Jamal Roberts Releases New Single ‘Heal’ Before ‘American Idol’ 2025 Finale
Twenty-four hours before “American Idol” crowns its season 23 winner, top 3 finalist Jamal Roberts released “Heal” — the soul singer’s first official single since his journey on the show began.
Recorded and distributed with the show’s record label partner, 19 Recordings, the new song was released late at night on May 17, 2025. But the timing didn’t keep Roberts’ growing legion of fans from listening, downloading, and commenting across social media about his powerful rendition of Tom Odell’s 2021 tune.
When Roberts, 27, performed his cover of the indie pop song during the April 28 live show, he left judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie speechless and the crowd stunned into silence. They will get to see him perform it again as he competes for viewers’ votes on the May 18 finale.
Jamal Roberts Added His Own Lyrics to Last Third of ‘Heal’
Play
Roberts’ new version of “Heal” is a raw and soulful cry for help with the support of a gospel choir. The last minute of the three-and-a-half-minute single features his own lyrics, sung with fiery passion.
He sings, “Lord, you’re the only one that can do it for me. We need you, we need you to heal. You’re the only one, the only that can heal. So please heal from depression, Jesus, from suicidal thoughts, please heal. You’re the only one that can do it, from sickness. Restoration right now.”
When Roberts announced the release on Instagram, music industry veteran Joe Arbagey, who took over as 19 Recordings’ EVP of Music in January, wrote in the comments, “What an incredibly life changing experience this recording session was!”
Fans flooded social media with comments just after the song’s release, including one who wrote, “The ending……. CHURCH!!!!! 🔥🙌🏽🔥 Jesus, you’re the only that can do it!!! @officialjamalroberts you’re soooooo special my guy!!! #RestorationRightNow”
Another called the tune “The SOUND that the nation needs right now. 🙌”
Someone else chimed in, “Bro what you did on this song!!! Straight Legendary 🙌🏽🔥”
“Heal” by Jamal Roberts is available across music streaming platforms, including on Apple Music and Spotify.
Jamal Roberts Blew Fantasia Barrino Away With His Rendition of ‘Heal’ on the Show
Play
When Roberts performed the song on the April 28 show, his delivery — sitting on a stool at center stage — was so mesmerizing that the crowd, judges and even producers seemed stunned by its abrupt end. There were several seconds of complete silence before the show continued.
Roberts had worked on his rendition with one of his own idols, former “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino, who was a guest mentor that week. He told her he’d never heard of Odell or the song, but when someone shared it with him, he loved the lyrics.
“Like your songs, it spoke to me,” he told Barrino, and he told producers, “I don’t care what genre the song is, I just need to insert myself inside of the song.”
Barrino was clearly moved by his delivery, telling producers, “I watched him. He loses himself in the music. When the world is probably so ugly and hard, music is his safe place.”
Related
a.gb-button-comments{display:block;flex-wrap:nowrap;text-align:center;padding:15px 20px;background-color:var(–accent-2);color:var(–contrast);text-decoration:none;}a.gb-button-comments:hover, a.gb-button-comments:active, a.gb-button-comments:focus{background-color:var(–accent);color:var(–contrast);}1 Comment
Comments
Jamal Roberts Releases New Single ‘Heal’ Before ‘American Idol’ 2025 Finale
Please login to comment
Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook
Notify of
new follow-up comments
new replies to my comments
1 Comment
Follow this thread
Oldest
Newest
Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Load More Comments
Latest
Soaps Now!
‘Y&R’ Spoilers (May 19-23): Amanda Unnerves Abby – Victoria Decides About Cole
Breaking News
Charlize Theron Talks On-Set Injury and Teaming Up With Taron Egerton in New Thriller
Reality TV Now!
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 10’ Bracket 1 Results: Who Advanced to the Semi-Finals?
X
ShareCopied to clipboard
By
Liv Lane
Updated
May 18, 2025 at 01:58am
May 18, 2025 at 01:59am
EntertainmentNow/Disney
Twenty-four hours before “American Idol” crowns its season 23 winner, top 3 finalist Jamal Roberts released “Heal” — the soul singer’s first official single since his journey on the show began.
Recorded and distributed with the show’s record label partner, 19 Recordings, the new song was released late at night on May 17, 2025. But the timing didn’t keep Roberts’ growing legion of fans from listening, downloading, and commenting across social media about his powerful rendition of Tom Odell’s 2021 tune.
When Roberts, 27, performed his cover of the indie pop song during the April 28 live show, he left judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie speechless and the crowd stunned into silence. They will get to see him perform it again as he competes for viewers’ votes on the May 18 finale.
Jamal Roberts Added His Own Lyrics to Last Third of ‘Heal’
Play
Roberts’ new version of “Heal” is a raw and soulful cry for help with the support of a gospel choir. The last minute of the three-and-a-half-minute single features his own lyrics, sung with fiery pa