Introduction:
Iam Tongi’s Emotional Audition Brings ‘American Idol’ Judges to Tears
In one of the most unforgettable American Idol auditions in recent memory, 18-year-old Iam Tongi from Kahuku, Hawaii, moved the judges—and millions watching around the world—to tears with his heartfelt performance of James Blunt’s “Monsters.”
Introducing himself with calm humility, Tongi explained that he had recently moved from Hawaii to Seattle after his family was “priced out of paradise.” When asked about his parents, he revealed that his father, Rodney, had passed away only a few months earlier—before adding that his dad was the one who introduced him to music.
As Tongi began singing “Monsters,” a song about saying goodbye to a parent, the room fell silent. Accompanying himself on guitar, he delivered each line with raw emotion and sincerity:
“I’m not your son, you’re not my father,
We’re just two grown men saying goodbye.”
By the time he finished, all three judges—Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan—were visibly emotional. “Your dad is very proud,” Richie told him, while Perry called the performance “perfect” and praised his “magnificent voice.” Bryan added, “You just did everything perfect… You’re going to fracture some souls.”
All three judges voted “yes,” sending Tongi to Hollywood. As he left the stage, Tongi dedicated the moment to his late father: “The main reason I do music is because of my dad. That’s how we bonded. Through my music, he’ll always be with me.”
Following the audition, the performance went viral, touching millions worldwide and cementing Iam Tongi as one of the most moving contestants in American Idol history.