Yessah !
He did it, y’all! Iam Tongi is the newestAmerican Idolwinner!!!
The 18-year-old firstcaptured heartsaround the world with hisaudition. Of Tongan, Samoan, and Irish descent, he shared that he was born and raised in Hawai’i but was “priced out of paradise” and living in Seattle. He dedicated the song “Monsters” byJames Bluntto his father, Rodney, who passed away just months before. By the end, he had the judges in tears (along with the rest of us!).
Throughout the season, he gave incredible performances. I especially loved it last night when hesang"Cool Down" by Kolohe Kai. So cool that he brought some Hawaiian reggae to theIdolstage!
His journey came full circle when hesanga duet of “Monsters” with James Blunt himself! Iam broke down in tears several times during the performance, and you could just feel the emotion pouring out of him.
Hearing his nameannouncedas the Season 21 winner had me jumping up and down and screaming in my living room. The first Pacific IslanderIdolwinner!!! Our people are so creative and talented, and it makes me so happy that folks are starting to realize it. And Iam seems like such a humble and deserving guy — I can’t wait to see what he does next!
Naturally, Pacific Islanders have been celebrating all across social media. Singer Dinah Jane congratulated Iam and said he’d made all of us proud:
IAM TONGI 🇹 🇴 CONGRATULATIONS FAM ! ! ! 🥹 😭 made all of us polys majestic !
Some said Iam was the one to putAmerican Idolback on the map:
Iam Tongi really put@AmericanIdolback on the map ! I ai n’t watched American matinee idol since Ruben Studdard 😂 . THATS REAL CULTURE FOR YA !
Others hoped that Iam would no longer be priced out of paradise:
This person appreciated that Iam was showcasing island music:
I reckon the thing i like more about Iam Tongi win American Idol is man was really out here just jamming Island Jams or else of blab out the common Mainstream stuff lol Ouua the man 💯
Many believed that Iam made his dad proud:
And this person said this is the representation we want during APAHM:
This is the delegacy we want during AAPI month 🙌 🏾IAM TONGI YESSAAAAHHHH
Congratulations, Iam! So well deserved. Cheehoo!
Yessah!
