Iam Tongi
Season 21 · Winner
Where are they now
William Guy Tongi, who performs as Iam Tongi, won American Idol season 21 in 2023. He released Dreams in 2020 and I'll Be Seeing You in May 2023, then the singles Why Kiki? and Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride. On March 13, 2026, 19 Recordings, Inc. released his debut album Good For My Soul.
Key figures
- Career score16 points of 100Rank on Encore Index: #93 (tie) of 688
- Studio albums1 studio albumRank on Encore Index: #124 (tie) of 238
- Wikipedia views, 12 months190,370 pageviewsRank on Encore Index: #27 of 303
- Wikipedia views since 2015944,422 pageviewsRank on Encore Index: #58 of 303
Interest over time
Monthly views of the English Wikipedia article, May 2023 – September 2026.
Career
- 2020
He released the single Dreams on November 4, 2020.
- 2023
American Idol, season 21
Winner
- 2023
Shortly after the 2023 win, he toured and reunited on stage with Oliver Steele.
- 2023
The Winner Takes It All and Gone came out on March 11, 2023.
- 2023
I'll Be Seeing You came out on May 19, 2023, a few days before the season finale.
- 2023
In that same May 31, 2023 chart report, The Winner Takes It All reached No. 19 on Rock Digital Song Sales.
- 2023
In the chart week reported on May 31, 2023, I'll Be Seeing You reached No. 3 on Billboard Digital Song Sales, No. 19 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, and No. 1 on Rock Digital Song Sales, from 11,000 downloads.
- 2023
On July 1, 2023, he performed at the Turtle Bay Resort with Roman De Peralta of Kolohe Kai.
- 2023
On July 10, 2023, he sang the national anthem at the Home Run Derby.
- 2023
On August 25, 2023, he released a studio duet of Monsters with James Blunt.
- 2023
On September 22, 2023, he released the original single Why Kiki?
- 2024
Why Kiki? reached No. 1 on Billboard World Digital Song Sales for the week of April 20, 2024.
- 2025
On May 9, 2025, he and the Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus released Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride on Walt Disney Records.
- 2025
On May 12, 2025, he returned to the American Idol stage and performed Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride.
- 2025
Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride reached No. 1 on World Digital Song Sales for the week of May 24, 2025, and No. 37 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart dated May 30, 2025.
- 2025
On October 2, 2025, Bing Crosby and Iam Tongi released a Mele Kalikimaka single. A March 13, 2026 Halo release describes it as his work with the Bing Crosby Estate on a 75th anniversary edition.
- 2026
On March 13, 2026, Halo Entertainment Group announced an American Idol appearance on March 16, a Grand Ole Opry appearance on April 1, and shows from April 8 through May 23, 2026.
- 2026
On March 13, 2026, he released the 13-track debut album Good For My Soul through 19 Recordings, Inc.
More milestones
- Date not documented
Jack Johnson has mentored him in the music business.
Discography
| Title | Type | Year | Label | RIAA certification | U.S. sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| An Iam Tongi Christmas | EP | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented |
| Good For My Soul | Album | 2026 | 19 Recordings, Inc. | Not documented | Not documented |
Cover images: Cover Art Archive (MusicBrainz).
Sources
- Iam Tongi — Wikipedia, May 17, 2026.
- Iam Tongi Releases Debut Full-Length Album Good For My Soul — Halo Entertainment Group, March 13, 2026.
- iTunes Search API album results for Iam Tongi — Apple.
- List of American Idol finalists — Wikipedia, June 10, 2026.
- American Idol season 21 — Wikipedia, July 21, 2026.
- 10 First-Timers on Billboard's Charts This Week: Ella Langley, Iam Tongi, Megan Danielle & More — Billboard, May 31, 2023.
- World Digital Song Sales: Week of April 20, 2024 — Billboard.
- World Digital Song Sales: Week of May 24, 2025 — Billboard.
- NZ Hot Singles Chart — Recorded Music NZ, May 30, 2025.
- Monthly pageviews of the English Wikipedia article "Iam Tongi", May 2023 – September 2026 — Wikimedia Foundation.
- Kahuku-born Iam Tongi crowned American Idol winner — Honolulu Star-Advertiser, May 21, 2023.
- American Idol winner Iam Tongi takes fans on a roller coaster ride with his return performance — American Songwriter, May 12, 2025.
