Season 23 Champion Jamal Roberts Gets a One-of-a-Kind Honor from Country Superstar Carrie Underwood

American Idol Season 23 ended with a celebration—and a surprise that no one saw coming. After Jamal Roberts was crowned the winner during the three-hour May 18 finale, the father of three walked away with a recording contract, a cash prize, and something totally unexpected: a baby lamb named in his honor.

Carrie Underwood, one of the show’s most beloved alumni and a mentor during Jamal’s Idol journey, took to Instagram to reveal that she named her newborn sheep “Jamal” after the Season 23 champion.

“Surprise! We’ve got another new life around the farm!” Underwood wrote in the caption of her photo carousel. “This little guy happened to be born on the day of the @americanidol finale, so we figured it would only be right if we named him Jamal!!!”

She added, “Mama and Baby J are doing well…and I’m popping by the barn to get snuggles every chance I get! Welcome to the world, little dude!”

Underwood shared several heart-melting images of the baby lamb snuggled into hay and settling into life on her Tennessee farm. One photo captured Carrie gently cuddling the newborn, showing just how much this moment meant to her.

The sweet gesture didn’t go unnoticed. Fans quickly flooded the comment section with love and support:

“Never in a MILLION years did Jamal Roberts dream that Carrie Underwood would name a lamb after him!! This takes dreams coming true to a WHOLE nother level!!”“So stinkin’ cute! Yay Jamal!”

“This is absolutely a perfect name.”

While Carrie continues to dominate stages across the country, she enjoys a peaceful life away from the spotlight at her rural farm when she’s off the road. Known for her deep love of animals, Carrie spends her downtime tending to her garden, caring for her livestock, and even crocheting her own clothing.

This isn’t the first time she’s celebrated major life moments through her animals, but naming a lamb after the newest American Idol winner is one of the most heartfelt gestures yet.

Since winning American Idol, Jamal Roberts has already seen his debut single, “Heal,” top the iTunes charts. With a development deal in hand and collaborations potentially lined up with Fantasia and Jelly Roll, his music career is off to a blazing start.

But now, thanks to Carrie Underwood, the soulful singer from Meridian, Mississippi also has a namesake living on a country farm—a reminder that his story touched hearts in more ways than one.