In a groundbreaking moment for American Idol, Jamal Roberts, a 27-year-old physical education teacher from Meridian, Mississippi, captivated audiences and shattered records on May 18, 2025, with a staggering 26 million votes cast in his favor during the season finale. This monumental achievement more than doubled the previous season’s total, cementing Jamal not only as a talented performer but as a cultural phenomenon.