American Idol

Season 21 of American Idol kicked off Sunday night (Feb. 19) and with the premiere came a host of gut-punching auditions. Among those that received a round ...

The audition served as both a powerhouse moment for Monée and a beautiful tribute to Spence. She also made it through the audition process during her first appearance, eventually going on to duet with the late runner-up from that season, Willie Spence. Among those that received a round of “yesses” from the panel of judges was Kya Monée.

ABC's 'American Idol' season 21 premiered Sunday on Channel 2 and the loss of a former Georgia contestant was on the minds of the judges and one singer in ...

Kya Monee' returned to American Idol during the season premiere to pay tribute to her former singing partner, Willie Spence. Watch the...

We send our condolences to his loved ones." Spence was a fan favorite during the 2021 series of the reality series and became the runner-up. Monee' auditioned on Sunday's season premiere after returning to the show and revealed to judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie that the pair "grew a very, very close friendship" and that she was "trying to cope" with his passing.

KATY Perry was left tearful after American Idol contestant Kya Monae revealed Willie Spence's message to her three days before he died.Kya had dueted.

"He made me want to do it. I'm going to go with you to American Idol.' [social media](https://www.the-sun.com/topic/social-media/) to remember the young star's life. You have to chase your dreams. [premiere of the new season](https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/7437609/american-idol-2023-season-21-live-tonight-audition/). [American Idol](https://www.the-sun.com/topic/american-idol/) in 2021 and became close friends with the runner-up before his [devastating death in a car accident](https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/6424748/willie-spence-american-idol-car-accident-death/).

'American Idol' Season 19 singer Kya Monee' honored close friend and fellow contestant Willie Spence with another audition after his death.

He gave Monee’ a big hug before telling her that her performance was “so emotional, so heartfelt, so divinely guided in the glorious name of our dear brother, Willie.” Monee’ was overcome with tears at some points, but she sang with passion and allowed her emotions to come through in the song. Just three days before his death, Spence encouraged Monee’ to go back to Idol and try again. We send our condolences to his loved ones,” the caption read. Willie Spence auditioned for American Idol in 2021 and quickly became a fan-favorite. “We are devastated about the passing of our beloved American Idol family member, Willie Spence. As longtime fans of the singing competition may recall, Spence was the [runner-up of season 19](https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/american-idol-winners-runners-up-list-who-won-each-season.html/). After his performance, Bryan called Spence a “special, special human being.” So, she performed the song he chose for her: “I’m Here” from The Color Purple. Check out the emotional tribute below and read what Monee’ and the judges had to say about Spence. 11, 2022, Spence died in a car crash on Interstate 24 near Chattanooga, Tennessee. [American Idol](http://cheatsheet.com/tag/american-idol) Season 21 ended with a touching tribute to the late Willie Spence.

ATLANTA — ABC's 'American Idol' season 21 premiered Sunday on Channel 2 and the loss of a former Georgia contestant was on the minds of the judges and one ...

“It was so connected to the pain. Monée performed “I’m Here” from “The Color Purple,” a song she said the two of them picked together. I’ve lost some people in my life and when you go to sing, you just sing like Willie is still here.” “Three days before he passed, he was telling me you have to go back. Monée and Spence sang as duet partners after they both made it to “Hollywood Week.” “Willie, he always told me no matter what, you would always be a singer.”

Iam Tongi left American Idol judges in tears after his emotional performance of "Monster" by James Blunt. Here's the story behind it.

[@wtongi](https://www.instagram.com/wtongi/)) and TikTok ( [@wtongi](https://www.tiktok.com/@wtongi)), where he boasts over 100,000 followers combined. The 18-year-old high school student blew judges [Lionel Richie](https://www.distractify.com/p/lionel-richie-net-worth), [Katy Perry](https://www.distractify.com/p/katy-perry-net-worth), and [Luke Bryan](https://www.distractify.com/p/luke-bryan-tattoo) away with his emotional, tearjerking performance. With a guitar by his side, Iam enters the audition room and makes small talk with Lionel, Katy, and Luke. In the meantime, you can follow him on Instagram ( [Season 21](https://www.distractify.com/p/american-idol-season-21-schedule) premiere, we met [Iam Tongi](https://www.instagram.com/p/Co3dxx3M_ix/), who definitely falls into the latter category. [American Idol](https://www.distractify.com/t/american-idol) each season, a few always stand out.

Iam Tongi's audition for American Idol was nothing short of emotional as it brought Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan to tears.

“The main reason why I do music is because of my dad.” “The greatest thing we can say to you at this moment–you’re going to Hollywood,” all three judges cheered at once. He chose “Monsters” by James Blunt as his audition song, in honor of his father Rodney, who passed away a few months prior and is the one who got Tongi interested in music. “Young man, you take this into the world and you’re going to fracture some souls,” he professed. “I cannot handle your heart breaking about missing your dad,” Bryan professed with tears in his eyes. So what you’ve just given us right now is the fact that you love that man so much, we’re there with you.”

Luke Bryan and his fellow 'American Idol' judges, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry, praised this 'American Idol' hopeful's performance.

You got a great voice. Gosh, man, you just got a great voice. You did everything perfect. “You are 18 years old and just shook all of us. It’s just awesome…what you just did.” [Lionel Richie](https://www.iheart.com/artist/lionel-richie-39167/?autoplay=true) worried about whether “we were gonna make it through the song.” Perry praised Tongi’s delivery, powerful enough make “these grown men cry.

Iam Tongi, a teenager and singer-songwriter from Kahuku, Hawaii, brought coaches Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie to tears during the Season 21 premiere of ...

”And gosh, man, you got a great voice, you got a great voice. “I was not worried about whether you were going to make it through the song. I was worried about whether we were going to make it through the song. That’s what great artists do, and your voice is just so magnificent.” Richie couldn't help but well up — he felt moved by the promising star’s cover and ability to show his talent, despite mourning the loss of a loved one. He sang a rendition of James Blunt’s "Monsters," which he dedicated to his late father, who died last year after being diagnosed with Stage 4 Kidney Disease.

American Idol's Lionel Richie 'goes through a box of tissues' after watching a phenomenal audition dedicated to contestants' late father.

Hard not to cry," while a third said: "My box of tissues needs a refill, too. It wasn't long until an aspiring singer had the judges go “through a box of tissues” in a beautiful audition. Wishing you all the best this season on #AmericanIdol." Co-judge Bryan discussed his own heartache and added: "Gosh man, you've got a great voice. You hit a nerve and that's what great storytellers do." Another @AlanaJaneMohney added: “What an amazing man!

See the emotional audition by Iam Tongi that brought the 'American Idol' judges to tears and discover if he got a golden ticket to Hollywood.

Afterward, he said, “I was not worried about whether you were gonna make it through the song. I was worried about whether we were gonna make it through the song.” That was all he needed to stir his audience’s feelings, but did he get a golden ticket to Hollywood? Then, he mentioned that his dad, Rodney, died in the months before his audition. [Blunt’s heartbreaking song](https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/fans-cant-keep-it-together-after-this-heartbreaking-james-blunt-music-video.html/) was written while his father was waiting for a kidney donor with stage-four chronic kidney disease, so Tongi’s performance was emotional. Hailing from Hawaii, Tongi brought a guitar and his heart to the performance.

A 17-year-old high-school student from Vancouver, B.C. wowed the judges on the season premiere of American Idol Sunday.

[Regina](https://regina.ctvnews.ca/) ['Its really exciting': Mixed doubles curling debuts at Sask. [Kitchener](https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/) [One person airlifted to hospital after crash in Cambridge](https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/one-person-airlifted-to-hospital-after-crash-in-cambridge-1.6281425) Midwives in Ukraine want women facing labour during the war to be offered that choice of where to give birth. Winter Games](https://regina.ctvnews.ca/its-really-exciting-mixed-doubles-curling-debuts-at-sask-winter-games-1.6281864) [Saskatoon](https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/) ['Devastating': Saskatoon man reacts to latest earthquake in Turkiye](https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/devastating-saskatoon-man-reacts-to-latest-earthquake-in-turkiye-1.6281730) The partial meltdown at the experimental Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories, about 200 kilometres north of Ottawa, was significant for the changes to reactor safety and design it helped usher in. 31 by the doctors who diagnosed him. [Edmonton](https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/) [Persistent cockroaches at Edmonton condo a 'major problem' for owner](https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/persistent-cockroaches-at-edmonton-condo-a-major-problem-for-owner-1.6281858) The Platinum Ticket is only handed out to three singers during the audition round. Instead, he’ll be able to watch his competitors from the audience. Let me tell you that performance was spot on." [Vancouver Top Stories](https://bc.ctvnews.ca/)

Vancouver, BC high schooler Tyson Venegas is going to Hollywood with a Platinum Ticket from American Idol judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Ritchie.

Now he's already one of the standouts in this season's Idol competition, which is only one episode in. He's also performed around Vancouver and in the U.S. Venegas has been performing for much of his life; in fact, this isn't his first reality TV show.

Tyson Venegas, 17, performed Billy Joel's 1976 song “New York State of Mind” at his audition, which aired Sunday. “That was amazing,” said Lionel Richie, who ...

Marlene made it [all the way to the Season 20 finale](https://www.iheartradio.ca/news/canada-s-leah-marlene-to-compete-on-american-idol-finale-1.17789344). [an Instagram post](https://www.instagram.com/tysonvenegas/?hl=en) after the special moment aired, Venegas said “I hit the jackpot! [Gabby Barrett](https://www.iheart.com/artist/865231) [View More Artists](https://www.iheart.com/artist/) In a video introduction for a B.C. I felt alive,” and Luke Bryan said the singer was “exactly what we look for.” [Adam Lambert](https://www.iheart.com/artist/86245) A year earlier, he won the BC Junior Talent Contest at the Cloverdale Rodeo. [Kelly Clarkson](https://www.iheart.com/artist/34788) [Carrie Underwood](https://www.iheart.com/artist/89416) “That was amazing,” said Lionel Richie, who asked Venegas to bring his mother into the room. He just inspired us today. I inspired him back then.

The American Idol 2023 season premiered on Sunday night, and a 17-year-old Canadian wowed the celebrity judges — scoring the first Platinum Ticket of the ...

Luke Bryan was also jamming out, clearly loving the performance. The high school student started strong, impressing judges off the bat with his vocals and piano playing. [Canadian wowed the celebrity judges](https://www.narcity.com/vancouver/guy-from-bc-wowed-the-american-idol-judges-he-had-the-most-canadian-accent-ever) — scoring the first Platinum Ticket of the season.

The whole gang — judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and host Ryan Seacrest — have returned to search for the next singing sensation. Here's a look at ...

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Is one of these singers the next "American Idol"? Here are the highlights from the emotional rollercoaster of the season premiere.

"I love you, and I just want to see you have fun in this whole thing." "I inspired him back then," Richie said. Venegas showed off impressive vocal runs to Billy Joel and Tony Bennett's "New York State of Mind" while accompanying himself on the piano. Daigle said it felt like a "full-circle" moment to come back. "What you have given us was everything that we have been trying to tell all of these kids," Richie said. "You’ve got that grit in your voice," Perry told the waitress. "That song, it meant so much to me," Monee' said of the duet. "You're making these grown men cry," Perry said. Spence went on to finish in second place and [died in a car crash](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2022/10/12/american-idol-finalist-willie-spence-dead-23/10477501002/) in October 2022 at the age of 23. You just sing like Willie’s still here." She sobbed through the performance to a standing ovation from the teary-eyed judges. "Three days before he passed, Willie was telling me, 'You have to go back.

Kya Monée's 2023 'American Idol' audition, a heartfelt tribute to late contestant Willie Spence, made everyone in the room emotional on the premiere.

“He passed in a tragic car accident and I’m still trying to cope with that.” “What you’ve given us was everything we’ve been trying to tell all of these kids,” he said. “It was on another level. “That performance was so emotional, so heartfelt, so divinely guided in the glorious name of our dear brother Willie.” The song that I’m singing today is a song that we picked together. “We grew a very, very close friendship …

Kya Monee returned to the Idol stage to audition for a second time. Kya appeared on 'American Idol' in 2021 and sang a memorable duet with that season's runner- ...

2020 - Just Sam Colin Stough said his mom signed him up for the Idol audition. Kya appeared on 'American Idol' in 2021 and sang a memorable duet with that season's runner-up Willie Spence.