American Idol started the whole craze of ordinary people walking in to sing and audition in the hopes of becoming the next big star.
But the show has had its fair share of moving stories since the first season, using music to connect people around the world.
From small town hopefuls, to those struggling, and even dealing with loss, it’s a great platform to share the beauty and art that is life.
Meet Iam Tongi from Hawaii, who looks very much like the chill dude from the island you would picture when visiting.
He is just 18 but he is about to move everyone to tears, the men included.
Tongi enters the audition room and engages in the usual small talk introductions with Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan.
He shares how he grew up in Hawaii, but that he and his mom’s family relocated to Seattle 3 years ago.
When he was asked about his dad, Rodney, Iam chokes up and shares the sad news that his father, the man who taught him everything he knows about music, passed away a few months ago.
“I can tell he meant a lot to you,” Richie said as the young Hawaiian wiped tears from his face. “When you love so deeply, you feel so deeply. So what you’ve just given us right now is the fact that you love that man so much, we’re there with you.”
That’s Iam’s story but just wait until he sings.
He chose the song “Monsters” by James Blunt for his audition, in honor of his father Rodney.
The lyrics are way too powerful and moving as you will see and hear.
Tongi plays his guitar but it’s his voice, silky, smooth, and yet as powerful as the island from where he’s from, that really grabs your attention.
And the words flow from his mouth, full of emotion. Raw, intense emotion.
James Blunt wrote the song in honor of his own father, a man who was diagnosed with stage four kidney disease.
You should be choking up by now.
Tongi sings the tear-inducing lyrics, “I’m not your son, you’re not my father. We’re just two grown men saying goodbye.”
And that had Bryan tearing up, soon followed by Richie.
Tongi himself gets choked up singing the final lines, “Don’t be afraid. It’s my turn to chase the monsters away.”
There is so much heartbreak and love in this young man’s voice.
And when he was done, he received a standing ovation.
“I feel like you could’ve written this song,” Perry praised Iam. “You sang it, you delivered it…you hit a nerve and that’s what great storytellers do, that’s what great artists do and your voice is just so magnificent.”
Bryan was especially touched as he remembered the loss of his sister, Kelly, and her husband, Ben Lee Cheshire.
“I cannot handle your heart breaking about missing your dad,” Bryan, with tears in his eyes, says.
“My nephew lost his dad and he came and lived with me and just seeing you missing your dad just sucks. You got a great voice, you did everything perfect and I love you and I just want to see you have fun in this whole thing. It’s awesome what you just did.”
“The story is one thing, your delivery of your story was phenomenal,” Richie said, “your daddy’s very proud.”
A hug from Bryan and a shot of Iam and his dad just makes this moment so much better.
Listen to this incredible young man in the video below!
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