Who won ‘American Idol’ season 21?

Reality television fans often hear that the most dramatic or emotional seasons of their favorite shows are happening with each new set of episodes, but fans who tuned into season 21 of American Idol can safely say that the contestants who just gave it their all on the journey to chase their dreams brought more vulnerability, emotion, and authenticity than we’d seen in quite some time.

From stories of love and loss to familial ties to music and a deep-seated respect for their own idols, these singers and songwriters brought a raw look at life and passion to the American Idol stage this year. Competing in solo rounds, singing duets, and getting mentored by some of the finest in the business is a blessing for these music hopefuls, and so much of this season seemed to exist at a higher capacity than many we’ve seen before.

With the live finale having aired, a winner for season 21 was crowned, and with an incredibly talented top three, it was a hard decision to make. Audiences worldwide got to vote for their top contender, and soon a confetti shower fell upon the last idol to stand on the stage for season 21.

So who was crowned as American Idol 21, and what was their big song number after their win? As usual, we’ve got you covered.

Who were the finalists on American Idol season 21?

The top three this year consisted of Megan Danielle, Iam Tongi, and Colin Strough — three immensely gifted young adults who had their sights set on being crowned this season’s big winner. Of course, as long-time fans of the series know, while the winner is undoubtedly presented with opportunities after the season airs, it’s safe to say that we’ll be seeing a lot from each of the top three contestants in the following months.

Danielle, Tongi, and Strough all had emotion and grit in their voices, bringing audiences through an array of emotions in a single song, which is a talent all of its own. Each performance tonight was full of originality and emotion, and it was a gift to watch all of them.

Who won American Idol?

Of course, there could only be one winner; and season 21’s crown belongs to Iam Tongi. That’s right, the singer from Hawaii who dedicated his Idol journey to his late father, Rodney, took home the win, and it was enough to bring tears to your eyes. As the crowd rose to their feet, including the judges, to surround Tongi with adoration and love, he was overcome with emotions himself.

His father brought music into his life, ensuring he’d always have a passion and a drive to live within it. As he sang each song during season 21, Tongi’s father was with him. His win was more remarkable because he knew his father was looking down on him, experiencing this great joy for his son, and he’d done something that would make his father incredibly proud.

Tongi’s friends rushed to the stage to congratulate him and sing the final song of season 21 together, and the joy that radiated off of Tongi proves that chasing your dreams is always a worthy endeavor.

Iam Tongi and James Blunt gave the most emotional performance in Idol history

Tongi’s win was one of the most emotional moments of the night, but before that, we were wiping our eyes for a different reason. When our Idol winner took the stage with James Blunt to belt out his audition song, an ode to his father, we knew we would be shedding a few tears.

What we didn’t expect, however, was that we’d be ugly crying in the span of just a few seconds. As Blunt and Tongi stood together, pouring their hearts out as they sang the lyrics of Blunt’s emotional tune that he wrote to his own father, something transformative happened. It was as if they were handwritten for anyone who has ever lost anyone close to them. As Blunt looked over to Tongi, seeing the emotion on his face as he attempted to sing the words, he stood as a pillar of strength beside him, giving him space to feel all of the emotions and to channel the love he has for his father into something beautiful.

Tongi’s emotional walk through American Idol has been a series of steps to make his loved ones proud, and we can’t wait to see what the next leg of his journey looks like.