Iam Tongi, Megan Danielle, and Colin Stough were the top three candidates vying to become the next American Idol.
Iam Tongi has been named the newest American Idol following a suspenseful three-hour finale!
Tongi, 18, was declared the winner of the singing competition series on Sunday’s season finale after a stunning performance of his original song “I’ll Be Seeing You.”
Colin Stough and Megan Danielle, who came in second and third, respectively, were his opponents.
Tongi sang “Don’t Let Go” as his family, the judges, and the audience danced and cheered after host Ryan Seacrest declared him the winner.
In a previous audition, Tongi moved the judges to tears by dedicating the song “Monsters” to his father, who had passed away months earlier.
In a group interview with PEOPLE earlier this month, Perry, 38, spoke candidly about how tough the competition was but that Tongi stood out for some reason.
The top three, in my opinion, are formidable, and Megan Danielle, who has a newfound confidence, has earned her place.
“The sound in the room when Iam comes on is undeniable,” Perry continued. He is an indisputable individual. He just seems to possess this amazing magic. It’s so hard to explain, almost. It’s a key element. It seems as though you were destined for this, and it is undeniable.