Introduction:
The article profiles Iam Tongi, the Hawaiian singer-songwriter who won American Idol Season 21 in May 2023, highlighting an emotional statement he posted on September 1, 2025. Now 20 years old, Tongi thanked fans for changing his life and spoke candidly about the joys and challenges of fame, the loss of his father Rodney, and the responsibility of representing his Polynesian heritage.
His heartfelt messageâaccompanied by a simple acoustic video filmed on a Hawaiian beachâdescribed feeling like âjust a kid from Kahukuâ trying to make his dad proud. He admitted to ongoing grief and mental-health struggles, encouraging others who hurt to know theyâre not alone. Fans flooded his social media with thousands of supportive comments and personal stories.
The piece recounts Tongiâs rise to fame:
His Idol audition of James Bluntâs âMonsters,â dedicated to his late father, brought the judges to tears and went viral.
After winning, he released his debut single âIâll Be Seeing You,â which reached the Billboard Hot Country Songs top 10, and a 2024 EP Kuku Kid blending Hawaiian, reggae, folk, and country influences.
Since then, Tongi has built a career of sold-out tours and music that honors his Hawaiian roots, often performing in Hawaiian language and telling stories during shows. His 2025 Kahuku Kid Tour received praise for its intimate feel, and he teased a new album for early 2026, possibly featuring collaborations with artists like Zach Bryan or Kacey Musgraves.
The article closes by emphasizing that Tongiâs authenticity and vulnerabilityâhis ability to transform personal grief into artâhave made him more than a reality-show winner. Fans see him as a lasting voice of hope and cultural pride, with a career thatâs only beginning.