak to his fans and address the controversy over plans to give him a key to Laurel. The city became popular in the last ten years thanks to Erin and Ben Napier, who starred in the HGTV reality show Home Town.

Jamal Roberts, while speaking to his fans during the Facebook Live, claimed that his early August show in the city of Laurel has been “booked forever.” The American Idol Season 23 winner also confessed that he had no clue about being presented with a key to the city until June 27. Roberts found out through Facebook when Drake Paige, a local event organizer, posted that Johnny Magee, who is the Mayor of Laurel, decided to honor him with a key.

Roberts received death threats after the announcement, which many did not accept. Instead, the announcement was met with resistance, as some residents of Laurel weren’t happy with the decision. Some argued that local residents who have contributed to Laurel’s growth have not received similar honors.

The American Idol star took to the comments section of Drake Paige's post and wrote:

"Although I am appreciative, I did not ask for it, but I am thankful."

He further added:

"I don’t want it, respectfully. You can have it. Tell them I’m appreciative, but I politely decline."

Jamal Roberts plans to dedicate a song to his home state, Mississippi

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Besides addressing the controversy, he also mentioned that he has plans to dedicate a song to his home state, Mississippi. Roberts said:

"I’m (gonna) dedicate a song back to the state. That’s gonna be my first record. My first record I’m gonna drop is gonna be a song back to the to the state. Tell them how appreciative I am. You know, people just don’t expect good things to come out of Mississippi no more, and when they do, they don’t know how to handle it."

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