Tongan Samoan American Iam Tongi is the new winner of American Idol.
The crowd favorite won America’s hearts from the moment of his audition, dedicating his audition song to his dad who had just passed away a few months earlier.
Tongi performed it again on the season finale with singer James Blunt of You’re Beautiful fame. The 18 year old drove himself and many in the audience to tears with his emotional rendition of Monsters.
Tongi was the favorite going into the finale, beating out country crooners Colin Stough who placed third and runner-up Megan Danielle.
“Just before you came on, I had to get a tissue. Every time you come on and sing, it goes through people’s hearts, and it just gets to them. It moves us so much. When you sing, I am ready to weep,” said judge Katy Perry, reported Parade.
(Editor Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly spelled Tongi’s first name. We regret the error.)
AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc. Please support our fundraisers. Purchase your tickets to a Night of Hilarity- a fun conversation with comedienne Jiaoying Summers and ABC7/KABC anchor David Ono to be held October 9 in Los Angeles.
Then join us for a stimulating conference about issues that divide the Asian American communities. Our fundraiser Common Ground and the dinner after will be held October 26 at UC Berkeley.
AsAmNews is partially supported by the Stop the Hate grant administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.
