Who is Jamal Roberts? Everything to know about 2026 CFP championship anthem singer's songs, lyrics and more

The 2026 College Football Playoff final might be held in Miami. But its earliest moments will be shaped by a vocalist from Mississippi.

CFP organizers searched far and wide for a singer capable of belting out a memorable rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Monday's game. It landed on Jamal Roberts, a rising star in the worlds of gospel, R&B and soul.

Roberts might not share the same level of popularity as other musicians tasked to deliver the national anthem at the CFP final, like Pentatonix (2023), Fantasia Barrino (2024) and Coco Jones (2025). But his talent is undeniable, forged on one of the United States' foremost television programs.

Here's what you need to know about Roberts, the man expected to captivate audiences with his national anthem cover at the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship game.

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Who is Jamal Roberts?

Roberts is a budding talent in the music industry, garnering praise for his soulful vocals. A Meridian, Miss. native, Roberts came to prominence in 2025 after he won the 23rd season of "American Idol."

The father of three girls who works as a P.E. teacher in his hometown, Roberts has been singing since he was young. The 28-year-old was raised in the church, learning his chops while in crowded pews.

Roberts bested all comers en route to claiming the "American Idol" title, showcasing versatility as he made his way through the rounds. He offered stirring renditions of Jelly Roll's "Liar", Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" and Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" to secure a spot in the show''s finale.

There, he wowed judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie with covers of Teeks' "First Time", The Temptations' "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)"and, most notably, Tom Odell's "Heal."

Roberts hoisted the "American Idol" title after receiving 26 million votes, a record total since the show moved to ABC and twice as many votes as the previous season's winner earned. With his win, he became the show's second African-American man to win the prize, joining Ruben Studdard, who was crowned "American Idol" winner in 2003.

Shortly after his run on the show ended, Roberts joined Brandy, Monica, Kelly Rowland and Muni Long on tour. He was co-nominated for a Grammy for Best Gospel Song/Performance for his live rendition of "Still", a track he did with gospel star Jonathan McReynolds.

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Below are some of Roberts' biggest hits, as well as their accompanying lyrics:

"Heal"

Take my mind and take my pain
Like an empty bottle takes the rain
And heal, heal, heal, heal, heal

And take my past and take my sins
Like an empty sail takes the wind
And heal, heal, heal, heal

And tell me some things last
And tell me some things, some things last
Tell me something, something please
Because something heals
Heal, heal, heal, heal, heal

Lord, you’re the only one that can do it for me
We need you, we need you to heal
Oh, 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, oh
Restoration right now

"Still" (Jonathan McReynolds feat. Jamal Roberts)

Mm-mm-mm
Ooh, ooh-ooh
Mm

Never could I imagine
A Father so holy, patient, and kind
Would choose to stay right beside me
When He knows the shadows that come with the light

And He sees all the things
I don't want to be seen
And He hears every whisper
As if they were screams

And He still
He still
Loves me

Now, could you imagine
Someone as broken and wretched as me
Could be welcomed into His family
Given a hope and a destiny
Ooh, oh

And He sees where I am
And He knows where I've been
And He knows the whole story
From beginning to end

And He still
He still
Loves me

See, He sees every flaw
And every mistake (Ooh)
But there's nothing I can do (Ooh)
To push Him away (Ooh-ooh)

And He still
He still
He still
He still
He still
He still
Loves me (He still loves me)
Yeah, oh
Ayy, He's a

Faithful (Faithful)
Father (Father)
Our Provider (He's a provider)
He still (He still)
He still (He still loves me)
Loves me (Oh, oh, He's my)
Savior (Savior)
Keeper (Ooh, my redeemer)
Strong Redeemer (Oh)
He still (He still)
He still (He still loves me)
Loves me (Anybody know Him to be faithful?) (Come on, sing)
Faithful (Oh)
Father (Our Pro—)
Our Provider (My Provider)
He still (Anybody know He still)
He still (Ooh)
Loves me (Somebody call Him Savior)
Savior (Yeah)
Keeper
Strong Redeemer (Strong Redeemer)
He still (He still)
He still (Still loves me)
Loves me (Can I get a witness in the room? Anybody grateful?)

Oh, oh, grateful (Grateful)
Grateful (Yes, I am)
I am so (I'm so grateful)
Grateful (Oh)
He still
He still
Loves me (Anybody grateful?)
Grateful (Can I get a witness?)
Grateful (Could've been the other way)
I am so (But He stood beside me)
Grateful (He still)
He still (Still)
He still (Love me)
Loves me (Hey)

Oh, oh, Abba (Yeah)
Father (Abba)
Jesus (Jesus)
Jireh (Jireh)
I know He still (He still)
He still (He still loves me)
Loves me

He sees every flaw
And every mistake
But there's nothing I can do
To push Him away

He still (He still)
He still
Loves me
Hey

Faithful (Say it)
Father (Yeah, our Provider)
Our Provider (He still)
He still (He still)
He still (Loves me)
Loves me (Come on, Savior)
Savior
Keeper (Strong Redeemer)
Strong Redeemer (Oh, He still)
He still (Still)
He still (Loves me)
Loves me (Hey, come on, lift it up, sing faithful, say)
Faithful (Father)
Father (Our)
Our Provider (He is my provider, He still)
He still (Still)
He still
Loves me (Still loves me, oh) (Sing it, oh)
Savior
Keeper (Yeah, oh)
Strong Redeemer (Strong Redeemer, He still)
He still (He)
He still (He loves me)
Loves me (Yeah) (Come on, I'm grateful)

Grateful (Grateful)
Grateful (Anybody grateful?)
I am so (Can I get a witness in the room?)
Grateful (He still)
He still (Still)
He still
Loves me (Still loves me, yeah) (Oh, grateful)
Grateful (Yeah)
Grateful (Oh)
I am so (I'm so)
Grateful (Grateful)
He still (He still)
He still (Loves me)
Loves me (Hey, You are)

Abba (Jesus)
Father
Jesus (Yes sir)
Jireh (Ayy)
He still
He still
Loves me, yeah (Oh)

He still loves me (He still loves me)
He still loves me (He still loves me)
Anybody in the building know tonight that He still
He still loves you
Look at somebody and say "I didn't even deserve it"
I didn't even deserve it
But He still
He still loves me (He still loves me)
You ought to lift your hands and say He
Still loves me
He still
Still
Oh

"Mississippi"

Traded in the lazy days
I used to lay down by the river
Oh, how I miss it
Out here smiling like this is the light

But deep inside, I'm just pretending
Know that I ain't living
I'm missing you in Mississippi

And it don't feel the same without you with me
All alone in these big cities., all those skyline views
They don't look like you

Late nights on the road, but you're always home
I need you to know
Oh, I'll be missing you in Mississippi
Are you missing me? Oh, are you missing me?
Mississippi, oh, oh

You know, lately it's getting hard to handle
Healing is getting hard to channel
Can't shake this feeling
I know you'll get it
Everything is for a reason
You know it's cold, but it's just a season
Yeah, you probably say something like that

But it don't change that I'm missing you in Mississippi
And it don't feel the same without you with me
All alone in these big cities
All those skyline views, they don't look like you
Late nights on the road, but you're always home
I need you to know
Oh, I'll be missing you in Mississippi
Are you missing me? Are you missing me?

I'm on my way as fast as any man could ever ride on
Whatever it takes, promise that you're gon' keep holding on
And it don't feel without doing it
I'm missing you in Mississippi

And it don't feel the same without you with me
All alone in these big cities., all those skyline views
They don't look like you
Late nights on the road, but you're always home
I need you to know (I need you to know)
Oh, I'll be missing you in Mississippi
Are you missing me? Oh, are you missing me?
Mississippi

"He's Preparing Me"

You don't know all that I’ve been through
In this whole life of mine
The heartaches and the pains
The struggles, so many nights I've cried
Wondering why
Things are going the way that they are

Then I realized, He's preparing me for later
I’ve been through the storm, the rain
Many hard trials
Sometimes, wanted to throw in the towel
But he assure me that it's working
Working for my goods
So many nights I've cried
Wondering why
Things are going the way that they are
Then I realized, He's preparing me for later
Oh, ooh

God is preparing me
He's preparing me for later, oh
[Which is?]

He's preparing me (He's preparing me)
Things won't always be like this
He’s preparing me (He’s preparing me)
I have to trust him in his words
He's preparing me (He’s preparing me)
He promised to never put more on me than I can bear
He's preparing me (He's preparing me), yeah

It's a process (It’s a process)
[I'm tryna convince somebody that?]
It is a process (It is a process)
I promise you
It's a process (It's a process), yeah
It's a process (It's a process), oh

So many nights I've cried
Wondering why
Things are going the way that they are
Then I realized
I had to understand that he's a man with the master plan
Ooh
I have to trust him in his words

He'd never put more on me than I can bear, yeah, ah, ah, oh
I had to remind him that if he'd bring me to it
He'll sure not take me through it
Trouble don't last, don't wait
Oh yeah
Ooh, and then I realize
He's preparing me for later
Thank you, Jesus