Since winning American Idol, Iam Tongi has graduated from high school, booked several live shows (including opening for Dirty Heads and Bone Thugs N’ Harmony!), as well as a music festival in Sacramento, CA.
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MLB All-Star Game – T-Mobile Home Run Derby
Tongi also booked singing the National Anthem before the MLB All-Star Home Run Derby, which was held in Seattle, Washington.
The Home Run Derby took place on Monday, July 10th, just one night prior to the All-Star game, in which the National League took down the American League in dramatic fashion for the first time since 2012.
Before the men competing in the Home Run Derby could start swinging their bats, the sold-out T-Mobile Park stood for the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” sung by Iam Tongi. The capacity for the baseball stadium is nearly 48,000.
The Biggest Live Stage He Has Performed On
While he has performed live on American Idol, and now at a few bigger venues, the T-Mobile Home Run Derby was by far the biggest. It was also the very first time her performed the National Anthem somewhere.
His performance sent chills down our spine because of his incredible voice!
Iam Tongi belting the 🇺🇸 national anthem before the Home Run Derby pic.twitter.com/RKb9m7uzfq
— Hawaii Sports Fans (@HIsportsfans) July 11, 2023
The performance went off without a hitch…except for the fact that he forgot to take his hat off.
Iam Tongi Apologizes On Social Media For Not Removing His Hat While Singing The National Anthem
Iam can be seen in the video above wearing a Seattle Mariners hat, as the Mariners were the host for All Star Week. He explained on Twitter, “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.”
On Instagram, he wrote, “First time singing the National Anthem and it was nerve wrecking that the nerves took over and I forgot to take my cap off.”
Tongi apologized, “So sorry guys,” before revealing it was his “biggest crowd yet.”
See his posts below.
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 🤙🏾 pic.twitter.com/CUbwQXU0js
— Iam Tongi (@wtongi) July 11, 2023