A new American Idol has been crowned.
After Iam Tongi was declared the winner of season 21, the singer expressed his excitement over securing the title.
“It’s crazy,” he exclusively told E! News after his victory (see more of his interview on tonight’s episode of E! News). “It feels so weird to talk about, to say it out loud, it’s crazy.
Iam entered the finale alongside Megan Danielle, who came in second, and Colin Stough, who finished third. During the episode, the contestant from Kahuku, Hawaii, sang a variety of hits, including Keith Urban‘s “Making Memories of Us,” Kolohe Kai‘s “Cool Down,” and an emotional duet of “Monsters” with James Blunt in which Iam paid tribute to his late father Rodney.
“He grabbed my arm, that made me cry even more,” the 18-year-old noted about James. “No, I love James Blunt. I’m so glad he came out and sang. His voice is so insane. It sounds like heartbreak when he sings, you know what I mean? And that’s what I love about his voice, and he’s such a nice guy. So for him to come out and sing with me is amazing.”
