“American Idol” judge Luke Bryan had a sixth sense about contestant Jamal Roberts’ chance at a Season 23 victory, telling People the singer had been “a lead all year” barely a week before the finale . As it turns out, his instincts were right; Roberts took home the win with an unprecedented 26 million votes. Now, after accurately predicting the singer’s victory, Bryan has shared where he thinks the Mississippi native’s career could go next.

In an exclusive interview with Extra after the finale results, Bryan explained that America definitely chose the right winner because of Roberts’ talent. “He just has this special thing, and there’s so many things about his voice that I love,” the country star said. “It’s classic, it’s new, it’s fresh.” According to Bryan, the sky’s the limit for Roberts.

Bryan Thinks Roberts Could Explore Multiple Genres After ‘Idol’GettyLuke Bryan performs onstage during the 28th Annual UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation’s “Taste For A Cure” event at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on May 02, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California.

The newest “American Idol” winner showcased his voice across multiple genres during the season, and Bryan thinks he could continue to do so in his post-reality show career. He referenced Roberts’ performance of the Chris Stapleton hit, “Tennessee Whiskey,” as a great example of his stylistic range. “He could go country,” Bryan told Extra. “He could go old-school R&B. He can go pop.”

As Roberts shared with Billboard back in April, he got his singing start as a child in his local church. “I started singing at the age of two. My grandparents found out I could sing and I started singing in church and [covering] the Temptations and Michael Jackson.” With so many musical influences and the ability to cross genres, the ‘Idol’ winner has a lot of potential paths ahead of him.

The Country Star Also Gave Kudos to the Runners-UpGettyLuke Bryan performs onstage during the 2024 BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 19, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee.

When speaking to Extra, Bryan also acknowledged that Season 23’s second and third-place finishers could have successful careers in music. “You got John Foster, who’s a totally different thing,” Bryan said of the first runner-up. “And he’s very charismatic singing songs, and so, he is totally a star in my opinion.”

Bryan also praised Brianna Nix, saying she and Foster are both “doing things that really move the needle.” Although there’s truly no telling what the future holds for Jamal Roberts and the runners-up from this season, it’s clear that things look bright.