Who is Iam Tongi? Teenage sensation who became the first Pacific Islander to win American Idol

As well as earning the most views on a video on American Idol’s YouTube for his emotional rendition of James Blunt’s ‘Monsters’, Iam Tongi has continued to add to the singing show’s history books by being crowned the 2023 winner.

18-year-old Iam Tongi brought tears to the eyes of American Idol judges Lionel Richie and Katy Perry during his audition and following his emotional duet with Blunt himself on Sunday night, the teenage sensation triumphed over runners-up Megan Danielle and Colin Stough.

Colin Stough may have been the favourite heading into the final with his favoured country rock singing style however Tongi’s triumph means that he is the first Pacific Islander to win the television series.

Who is Iam Tongi?

Iam Tongi moved to Seattle from Kahuku, on the Hawaiian island of O’ahu and reportedly has Tongan/Samoan bloodlines as well as Irish. While he goes by the name ‘Iam’, his first name is William.

When performing ‘Monsters’, the high school senior who studies at Decatur High School in Federal Way, Washington, dedicated the song to his father Rodney who not only inspired him to get into music but had also sadly passed away a couple of months before.

He said: “My dad, he wasn’t a perfect dude. He wasn’t like a saint, or whatever. But he was the best father that I know. And I want everyone to know that he’s a tough guy. He always told me the truth, (and) he always loved me. And I always loved him too.”

It came to light that Rodney’s words of advice followed Iam’s initial audition for American Idol as 2023 was not his first attempt at the popular show.

As well as performing ‘Monsters’ with Blunt, Tongi sang Keith Urban’s ‘Making Memories of Us’ and his new single ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’ for the three hour final.

However, Tongi also shared a video to his social media showing him singing a Latter-day Saint hymn ‘I Need Thee Every Hour’ expressing his faith to the Church.