Tongan-Samoan contestant Iam Tongi makes history with his American Idol win

Tongan-Samoan contestant Iam Tongi made history on Sunday when he was named the winner of American Idol at just 18 years old. 

Tongi, who hails from Hawaii but is of Tongan and Samoan heritage, claimed the win after beating runners-up Megan Danielle and Colin Stough in the finale. 

The high school student was crowned the winner of the 21st season of the hit show after a nation-wide vote, during a three-hour star-studded finale on ABC.

He performed Don’t Let Go by Spawnbreezie while his family in the audience waved their hands in the air. 

Tongi already has a number of connections ahead of taking the music world by storm – and was mentored by Keith Urban on the show. 

Tongan-Samoan contestant Iam Tongi made history on Sunday when he was named the winner of American Idol at just 18 years old 

During the finale, a number of major performers also hit the stage, including Kylie Minogue, Pitbull, TLC, James Blunt and Clay Aiken.

Kylie Minogue took the stage with Nutsa and performed her new song Padam Padam off her upcoming album. Kylie, wearing a black dress and over the knee black boots, surrounded by a group of male dancers. 

Iam met Keith and picked his hit song Making Memories of Us because it was one of his parents favorite songs.

Tongi, who hails from Hawaii but is of Tongan and Samoan heritage, claimed the win after beating runners-up Megan Danielle and Colin Stough in the finale

Iam said his parents would dance to the song in the kitchen. Iam said his father used to play Keith’s songs all the time. Keith thanked Iam and his mother.

Iam took the stage playing his guitar and performed the song for the live studio audience. When he was finished the crown chanted his name and the judges gave him a standing ovation.

‘I don’t think it matters what I say,’ Katy Perry said. 

‘You are an incredible story teller,’ Lionel Richie said. 

‘And like Katy, I hate to say it, why am I sitting here tearing up on a song I already know but you have a great delivery.’ 

Tongi already has a number of connections ahead of taking the music world by storm – and was mentored by Keith Urban on the show

During the finale, he  joined James Blunt on stage to sing the song Monsters. Iam had sung the song during his audition dedicating it to his late father Rodney.

Iam started crying during his emotional performance wiping tears away from his eyes. Katy held a tissue to her face to wipe away her tears. 

‘This is what Rodney dreamed about,’ his mother Lillie said. ‘He wanted everyone to hear what Iam had, and I feel like this is where he was meant to be.’ 

During the American Idol finale, Kylie Minogue took the stage with Nutsa and performed her new song Padam Padam off her upcoming album. Kylie, wearing a black dress and over the knee black boots, surrounded by a group of male dancers

Iam then sang his single I’ll Be Seeing You while playing the guitar before voting closed and Ryan revealed he was the champion. 

Earlier this month, before being crowned the winner of American Idol, Tongi received a custom-made guitar made by artist Sam Mangakahia that represents his passion for music and his Polynesian heritage.

‘The blue represents [Iam’s] connection to Polynesia, the ocean,’Mangakahia said, according to KITV Island News. 

‘And then the middle design represents the Samoan and Tongan heritage. And then the outer layer represents who he is and who he looks up to,’ he added, referring to Tongi’s late father. 

Earlier this month, before being crowned the winner of American Idol, Tongi received a custom-made guitar made by artist Sam Mangakahia that represents his passion for music and his Polynesian heritage

Tongi has previously spoken about growing up in Hawaii, but said his family were forced to move to Washington’s Federal Way after they were ‘priced out of paradise’ and the local market after his father’s death. 

‘We used to walk around, chasing wild chickens… You’d lose your slippers, because you’d go to a family function and someone steals your slippers. So everyone’s walking around barefoot, or (wearing) one slipper and a different slipper,’ he told the Kent Reporter about life in Hawaii.

He told the publication he wants to one day move back to Hawaii and write songs that help represent his heritage. 

‘It’s really cool to see all my friends, and the polys [Polynesians] supporting me,’ he said. 

He recently said he wants to one day move back to Hawaii and write songs that help represent his heritage. ‘It’s really cool to see all my friends, and the polys [Polynesians] supporting me,’ he said