Defying the American Idol odds as a longshot contender early in the season, Jamal Roberts, a grade school physical education teacher from Mississippi, claimed the Season 23 crown on Sunday’s finale.
Roberts, who emerged as the betting favorite heading into the final, delivered a performance that paid off big for viewers who wagered on his remarkable versatility.
In what bookmakers would call a decisive victory, Roberts defeated runner-up country singer John Foster and third-place Breanna Nix, securing the win with a monumental 26 million total votes.
The American Idol odds board shifted dramatically throughout the season, with Roberts’ stock rising steadily as handicappers recognized his potential for the upset victory.
Roberts, a 27-year-old father of three whose underdog story captivated bettors nationwide, sealed his championship performance with The Temptations’ R&B classic “Just My Imagination
(Running Away With Me)” and Teeks’ soulful “First Time” during the finale.
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