Jamal Roberts in the new American Idol winner, after being crowned on the season 23 finale, and now he tells us he’s “living the dream.”

It’s still sinking in for the 27-year-old gym teacher from Mississippi, receiving the most votes ever to be the latest winner of the show. “Oh man, it took Ryan forever to read my name off,” Roberts shares with The Big Tigger Morning Show on V-103 in Atlanta. “I had my head down. When they said 26 million, I just felt like a peace come over me and I was like, ‘man, that had to be my people,’ you know, ‘showing up for me in a big way.’ They did exactly that. They had my back the entire season and that was the reason I was pushing so hard because they kept supporting me and motivating me week by week. It felt amazing just to know that there was somebody that was excited to see me take the stage every Sunday and Monday.”

Roberts had previously auditioned for Idol, and was told he “needed more work,” and the singer used that as motivation to come back and take the title. “I went and worked and then I came back,” he says, revealing the work he put in. “Stage presence, worked on vocals a little more, but it was all about stage presence. I used to sing like Lee Williams, with my eyes closed the entire time. When I was younger, I would open my eyes and I’d be turned a completely different direction from when I started. I’ve seen a big change as an artist.”

Roberts is already number 1 on the Gospel charts with his version of “Heal,” and he’s using it as a rally for listeners and himself. “I’ve healed from a lot of stuff, so I’m thanking God for that, for healing.”

Listen to the full conversation with American Idol winner Jamal Roberts above.