‘American Idol’ winner Jamal Roberts calls out Carrie Underwood’s genre bias: 'She had her favorites'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: ‘American Idol’ winner Jamal Roberts is finally speaking out about the buzz surrounding his dynamic with judge Carrie Underwood.

In a recent interview with journalist Nate Vinson, Roberts addressed growing speculation online about Underwood’s behavior during her debut season on the judging panel.

The conversation arose during the BET 45th anniversary dinner, held on Monday, June 9, when Vinson brought up a popular online theory about Underwood’s judging style during her debut season on the show.

Responding to the observation, the 27-year-old singer said, “I don’t think she’s into every genre, to be honest. She had her favorites, and once she picked them, she stood by them."

Jamal Roberts hints at genre bias by judge Carrie Underwood

Roberts shared his thoughts after journalist Nate Vinson highlighted the 'very strong narrative online' about Underwood’s debut as a judge—specifically, that she appeared less supportive of Roberts compared to other contestants.

Roberts responded candidly, “Carrie is a country singer and she likes country music. I mean, I don’t think she likes every genre for real. She had her picks, and she had her choice of who she really liked, and she stuck with it.”

He went on to add, “We applaud her for sticking to her roots and sticking to who she liked, but I feel like the better person won.”

The 23rd season of 'American Idol' came to a close on Sunday, May 18, with fans thrilled to see Roberts take home the crown. John Foster finished as the runner-up while Breanna Nix was eliminated halfway through the finale and finished in third place. 

 Carrie Underwood’s reaction to Jamal Roberts' win raises eyebrows

The singer drew plenty of attention during the season finale —not for her judging, but for her reaction to Roberts' win.

While fans celebrated his victory, many took to social media to call out what they saw as Underwood's lack of enthusiasm at the moment. When Roberts was announced as the winner after the three-hour finale, all three judges—Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan—initially gave him a standing ovation.

However, as the winner began performing Anthony Hamilton’s 'Her Heart' as his final song, viewers noticed Underwood taking her seat while the other two judges continued standing in support.

Viewers were quick to criticize the moment, slamming the judge for what they described as an 'evil' reaction and accusing her of looking noticeably displeased when the winner was announced.

Carrie Underwood praises Jamal Roberts despite past tension

During the 'Idol' audition, Underwood encouraged Roberts to 'loosen up' and find his 'swagger'—offering what many saw as constructive guidance. Despite facing some criticism from fans over her judging style, Underwood was quick to celebrate Roberts' May 18 victory with a heartfelt Instagram message.

“Congratulations to the newest winner of @americanidol!!! I’m so proud of @officialjamalroberts and all he has accomplished this season and I can’t wait to see what mountains he climbs next! He’s going to do great things!” she wrote.

The singer won 'American Idol' in 2005 during the show’s fourth season. Her victory launched a massively successful country music career. Since her win, she has earned multiple Grammy Awards, sold over 70 million records worldwide, and solidified her status as a country music powerhouse.