"American Idol" Jamal Roberts accepted a key to the city in Alabama, but is rejecting an honor in Mississippi.

New "American Idol" winner Jamal Roberts was recently given the key to an Alabama city, but he's declining the same honor for ...

"American Idol" winner says he received online threats after a post announced Laurel mayor would present him with a key to ...

For context, Roberts and his three daughters -- who are from Meridian, Miss. --received a key to the city of Atmore, Ala.

The first “key to the city” ever awarded in America was to New York City, in 1702. The mayor handed a key to the governor. So what does this key open? At one time, it really opened up the city.

Yet this month everyone has the authority to give out a key to the city. They've made 25,000 Medeco keys -- and these are not symbolic. They are functional.

American Idol Season 23 winner Jamal Roberts turned down a significant honor in his home state of Mississippi.