An audition that drew in 16 million views on YouTube wasn’t even the start of the American Idol winner’s pursuit of the title.
On Sunday night, American Idol’s crowned its Season 21 champion, and no one was more surprised by the win than Iam Tongi himself. Idol named Megan Danielle—a 20-year-old from Georgia—as Idol’s runner-up, and Tongi stepped into the winner’s circle.
With captivating performances of hits like Disney’s “Lava,” “Father and Son,” and “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” Tongi held tightly to a bond with Idol’s audience formed when he swept the nation with his emotional audition.
Related: Hawaiian ‘American Idol’ Contestant Leaves Audience Enthralled After Disney Performance
Not Tongi’s First Rodeo
When an 18-year-old artist with a sparkle in his eye stepped onto the Idol audition stage, he immediately gripped the judge’s attention with the stories of his home in Hawaii. When Katy Perry asked Tongi about his family, he held back tears when he talked about his dad’s recent passing.
With reassurance from judges Liolen Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan, Tongi braved the song “Monsters” by James Blunt. The lyrics tapped into the emotional bond he had with his father:
I’m not your son, you’re not my father
We’re just two grown men saying goodbye
No need to forgive, no need to forget
I know your mistakes and you know mine
And while you’re sleeping, I’ll try to make you proud
So, daddy, won’t you just close your eyes?
Don’t be afraid, it’s my turn to chase the monsters away
It wasn’t long before both Richie and Bryan had wells of tears in their eyes, and as Tongi choked up on his last note, Richie said:
I was not worried whether or not you were going to make it through the song. I was worried about whether or not we were going to make it through the song.
The high praise from the judges transferred into a viral audition video and an instant fan base, but it wasn’t the first time Tongi tried his hand at American Idol. In an interview with The Kent Reporter, Tongi joked about his first (failed) attempt to get on the show. His father told him at the time:
Son. I need to talk to you. You need to work on your music.
A Full Circle Moment
Ever since Kelly Clarkson’s “A Moment Like This,” Idol winners have gotten their chance to debut a song intended to kickstart their career in the music industry.
Even though the three-hour American Idol finale showcased performances from country’s Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson, Ellie Goulding, James Blunt, and more, Iam Tongi’s featured single was the moment that stuck with viewers.
As a tribute to his late father, Rodney, the song “I’ll Be Seeing You” is a reminder to connect with lost loved ones. In a social media post, Iam shared:
The meaning of this song to me is when you lose someone you love, everything that you should do with them reminds you of them.
The American Idol performance struck the same chord as Tongi’s official Idol debut, and you can watch it here—just don’t forget your tissues.
https://youtu.be/IqRT19exArY
In a post on Twitter, Tongi put the message into words that were already in viewers’ hearts:
This one’s for you, dad. “I’ll Be Seeing You” is out now. It’s been such a special process making this song, and it really took a village to make it happen. Thank you to everyone involved, and everyone who has shown me support. I see you showing love and it means the world to me.
Tongi’s single, “I’ll Be Seeing You,” is available now.
