Iam Tongi delivered a captivating performance of The National Anthem on Sunday afternoon (Dec. 31) ahead of the Seattle Seahawks’ Week 17 matchup versus the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.
Standing in the center of a packed football stadium, amidst a sprawling American flag, the season 21 winner of American Idol showcased his unique vocals and delivered a powerful performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” that left a lasting impact on all who were present, while wearing a Seahawks scarf.
As the large screens projected his performance throughout the park, Tongi confidently and passionately belted out the lyrics to the patriotic tune.
Click The Photo Below To Watch Iam Tongi’s Performance Of The National Anthem
The Seattle Seahawks’ Week 17 matchup versus the Pittsburgh Steelers took place on Sunday (Dec. 31) at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. Ultimately, the Pittsburgh Steelers were victorious over the Seahawks (30-23), according to PFF. The Steelers’ victory secured their place in the playoff race and gave head coach Mike Tomlin his 17th consecutive winning season.
Tongi Previously Performed “The Star-Spangled Banner”
The isn’t the first time Iam Tongi performed The National Anthem. In July 2023, the Hawaii native delivered an impressive rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the 2023 Home Run Derby at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners.
However, despite his flawless delivery, Tongi took to social media at the time to share a candid moment of vulnerability, where he humbly admitted to forgetting to remove his hat while performing our Nation’s anthem.
“Tens of thousands of people. I walk out, and my uncle reminds me to remove my hat before I start singing. I remember. A few seconds later, the nerves took in and didn’t remember until it was all done. I will try to do better next time 🤙🏾,” he wrote at the time on social media.
He later shared the clip to his official YouTube channel, where he apologized for not removing his hat during his performance. “First try at singing the National Anthem. So nervous that it was in front of such a huge crowd. And apologize for being so nervous and forgot to take off the hat,” Tongi wrote in the clip’s caption.
Honored His Late Father With Emotional Garth Brooks’ Cover
Iam Tongi’s performance at the Seattle Seahawks game comes just weeks after he released an emotional cover of Garth Brooks’ iconic hit, “The Dance,” honoring his late father, Rodney. Joined by a pianist, Tongi strummed a guitar while belting out the lyrics to the country hit.
“And now I’m glad I didn’t know/ The way it all would end/ The way it all would go/ Our lives are better left to chance/ I could have missed the pain/ But I’d have had to miss the dance,” he sang on the tune’s chorus.
He chose to release his soul-stirring rendition of the country classic, as it holds a deep personal significance for Tongi. “I chose to do a cover of ‘The Dance’ because my dad really wanted me to learn this song. He was a true country music fan, and so am I,” Tongi shared. “This song holds a special place in my heart as it was one of the first songs I learned to play on the guitar, with my father by my side. We would harmonize together, creating beautiful memories through music that I treasure so much now that he has passed.”
He also reflected on the sentimental value of the song. “I remember posting a video of this song with my dad, and it means a lot to me because of the connection I have with it. It’s not just about the music; it’s about the shared moments, the harmonies, and the bond we formed while playing it together,” Tongi added.
“I’ll Be Seeing You” Tribute To His Dad
This isn’t the first time he paid tribute to his late father, who passed months before Tongi’s American Idol audition. Rodney died of kidney failure in December 2021. He also remembered him with the release of his debut single, “I’ll Be Seeing You.”
Solely penned by Season 18 Idol alum Francisco Martin, “I’ll Be Seeing You” serves as a tribute to a loved one who passed away. For Tongi, that person is his father, who died just months before he auditioned for American Idol. The lyrics find the Hawaii native confessing that he’ll never forget “all your wits” and “all of the laughs.” While he admits he’s “lonely,” he has “no fear” because he finds comfort in the fact that he’ll see him again one day.
“’Cause I’ll be seeing you / Seeing you / Wherever I go / And I’ll be / Be with you / Be with you / Wherever I’ll go,” Tongi sings on the chorus. The tune, which released on Friday (May 19), was produced by Oak for the Orphanage, Feenom & Roland Kiss.
