Meet your latest American Idol! Iam Tongi has been topped because the season 21 winner of the ABC singing competitors.
The 18-year-old Hawaii native went up in opposition to fellow rivals Megan Danielle and Colin Stough through the finale on Sunday, Could 21. He wowed viewers along with his efficiency of his authentic music, “I’ll Be Seeing You.” The ballad — which he wrote about his late father, Rodney — earned a standing ovation from judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and a teary-eyed Luke Bryan.
The emotional music was one in every of Tongi’s memorable performances all through the evening, as the highschool scholar additionally coated visitor mentor Keith City’s “Making Reminiscences Of Us,” in addition to paid tribute to his dwelling state with the tune “Cool Down” by Kolohe Kai.
Tongi’s American Idol journey got here full circle through the finale, as he took to the stage with artist James Blunt to duet his audition music, “Monsters,” after which the younger singer shared a tearful embrace with the 49-year-old Grammy nominee.
Viewers have been launched to Tongi on a February episode of the singing competitors. Having been “priced out of paradise” in Hawaii, he moved to Seattle along with his mom, Lillie. Throughout his audition, he credited his dad as the one that received him into music, revealing that he had died just a few months prior.
“I may inform he meant loads to you,” Richie, 73, instructed Tongi on the time.
The judges have been deeply moved by the contestant’s rendition of “Monsters,” which was written by Blunt after his personal father was identified with power kidney illness.
“I used to be not anxious about whether or not you have been going to make it by the music,” Richie instructed the teenager after the efficiency. “I used to be anxious about whether or not we have been going to make it by the music. Your dad could be very proud.”
Perry, 38, went on to notice that Tongi sounded as if he wrote the music himself. “You hit a nerve,” she added. “That’s what nice storytellers do. That’s what nice artists do, and your voice is simply so magnificent.”
Tongi’s story of loss hit near dwelling for Bryan, 46. “My nephew misplaced his dad and he got here and lived with me, and simply seeing you lacking your dad simply sucks,” the nation star mentioned on the time. “You’ve received an incredible voice. You simply did every thing excellent and I like you and I wanna simply see you may have enjoyable on this entire factor, man.”
Tongi’s season 21 victory was predicted by Perry through the present’s Could 14 “Disney Night time” episode. “I consider it’s written within the stars,” the “Firework” singer mentioned after the musician’s efficiency of “Father and Son” by Cat Stevens from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. “I don’t consider in coincidences. I do know that you simply’re Iam, however once I see your title, I see, ‘I’m the subsequent American Idol.’”
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