7 days ago
‘American Idol' Jamal Roberts Winner Hits No. 1 On The Billboard Charts
It was just a few days ago that Season 23 of American Idol finished, with Jamal Roberts being named the winner of the latest edition of the reality TV staple. Following his crowning, the talented singer soared to the top of the iTunes rankings in the U.S. with his winner's single, 'Heal.'
That track gives him a huge hit on the Billboard charts this week — the kind he's never seen before — and it brings with it one of his older recordings as well.
The American Idol champion debuts on four Billboard rankings this frame in the U.S. "Heal" opens at No. 1 on half of them, as it starts atop both the Hot Gospel Songs and Gospel Digital Song Sales tallies. These mark the singer's first leaders on any chart in the country.
"Heal" performs well largely thanks to a healthy opening sales sum. According to Luminate, Roberts sold a little under 8,800 copies of his breakout tune in the past tracking period. That's enough for "Heal" to also launch at No. 2 on the Digital Song Sales chart. This time around, it's beaten only by "Don't Say You Love Me" by BTS singer Jin.
The tune also manages to enter the Gospel Streaming Songs list inside the top 10. The track opens at No. 7 on that roster, earning him his first top 10 on the streaming-only tally – but it still marks Roberts's lowest placement on the roster.
Years before he made it big on American Idol, Roberts released a gospel track titled "He's Preparing Me." That tune becomes a hit as well following the immediate success of "Heal," which is itself a cover of a song by musician Tom Odell. "He's Preparing Me" opens at No. 4 on the Gospel Digital Song Sales chart, coming in just a few spots behind his new No. 1.
