“American Idol” judge Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan Talk 2026 season
Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan reveal the stories they had about returning to Season 24, as Lionel Richie reflects the talent of the season 23 star.
LOS ANGELES – Viewers spoke, “American Idol” has won a new winner.
With the season 23 finale over on May 18th, fans votes (all 26 million people) revealed that 27-year-old Mississippi PE teacher Jamal Roberts is the latest winner of “American Idol.”
John Foster and Brenna Knicks were runner-ups, and Brenna’s elimination was announced midway through the finale.
His victory made Roberts the first black man to win a title since Season 2’s Reuben Studdard, the predecessor of Carrie Underwood in 2003. For his winner’s song, Jamal cloned Anthony Hamilton’s “Her Heart” and was crowded with top 14 contestants celebrating around him.
The big reveal came after a slate of performances that combined top 14 singers with guests from Salton Pepa to Jessica Simpson to Good Charlotte.
Jamal performed at Jelly Roll, the “Artist in Residence” of the season. John took the stage with Judge Luke Bryan, and Brenna sang alongside Brandon Lake.
Jamal has come a long way since being told by Underwood at his audition that he needed to “slow” and “sw walk.” (Though he ended up getting three votes that sent him to Hollywood Week.)
When he arrived in Hollywood, he was plagued by doubts about his singing choices. However, as weeks went by, he discovered that Underwood was urging him to dig deeper, and he humbled the original artist himself and the seductive version of “The Beauty and the Beast” with a lively directing of “souts, pts. 1 & 2,” an impressive cover of Jerry Roll’s “Lying.”
Throughout the season, Richie often gave Jamal the same praise for having the talent of heaven. He especially loved calling him “leading him divine.”
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More than 20 years after her 2005 victory, Carrie Underwood admits that the reveal of Ryan Seacrest’s winner in “American Idol” is unpleasant.
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Jamal Roberts doesn’t teach much anymore, but students are his “inspiration.”
A few minutes after he was selected as the winner of Season 23, it was best for Jamal to fall asleep.
“That was the first thing that came to mind,” he told USA Today on the “idol” red carpet after the finale taping was wrapped.
“I’ll go and see my daughter, Gianna,” he added. “There’s a lot to do.”
He swings confetti from his shoulders and jumps onto the plane’s house, and Jamal is wiped out when it comes to music. But he does not necessarily leave his teaching behind forever.
“I wasn’t really teaching for money. It was kids that were really just my inspiration,” he said. “So, even if I come back from time to time, I’m just going to show up and become a part of something and I’m going to do that.”
When it comes to announcing the winner, Richie told Ryan Seacrest he just wanted to “retear the tape right away.” “I came nearer and died. Excuse me, I’m just rude.”
“I’m very happy with Jamal, and there are no two guys here,” he adds, referring to John Foster as runner-up. “They stood next to me, representing the music lane and killed it. I’m very happy with both of them.”
Underwood also had some nerves around the announcement of the winner, reminiscent of her own moments she experienced 20 years ago. “My heart was pounding as Ryan was doing something paused when he looked at the card. There are plenty of moments on the show that he went back to my time.”
Will Carrie, Luke and Lionel return as “Idol” judges in 2026?
“Idol” was confirmed in the 2026 season in early May, but there are a few unknowns, including whether the same judge will return for the second season together.
“We haven’t started speaking with the show on my return, so we’ll hear what the direction is,” Brian said. “Me, Ryan and Lionel have been here for eight years.”
“I feel like there’s a lot of contemplation and something like that, but I had so much fun,” Underwood said of the possible second season at the judges’ table. “You never know where the Good Lord will take me, but I am happy to be here.”
Executive producer Megan Michaels Wolflick revealed that work on Season 24 began in April.
“We don’t keep them all in, we never know,” she said of the judges. “Now, it’s exciting. We have a whole new season. It’s like a whole new canvas, it’s blank, and we start drawing with it.
“All I can say is that I think there will be momentum this season.
What happened to Season 23 of “American Idol”?
The finale began a slate of pre-recorded auditions in Nashville, New York and Los Angeles, which arrived for more than two months after Season 23 premiered, sending 144 contestants to Hollywood Week.
Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and first-time Judge Carrie Underwood were tasked with cutting the pool into the top 24 before “Idol” fans took the baton and used the vote to decide who will make it through the week of the ABC competition show.
The last five contestants to leave were Slater Nary, Brenna Knicks, John Foster, Jamal Roberts and Altis of the Thunderstorm.
The winner of last season was Platinum ticket winner AbiCarter, who later released his debut album, “Ghosts in the Backyard.”
