American Idol hopeful Jamal Roberts just put Jelly Roll to shame with his cover of “Liar.” But don’t worry, the country singer is fine with it. He was blown away, too.
“It ain’t my song no more,” Jelly Roll said immediately after the reality show contestant’s rendition.
The moment came during the Top 24 performances this week, where contestants delivered their best efforts on stage at the Aulani Disney Resort and Spa, on location in Hawaii.
Roberts started off slow, seated behind a microphone as his voice danced through the opening lyrics.
Jelly Roll was already dialed in, standing the crowd. As the Idol hopeful hit the chorus, he stood and kicked his stool backward across the stage and he punched the line, “You ain’t nothin’ but a liar,” much to Jelly Roll’s delight.
Screenshot of Jelly Roll rocking out to Jamal Roberts cover of “Liar”
While the song is already a powerful ballad about fighting inner demons, Roberts was able to take the song to another level. The Idol hopeful adjusted a few elements of the arrangement and allowed himself to chase a few vocal runs that made his version unique.
“You took Mr. Roll’s song and beat it up,” judge Lionel Richie said of the performance. “You exploded off of that stage to the point where I had to compose myself, and if you had passed a collection plate, I would have given you all the money.”
“You walk on stage and you have this super chill, calm demeanor. You just seem so quiet and sweet,” fellow judge Carrie Underwood remarked. “And then the music starts and something else takes else takes over.”
“I’m mad at Jelly Roll,” Luke Bryan added from the judges’ panel. “He has over-mentored. I don’t know if we have had a better night in Hawaii with the talent. Every time you sing, you sing like it might be the last time that you ever sing.”
“I would feel disrespectful to call this my song at this moment. It is now Jamal’s song. I was singing Jamal’s song tonight,” Jelly Roll added.
Jelly Roll is serving as the show’s first-ever Artist in Residence and has been mentoring all of the Idol contestants since Hollywood Week.
American Idol airs Sundays and Mondays at 8PM ET on ABC.
13 ‘American Idol’ Stars Who’ve Died
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
20 Things Carrie Underwood Has Done Since Winning ‘American Idol’
Carrie Underwood has been, well, busy since winning Season 4 of American Idol in 2005. Since the confetti fell, the country singer has released nine albums and embarked on seven tours. She’s also tried her hand at acting and launched a handful of businesses.
Over the years she’s become one of the biggest success stories to come out of the show, winning countless awards and amassing a staggering net worth of over $100 million.
Keep scrolling to see 20 things Underwood has done since her time on the reality singing competition.
