WATCH: ‘American Idol’ Champ Iam Tongi Delivers Captivating Acoustic Cover of Morgan Wallen’s ‘Sand In My Boots’
Tongi covered the chart-topping hit as part of his acoustic sessions series.
Iam Tongi; Photo Courtesy YouTube
American Idol winner, Iam Tongi put his unique spin on Morgan Wallen’s “Sand In My Boots” in an official cover that was unveiled on Friday (Oct. 20).
Tongi, 19, released a stripped-down version of the song to streaming platforms as part of his acoustic sessions series. He paired the release with an acoustic performance video that captures the true emotions of the song. With his acoustic guitar in hand and pedal steel accompanying him, Tongi delivered a soul-stirring cover of the chart-topping Morgan Wallen hit.
Morgan Wallen Cover
“Sand In My Boots” was co-written by HARDY, Josh Osborne, and Ashley Gorley and appears on Wallen’s record-breaking sophomore release, Dangerous: The Double Album. The song tells the story of a man who meets a woman while vacationing on the beach. They strike up a whirlwind romance, but when it’s time to return to reality, she leaves the man hanging. He’s ultimately left with her memory and “some sand in my boots.”
“Yeah, but now I’m dodging potholes in my sunburnt Silverado/ Like a heart-broke Desperado, headed right back to my roots/ Somethin’ bout the way she kissed me tells me she’d love Eastern Tennessee/ Yeah, but all I brought back with me was some sand in my boots,” goes the chorus.
His Fans Are Loving It
Tongi’s cover was well-received by his fans. His acoustic performance was flooded with comments, with some fans admitting that they were not familiar with the song until he shared his cover.
“I’ve never heard this song before, but everything you sing sounds like you wrote it. Every note is mesmerizing, convincing, and passionate. Every lyric sounds believable,” one YouTube user wrote. “Iam, your voice is a warm blanket to a hurting soul. Before you came into our hearts, I only listened to music. With your voice, I now feel the music.”
Another added, “Iam, You are incredible. This is the first I’ve heard you sing country. You knocked it out of the park. I believe you will captivate audiences with any genre. Well done!”
“Why Kiki”
Tongi’s cover of “Sand In My Boots” follows the release of his original track, “Why Kiki.” The song hit streaming platforms on September 22 and tells the story of heartbroken man as he asks, “Why Kiki/Why you wanna do me like that Kiki/Why you gotta hurt me so bad Kiki/Why you got me down on my knees…”
The Hawaii native honored his Hawaiian roots by releasing an official hula dance video for the song.
Winner Of Season 21
Iam Tongi captured the hearts of millions and was crowned the winner of American Idol season 21. Throughout his time on the show, he impressed the viewers and judges alike with his emotional performances that tugged at the heartstrings. His audition included a moving performance of James Blunt’s song “Monsters” in honor of his late father.
The standout contestant later enjoyed a full-circle moment when Blunt appeared on the show to sing the song with him. The pair went on to release an official duet weeks after the American Idol finale.
His previously released original track, “I’ll Be Seeing You,” was penned by Season 18 Idol alum Francisco Martin and 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 Tongi 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.
Iam Tongi has been staying busy since his time on Idol. He recently hit the road for his first-ever tour, which included two sold-out shows in Los Angeles. The rising star also performed at several festivals throughout the summer.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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