Iam Tongi is the latest winner of the popular singing competition American Idol. The 18-year-old from Hawaii impressed the judges and the viewers with his powerful vocals and emotional performances. But behind his success, there is a tragic story of loss and grief. Iam Tongi’s dad, Rodney Guy Tongi, died of kidney failure just months before he auditioned for the show. Here is what we know about his dad and how he influenced his son’s musical journey.
Rodney Guy Tongi: A Loving Father and a Music Lover
Rodney Guy Tongi was the father of Iam Tongi and his two siblings, Isaiah and Isabella. He was married to Lillie Tongi, who supported her son’s dream of becoming a singer. Rodney was a music lover who introduced Iam to various genres and artists. He also sang with him and taught him how to harmonize. They recorded many videos of themselves singing together, which have since racked up millions of views on YouTube.
According to Heavy.com, Rodney was not a perfect man, but he was a devoted father who always told his son the truth and loved him unconditionally. He had high expectations for Iam and encouraged him to practice and work on his music. He also had a vision for his son’s future music career, which he shared with him shortly before his death.
Kidney Failure: The Cause of Rodney Guy Tongi’s Death
Rodney Guy Tongi suffered from kidney failure, a condition that occurs when the kidneys lose their ability to filter waste and fluid from the blood. This can lead to various complications, such as high blood pressure, anemia, bone disease, and heart disease. According to Genius Celebs, Rodney had to go to dialysis, a treatment that removes excess fluid and waste from the blood using a machine or a catheter.
Unfortunately, dialysis could not save Rodney’s life. He died in December 2021, just before Iam auditioned for American Idol for the second time. He had auditioned once before in 2020, but did not make it through the virtual rounds to sing for the judges. His dad urged him to try again, reminding him that it was what he wanted for him.
Iam Tongi: A Tribute to His Dad Through Music
Iam Tongi’s dad was his biggest inspiration and motivation to pursue music. After his death, Iam stopped singing for a while because it was too painful to do without his dad. He also felt that he could hear his dad backing him up every time he sang. His mom Lillie signed him up to audition for American Idol again in 2021, telling him that it was a beautiful thing that he could hear his dad.
Throughout the competition, Iam dedicated a number of performances to his dad. His vocals were often tinged with the grief that accompanied his loss, and he was open about that grief throughout his time on the show. In his emotional audition, he sang James Blunt’s “Monsters”, a song about a son saying goodbye to his dad. The song brought the judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan to tears.
In another episode, he sang “Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel, which he said was one of his dad’s favorite songs. He also released “I’ll Be Seeing You”, an original song that he wrote about losing a loved one. The song is about how he sees his dad wherever he goes and how he will always be with him.
Iam Tongi won the season 21 of American Idol on May 21, 2023, beating out Willie Spence and Grace Kinstler in the finale. He said that winning the show was a dream come true for him and his dad. He also said that he felt like his dad was with him throughout the journey and that they had traveled the world together through music.