Debuting his emotional original song “I’ll Be Seeing You” during the season 21 finale of American Idol, Iam Tongi bested Megan Danielle and Colin Stough to take home the crown. The song quickly reached the top of the Billboard Rock Digital Songs Sales chart, giving Tongi his first-ever No. 1 hit. Recently, the show’s first-ever native Hawaiian champ serenaded an Idaho music teacher in front of the entire school.
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‘American Idol’ Winner Helps Honor Idaho Music Teacher
EastIdahoNews.com partners with Ashley and Ashley Outlet of Idaho Falls weekly to surprise a deserving community member for Feel Good Friday. Recently, the recipient was Jenni Warner, who teaches orchestra at Sugar-Salem Junior High School in Sugar City, Idaho.
“She’s just so fun and I love her so much,” said Kinsley, a sixth-grader at Sugar-Salem Junior High.
Along with the rest of the student and teacher population, Warner headed to the school gym expecting a presentation about an upcoming food drive. Little did she know, American Idol season 21 winner Iam Tongi was waiting to surprise her.
[RELATED: Where Are They Now? American Idol Winner Iam Tongi]
After all the students had gathered, East Idaho News reporter Nate Eaton surprised Warner with a couple of gift cards. However, it didn’t end there.
“Seriously?” Warner replied upon learning that an American Idol champion was waiting to serenade her.
The orchestra teacher sat in the front row as Tongi performed his new song, “Road to Hana,” which he premiered in June during an appearance at Brigham Young University-Idaho.
Iam Tongi Has His Mom to Thank For His Success
While delivering strong performances all season, Iam Tongi truly cinched the American Idol season 21 crown with his heart-wrenching performance of “I’ll Be Seeing You.” The 20-year-old reggae singer dedicated the original track to his late father, Rodney, who died a few months before Tongi’s audition.
It was Rodney Tongi who pushed his son to sing and learn how to play guitar. Devastated by his father’s passing, Iam Tongi swore off singing. However, his mother refused to let him give up on his dream.
“My mom just signed me up, and then she was telling me to practice,” Tongi told NPR. “And I told her there’s no need for me to practice because, like, the only reason why I did it was for my dad. She was like, well, I signed you up for American Idol.”
Featured image by Jeff Moore/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
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