Current:Home > FinanceIam Tongi Wins American Idol Season 21 -FundTrack
Iam Tongi Wins American Idol Season 21
View
Date:2025-04-13 06:37:33
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! (31914)
Related
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- How businesses are using designated areas to help lactating mothers
- Your Mission: Enjoy These 61 Facts About Tom Cruise
- Inside Julia Roberts' Busy, Blissful Family World as a Mom of 3 Teenagers
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- Has JPMorgan Chase grown too large? A former White House economic adviser weighs in
- BMW warns that older models are too dangerous to drive due to airbag recall
- Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky Address “Untrue” Divorce Rumors
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- Red States Still Pose a Major Threat to Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, Activists Warn
Ranking
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- ‘Last Gasp for Coal’ Saw Illinois Plants Crank up Emission-Spewing Production Last Year
- This company adopted AI. Here's what happened to its human workers
- Biden wants airlines to pay passengers whose flights are hit by preventable delays
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- Find Out What the Stars of Secret Life of the American Teenager Are Up to Now
- Congress could do more to fight inflation
- New Study Identifies Rapidly Emerging Threats to Oceans
Recommendation
The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
How Is the Jet Stream Connected to Simultaneous Heat Waves Across the Globe?
An Unprecedented Heat Wave in India and Pakistan Is Putting the Lives of More Than a Billion People at Risk
25 Cooling Products for People Who Are Always Hot
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
More Mountain Glacier Collapses Feared as Heat Waves Engulf the Northern Hemisphere
SVB, now First Republic: How it all started
This company adopted AI. Here's what happened to its human workers