Current:Home > ContactIam Tongi Wins American Idol Season 21 -TradeGrid
Iam Tongi Wins American Idol Season 21
View
Date:2025-04-14 04:30:47
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! (57497)
Related
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- Shark attack victims are recovering from life-altering injuries in Florida panhandle
- How To Get Miley Cyrus' Favorite Tanning Mist for Free Right Now
- How Brooklyn Peltz-Beckham Is Trying to Combat His Nepo Baby Label
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- AI-generated emojis? Here are some rumors about what Apple will announce at WWDC 2024
- Ryan Reynolds Brought a Special Date to a Taping of The View—And It Wasn't Blake Lively
- 'Practical Magic 2' announced and 'coming soon,' Warner Bros teases
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup get hitched a second time: See the gorgeous ceremony
Ranking
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Lindsay Hubbard Reveals the Shocking Amount of Money She Lost on Carl Radke Wedding
- Comfortable & Stylish Summer Dresses That You Can Wear to Work
- STD infecting periodical cicadas can turn them into 'zombies': Here's what to know
- Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Breaking the Rules
- Teton Pass shut down in Wyoming after 'catastrophic' landslide caused it to collapse
- Ian McKellen on if he'd return as Gandalf in new 'Lord of the Rings' movie: 'If I'm alive'
Recommendation
Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
King and queen of the Netherlands pay tribute to MLK during visit to Atlanta
Plane crash in southeastern Michigan kills 1, sends another to hopsital
Texas girl played dead to survive shooting that killed her family
Trump's 'stop
Salt Lake City Olympic bid projects $4 billion in total costs to stage 2034 Winter Games
The far right made big gains in European elections. What’s next, and why does it matter?
Uncomfortable Conversations: What is financial infidelity and how can you come clean?