Mama Duke, whose given name is Kori Roy, is a genre-crossing singer, rapper and songwriter who reached new levels of fame this year after getting Mel B’s Golden Buzzer on Season 20 of America’s Got Talent and being catapulted into the finals. She’s the first female rapper in the show’s history to make it to the Top 10.
While her hit “Feels So Good to Be You” introduced her to millions of people across America, she’s not new to Austinites. She’s a two-time Austin Hip-Hop Award winner, a two-time Austin Music Award nominee and a Recording Academy member. She’s an ambassador for AustinFC, wrote the Juiceland theme song that plays at their locations across the state, and we first interviewed her in 2022 before she performed at ACL for the first time. And for the last two years, until recently leaving her ‘day job’ for good, she was a youth director at the YMCA.
For this issue we did a shoot with her at The Balloon Museum while it popped up in Austin because its vibrance and character matches Mama Duke’s bright and shiny, you can’t not pay attention personality. And, there was a whole room of goblins they call The Ginjos – ‘inflatable creatures with eyes that see everything’ that perfectly matched the sweater Mama Duke wore in her AGT audition!
What a gift this year has been for you! Must feel so good to be you ;)
Sheesh. It feels wild to be me right now. But yes, it does feel so good to be me. Everything I prayed for and worked toward is here, sitting at my feet. I’m really trying to soak it all in. It feels like a dream I don’t want to wake up from.
The last time I interviewed you, you told me you’ve been writing music since you were 14. I can’t believe I’ve been writing music for two decades now. It feels crazy saying that out loud, but every chapter just keeps getting better and better.
And you opened for Naughty by Nature—your third show?
Yeah! I didn’t even have stage or performing experience like that yet. I just knew I belonged up there. When I look back – I think that was one of those key moments early in my career that told me, ‘Okay, you can really do this if you really want to.’
Now that you’ve had a chance to digest the AGT experience a bit, what moment is the standout highlight?
Getting that Golden Buzzer, no question. Having golden confetti poured onto you in the highest moment of your career while the world watches is something that changes the trajectory of how you see and show up in the world. But honestly, what really sticks with me is how this momentum and energy affected the people around me. It fired everyone up. It inspired my family in different ways and showed the musicians around me that their big moment could be right around the corner too. This moment wasn’t just for me. It was for everyone it touched.
Was this season the first one you auditioned for?
Yep, first time ever—and I almost didn’t go through with it! My “lower self,” as I call it, was like, ‘Nah, don’t audition. It’s a waste of time. How many people have you seen on the show that rap and look like you?’ My higher self said, ‘Just do it. The worst they can tell you is no.’ So, I just did it.
How did you secure an audition?
They actually reached out to me, which was wild. I thought it was fake at first! I was super wary of reaching back out. Later, I found out that they had contacted a bunch of Austin locals to come audition. After a few emails back and forth, I realized, “Oh… this is real.” Next thing you know, I’m in front of producers a couple of days later, auditioning in a rented-out studio space in Austin.
Have you auditioned for other reality shows in the past?
Nope, never. This was definitely a new experience for me. It felt like something bigger than me—something completely left field from what I would normally do. It felt like my steps were ordered by a higher power. I’m still buzzing from the whole experience.
What are three takeaways from your experience on the show?
1. “The right timing” is a lie. There’s no timeline on your career. There’s no such thing as ‘You’re going to miss your moment if you don’t _________.’ Fill in the blank with whatever people have said to you. It’s just not true. You are always on time.
2. When given the right environment, everyone is capable of greatness.
3. Rest is essential. Rest is drinking water. Rest is taking naps. Rest is not using your downtime to scroll. Rest is not answering the phone if it can wait. Rest is saying “no” whenever you feel like it.
What are some things the judges told you that left the biggest impact? The interaction with Simon after my Golden Buzzer. I said, ‘Simon, thank you. You changed my life,’ and his response was, ‘No, you changed your life.’And after my final performance, Mel B. said, ‘No matter what happens, you’re bigger than all this. You’re capable of having everything you want.’
Were you really nervous before your performances?
Oh, absolutely. I’m human. But it’s that good kind of nervous—the kind that reminds you that you care. Once I step on stage, though, the nerves turn into power. Four times, I got to show America and the world songs that I wrote myself. Yes, I get nervous, but this is what we’ve always dreamed of as artists!
What was the biggest challenge being on AGT?
Waiting! There’s so much downtime between performances. And you forget sometimes that it’s a competition show. So many times I wanted to hang with some of the contestants or do content with them, but then I had to snap back into reality that these folks are in my way of a million dollars (laughs). You’ve got to stay mentally sharp and keep your confidence in check. You’re there to do a job. Yes, you’re there to be friendly and a good sport, but you’re also there to compete and knock people out of a competition.
Do you think you’ll keep in touch with anyone from the show?
Yeah, I still talk to a few folks from the show. Mel B showed a lot of love, and Simon too. It felt genuine. I don’t think this is the last time our paths will cross.
Also, a couple of the contestants. One of the contestants even flew out to see me and attended the U.S. Open Cup Final game with Austin FC that I hosted. I made some for life friends, as I like to call them.
How long have you been going by Mama Duke, and how did you adopt that moniker?
In Black culture, everyone has a “Ma’ Dukes.” It’s something cool to call your mom. ‘I’m going to Ma’ Dukes’ house’ meant you were going to your mom’s house. When I was around 14 years old, my cousin started calling me Mama Duke, and it just stuck. I’ve been Mama Duke ever since.
You’re an ambassador for Austin FC and often emcee and perform at their games and events. How did that come about?
At first, they reached out to me to do “The Heartbeat,” which is when you hit the drum before the match as a call for the team to come out. Then they asked me to do a commercial for the release of their Austin FC x Adidas Samba collaboration, then asked me to be on a panel about culture, community, and major league sports—and the rest is history. They’ve truly uplifted me in unimaginable ways. Recently, they reached out and trusted me to write and record the song that’s been playing all season before every home match at Q2 Stadium in front of 20,000+ people. I owe them a lot of praise for including me in so many things. They are for the community and for the culture. I’m VERDE for life.
How often do you write songs?
All the time. Even when I’m not writing, I’m writing—notes, voice memos, random thoughts. It’s a constant flow.
And you teach songwriting?
Yeah! I love helping other artists find their voice. It’s one thing to write a song, but another to say something real. That’s what I focus on teaching. I recently did a songwriting class at Girls Rock in Austin. Everyone can write songs—that’s what I really want people to know. Want to write a song? Write one right now. It’s that easy.
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
Missy Elliott, Noga Erez, Anderson Paak, Will.i.am. I love genre-bending artists.
How long have you lived in Austin?
I’ve lived in Austin longer than I have in any other city. Representing Austin on such a big stage has been the biggest gift. Being embraced by a city that I chose to plant my artist roots in is an honor.
What’s something you love about Austin?
I love that Austin and its people give you space to be yourself. Truly. Rap music got me here. Now I’m leaning more into pop and the support has gotten even stronger. People allow you to show up as you are. Even if I decided to go on a little country wave, the city would still be open to hearing and loving whatever that might sound like. Austin, Texas doesn’t embody or look like one thing anymore.
How are you spending the holidays?
With family and close friends. I’ve quite literally been engulfed in a TV show for a whole year. I’ve been putting in so much work. I’m confident that when 2026 hits, my master plan to shake this city up will be in full effect. I cannot wait to see how the city responds to my next big moves.
What are you looking forward to in 2026?
I really feel like a kid in a candy store these days. So many options—where do you start when nothing is off limits? Touring, new music, and continuing to build my legacy. I’ll be songwriting a bunch next year. A lot of sync placements, a lot of traveling, a lot of fun!
What are some things you do for your mental health?
Boundaries. That’s been the biggest one. Also therapy, and disconnecting when I need to. Joy is something I actively protect now. Medication! Haha. I want to normalize medication. I have attention deficit disorder (ADD) and truly could not have been this successful on AGT without it.
Anything you’d like to add?
Just that I’m grateful for the love, the support, and the people who believed before the world caught on. This chapter is only the beginning. I’m building something bigger than me.
I want to remind people that everyone has their own blueprint. Your “big moment” might not look like mine or even like what you imagine, but it’ll be yours. I’m proud to say I’m the first female rapper to make it to the Top 10 and if I had let not seeing people who looked like me discourage me, maybe you wouldn’t even know who I am today. Maybe I wouldn’t have been blessed with the privilege of being on the front cover of this magazine.
I say that to remind you that sometimes you’re the one who needs to walk into a certain room for it to change. Maybe it’s waiting on you. Maybe you’ll be the first in your family to break a generational curse or the first to speak up for fairness in your workplace—whatever it is, do the uncomfortable thing. Move even when you don’t feel ready. Mean what you say when you speak. You get to tell people who you are, not the other way around.
And remember: You can always choose. It’s right there if you want it.
Move even when you don’t feel ready. Mean what you say when you speak. You get to tell people who you are, not the other way around.