Current:Home > FinanceIam Tongi Wins American Idol Season 21 -Wealth Empowerment Academy
Iam Tongi Wins American Idol Season 21
View
Date:2025-04-26 07:37:31
Dim the lights, we have a new American Idol winner.
Following a three-hour season finale on May 21, host Ryan Seacrest announced Iam Tongi as the champion of the competition series, beating out Megan Danielle, as well as Colin Stough, who was eliminated earlier in the night.
(Megan, Colin and Iam were previously announced as the final three contestants during May 14's "Disney Night" episode.)
Prior to crowning the new winner, Megan, Colin and Iam all took the stage one last time to perform.
The season finale also included star-studded performances from judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, along with former American Idol stars Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard.
Ellie Goulding, James Blunt, Jazmine Sullivan, Jelly Roll, Kevin Cronin from REO Speedwagon, Kylie Minogue, Lainey Wilson, Lauren Daigle, Pitbull and TLC also took the stage during the finale, along with former Idol judge Keith Urban, who also mentored the three finalists.
In late April, Lionel couldn't help but gush over the talented artists he met this season.
"The top 12 are ridiculous, the top 20 was ridiculous," he told E! News. "Every one of them can be a number one artists, without a doubt."
Why? For the Grammy winner, it's all about style. "Everyone has a different twist on their talent," he said. "So at this point, I'm so happy we're not voting as the judges." (Like in past seasons, the public took over voting halfway through the competition.)
"Their voices, their attitude...look how much they've grown," he said of this season's contestants. "From those little shy kids you saw at the auditions to now...oh!"
The May 21 finale came just days after it was announced that Idol had been renewed for another season, which will be its seventh on ABC and 22 season overall. (The series previously aired on Fox before moving to ABC in 2017.)
Get the drama behind the scenes. Sign up for TV Scoop!veryGood! (5396)
Related
- Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
- 'What in the Flintstones go to Jurassic Park' is this Zillow Gone Wild featured home?
- It's dumb to blame Taylor Swift for Kansas City's struggles against the Jets
- The speed of fame almost made Dan + Shay split up. This is how they made it through
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Though millions experience heartburn daily, many confuse it for this
- Idaho and Missouri shift to Republican presidential caucuses after lawmakers cancel primaries
- Greece wants European Union to sanction countries that refuse deported migrants, minister says
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- UK police open a corporate manslaughter investigation into a hospital where a nurse killed 7 babies
Ranking
- South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
- Gov. Glenn Youngkin's PAC raises over $4 million in 48 hours from billionaire donors
- Too hot to handle: iPhone 15 Pro users report overheating
- Florida State to add women's lacrosse team after USA TODAY investigation
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Liberty University failed to disclose crime data and warn of threats for years, report says
- Mauricio Umansky Reacts to Explosive RHOBH Trailer Amid Kyle Richards Marriage Troubles
- San Francisco will say goodbye to Dianne Feinstein as her body lies in state at City Hall
Recommendation
Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
Mississippi city’s chief of police to resign; final day on Monday
USFWS Is Creating a Frozen Library of Biodiversity to Help Endangered Species
A bus crash in a Venice suburb kills at least 21 people
See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
Homeless 25-year-old Topeka man arrested in rape and killing of 5-year-old girl
Michael Jordan, now worth $3 billion, ranks among Forbes' richest 400 people
Thousands of US health care workers go on strike in multiple states over wages and staff shortages