Who is ‘American Idol’ Winner Iam Tongi?

Over the past year, Hawaii native Iam Tongi has transformed from a teenage hopeful to a household name. As a Season 21 contestant on the long-running television competition American Idol, the 18-year-old won over viewers with his raw and emotional vocal performances.

[RELATED: Iam Tongi’s Top 5 Performances on American Idol]

So just who is Ian Tongi? Here’s everything you need to know about the American Idol champion:

His Early Years

A native of Kahuku, Hawaii, located on the north side of Oahu, Tongi and his family relocated to the Seattle area just a few years ago. He began nurturing his love of music at an early age, learning to play multiple instruments before entering middle school. 

Tongi’s family encouraged his gifts and supported his hopes of pursuing it seriously. His father saved up money to gift Iam a guitar for his thirteenth birthday, the same instrument he used during most of his American Idol performances.

Auditioning for American Idol

Tongi attended auditions for the reality show’s 20th season but didn’t make it past the first round of selections. In an interview with American Songwriter, he revealed that his mother, Lillie, secretly signed him up for his second try at American Idol. She didn’t tell Iam about his scheduled audition until just a few days before he was set to appear.

This time around, Tongi made it all the way to the judge’s table, where his fate would be determined. The talented teen immediately struck the hearts of Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie. Tongi got emotional during his introduction as he lovingly described his father, Rodney, who died just months earlier.

Tongi’s unbreakable spirit was on full display during his heartfelt rendition of James Blunt’s moving 2019 single “Monsters.” Visibly moved by the performance, all three judges agreed to send the teen to Hollywood.

His Big Win

During the series’ stressful “Hollywood Week,” Tongi encountered a string of unexpected challenges. Vocal strain from the auditions caused him to lose his voice, but a new wave of stress and grief washed over him when his guitar suddenly broke. Before his father’s passing, Iam had promised him that he would play the instrument during every performance of the competition.

Determined to keep moving forward, Tongi found his groove, even without his father’s guitar in hand. He kept fans captivated through each week by putting his own spin on hits from ABBA, Simon & Garfunkel, and Sam Cooke.

Tongi, Megan Danielle, and Colin Stough were selected as the competition’s final three contestants. On May 21, 2023, he made television history by becoming the first Pacific Islander and Hawaii native to win American Idol.

What’s Next

In the weeks after the American Idol finale, Tongi hit the road alongside his fellow contestants for a special reunion tour. He’s since appeared at many high-profile events, performed a handful of live sets, and maintained a steady presence on social media.

Earlier this week, he shared a moving cover of Hawaiian artist Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s “Starting All Over Again,” dedicated to victims of this month’s devastating wildfires on the island of Maui.

Tongi will likely spend much of the coming months working hard on his first solo project. Until then, revisit the moving audition that started it all below.

Photo Credit: ABC/Eric McCandless