From the beaches of Hawaii to the biggest stages in Music City, Iam Tongi’s post-American Idol journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.
The 20-year-old singer-songwriter—who stole hearts around the globe with his tearful Idol audition—has spent the last year living out his wildest dreams. From making his CMA Fest debut and stepping into the sacred circle at the Grand Ole Opry, to reimagining a beloved Disney classic and releasing a vulnerable new single, Tongi is quickly becoming one of the most compelling young voices in music.
Backstage at CMA Fest 2025, Celeb Secrets caught up with Iam just as he was stepping into another milestone moment.
“It’s a little crazy, man,” he said with a laugh. “There are people walking around the streets, all the traffic—it’s just so much fun.”
He couldn’t help but light up as he soaked in the atmosphere of Music City. “I’m very, very excited,” he grinned. “This is my first CMA Fest, and just being here with all this country music—it’s crazy, but in the best way.”
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Iam’s star has risen rapidly since winning Season 21 of American Idol, a journey that he says was as emotional as it was life-changing.
“Idol was insane,” he recalled. “It was stressful, crazy… and honestly, I was a little bit sad sometimes, you know? Like, watching my friends go home in each round. But we stayed in touch. It never felt like a competition—it felt like family.”
That same emotional depth that won over millions of viewers has carried into every performance since—especially his Grand Ole Opry debut on June 11.
“I was very nervous. Very scared,” he admitted. “When my team told me I was going to debut at the Opry, I was like, ‘No way.’ At first, I was excited. But then I was like, ‘Shoot… I do reggae, I do happy vibes—what am I gonna sing there?’”
Still, he embraced the moment. “You gotta bring that reggae to Music City, right?” he laughed.
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In another full-circle moment, Iam was tapped to reimagine “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” for Disney’s latest live-action Lilo & Stitch remake—a true dream come true for the Hawaiian-born artist.
“My team called me and said, ‘Hey, we don’t know if this is for sure yet, but… Disney might want you for Lilo & Stitch,’” he recalled, eyes wide. “And I just started screaming. Like, ‘Let’s do it! Let’s do it!’ They were like, ‘Don’t get your hopes up,’ and I was like, ‘Too late!’”
The film, which Tongi called “literally my childhood,” gave him the chance to connect with fans through something even more personal than music: identity.
“It’s such an honor to represent Hawaii in a movie that means so much to us,” he said. “I grew up on Lilo & Stitch. Everyone did.”
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Tongi’s latest single, “Unbreak My Heart,” takes a sharp, emotional turn—and is one of the most personal songs he’s ever released.
“It’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever worked on,” he told us. “When I first heard it, my buddy Johnny Reid played me the first two lines: ‘I remember when the call came in, telling me you were gone. I remember trying to pretend that you’d be there when I got home.’ I just started bawling.”
Though written about a breakup, Iam saw something deeper.
“That’s exactly how I felt when my dad passed away,” he said quietly. “It just hit me right in the chest.”
The song, he shared, represents a new level of vulnerability—something he’s still getting used to.
“It’s hard for me to be open like that. People say, ‘But you did it on Idol!’ But on Idol, it was just a camera in front of me. Now it’s millions of people listening. It’s scary.”
With momentum building, Tongi is ready to take his show on the road—literally. This fall, he’ll embark on his first-ever national headlining tour, playing nearly 30 cities across the country. From Nashville to New York and everywhere in between, Iam is bringing his heartfelt sound to fans who’ve followed him from his very first note.
He’s already warming up with a string of summer shows supporting Maoli, Niko Moon, and Kolohe Kai, but the fall is all about Iam.
“We’ve been working in the studio day in, day out,” he said. “It’s been nonstop. But I’m so excited, man. I can’t wait.”
Since we’re Celeb Secrets, we had to dig a little deeper. Got any fun facts fans might not know?
“I’m from Hawaii, born and raised,” he started. “But every time I go back home… I go to the pool. I know it sounds bad, but I love pools more than the beach. You don’t get sticky or itchy. It’s just easy.”
Well, there you have it. The guy who’s making waves around the world? He prefers a pool float to a surfboard.
Whether he’s channeling island vibes, honoring his late father through song, or sharing his story with fans across the country, one thing is clear: Iam Tongi is the real deal—heart, soul, and harmony.
For more on Iam’s music, make sure to watch our full interview from CMA Fest below, and don’t forget to let us know what you think of “Unbreak My Heart” by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecrets.
Interview quotes have been edited and condensed for clarity. For more coverage from CMA Fest 2025, click here.
