We often sing for entertainment and recreation, but sometimes, it’s one of the ways we can express our feelings and emotions.

Iam Tongi is an 18-year-old from Hawaii. He auditioned for American Idol and left a mark on the judges’ hearts.

Before his performance, the judges, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan, asked him a few questions about his life, and that’s when he told them about his family, particularly his dad.

Iam and his siblings grew up in Hawaii, but he and his mom’s family relocated to Seattle 3 years ago.

Katy Perry then asked him about his dad, Rodney. Iam choked up and shared the sad news that he passed away just a few months ago. It was a difficult time for Iam as his dad was the one who taught him everything he knows about music.

He was then asked to proceed with his performance. He played and sang “Monsters” by James Blunt, which was a song dedicated to his late father.

Iam played his guitar while singing the lyrics of the songs. His angelic voice was mesmerizing, and it induced a lot of emotions.

The judges were holding back their tears all throughout Iam’s performance. However, Lionel and Luke failed to do so as they really felt the sadness and longing in Iam’s voice.

In the end, all three judges gave him their YESes. They even gave Iam big hugs and commended him for such an emotional and beautiful performance.

Watch Iam’s performance of “Monsters” in his American Idol audition in the video below.

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