'American Idol' Season 21 Winner Iam Tongi: 5 Issues to Know

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 throughout the finale on Sunday, Could 21. He wowed viewers together with his efficiency of his unique track, “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 track was one in all Tongi’s memorable performances all through the night time, as the highschool scholar additionally lined visitor mentor Keith City’s “Making Recollections Of Us,” in addition to paid tribute to his house state with the tune “Cool Down” by Kolohe Kai.

Tongi’s American Idol journey got here full circle throughout the finale, as he took to the stage with artist James Blunt to duet his audition track, “Monsters,” after which the younger singer shared a tearful embrace with the 49-year-old Grammy nominee.

Viewers had been launched to Tongi on a February episode of the singing competitors. Having been “priced out of paradise” in Hawaii, he moved to Seattle together with his mom, Lillie. Throughout his audition, he credited his dad as the one who received him into music, revealing that he had died just a few months prior.

“I may inform he meant so much to you,” Richie, 73, instructed Tongi on the time.

The judges had been deeply moved by the contestant’s rendition of “Monsters,” which was written by Blunt after his personal father was recognized with power kidney illness.

“I used to be not fearful about whether or not you had been going to make it by the track,” Richie instructed the teenager after the efficiency. “I used to be fearful about whether or not we had been going to make it by the track. Your dad may be very proud.”

Perry, 38, went on to notice that Tongi sounded as if he wrote the track 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 house 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 stated on the time. “You’ve received an awesome voice. You simply did all the things good and I like you and I wanna simply see you may have enjoyable on this complete factor, man.”

Tongi’s season 21 victory was predicted by Perry throughout the present’s Could 14 “Disney Night time” episode. “I imagine it’s written within the stars,” the “Firework” singer stated after the musician’s efficiency of “Father and Son” by Cat Stevens from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. “I don’t imagine in coincidences. I do know that you simply’re Iam, however after I see your identify, I see, ‘I’m the subsequent American Idol.’”

Hold scrolling for 5 issues to find out about Tongi: