MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – Just one year ago, Meridian native Jamal Roberts stood on a local stage at the Jimmie Rodgers Talent Competition singing Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey.” Now, he’s representing his hometown on a national platform as a Top 7 finalist on American Idol.
As anticipation builds for the 72nd Annual Jimmie Rodgers Singer/Songwriter Competition, scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, 2025, local organizers and fans alike are wondering — who will be the next breakout star?
Presented by 97OKK and sponsored in part by Queen City Newsfeed and Digio Strategies, this year’s competition will be held at the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (The MAX) in downtown Meridian from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The competition offers two divisions — adult and youth — with winners receiving recording studio time provided by The MAX and cash prizes. The adult division winner will also earn the chance to open for the Jimmie Rodgers Festival’s main night show on Saturday, May 17.
Alana Broughton, interim director of the Jimmie Rodgers Foundation, said the talent competition has a rich legacy of spotlighting undiscovered performers.
“The Jimmie Rodgers Talent Competition is a local tradition that is known for mining undiscovered talent like Elvis Presley, Faith Hill, and Hayley Williams from Paramore — and now we can add Jamal Roberts to that list,” Broughton said. “We are looking forward to seeing the talent this year’s competition will bring forward.”
Roberts’ audition from the 2024 competition — a heartfelt rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey” — has since resurfaced online and drawn attention for its role in his rising career. He performed the same song on American Idol, where he’s gained national recognition and strong support from his hometown.
The Jimmie Rodgers Talent Competition, part of the annual Jimmie Rodgers Music Festival, continues to celebrate the legacy of “The Father of Country Music” by nurturing emerging artists from Meridian and beyond.
Admission to the May 14 event is free and open to the public. For more information about the competition or festival events, visit jimmierodgers.com
