It’s finally here: the spectacular end of American Idol’s 2023 season, and the winner is the incredible William “Iam” Tongi. During the final show, host Ryan Seacrest said that Iam had garnered more votes from viewers than Megan Danielle and Colin Stough combined. Over the course of the season, Iam developed as a performer in front of the audience, who were treated to compelling performances that highlighted his individuality and aptitude. When Iam initially auditioned, he sang an emotive performance of James Blunt’s “Monsters,” which impressed all three judges: Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan. He proceeded to win over the judges and viewers at home by performing songs that spoke to him artistically and giving his all at every show. Even in the season finale, Iam wowed the crowd with stunning performances of songs by Keith Urban (his version of “Making Memories of Us”) and Kolohe Kai (his version of “Cool Down”), and his brand new hit, “I’ll Be Seeing You,” had everyone in amazement. American Idol viewers immediately took to Twitter to express their joy with Iam’s win. On the grandest platform in the world, he was lauded for his tremendous achievement. Many early supporters were confident in Iam’s ability and never wavered in their support. Fans were quick to offer their compliments and anticipation for this amazing artist’s future success. However, we can’t ignore the frustration of Megan’s supporters who thought she deserved to win. They voiced their opinions on various social media platforms, praising Megan for her outstanding talent and development during the season. Megan’s fans expressed confidence in her artistic abilities and promised to always be there for her. Even if the outcomes provoked heated debate and divergent viewpoints, none can deny that Iam and Megan exhibited remarkable skill. Now that American Idol has shown us the power of music and the remarkable journeys of these hopeful singers, we can’t wait to see where they go from here.
