‘American Idol’ alums return in Season 24 with feel-good spin on ‘Island Style’ — here’s where to stream
On the latest episode of ‘American Idol’, two familiar faces walked back onto the stage. Iam Tongi and Thunderstorm Artis returned not as hopefuls this time, but as guest performers. Tongi, the Season 21 winner, kicked things off, stepping into the spotlight with ‘Good for My Soul,’ the title track from his newly released debut album. Then Artis, who was among the Top 5 of Season 23, joined him. Together, they took on ‘Island Style,’ originally by John Cruz. The duo turned the track into something playful and easygoing, almost like a jam session that just happened to be on national television. Notably, their version is already out on Spotify for fans to stream and replay as much as they want.
After stepping off the stage, Tongi caught up with host Ryan Seacrest and summed up what life has been like lately. He said, “It’s been crazy, just touring around the world. It wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for ‘American Idol’.” The artist has recently been promoting his album. Before its release, Tongi opened up a bit online, sharing, “I’ve been working so long towards an album, and the songs mean so much to me. It’s a lot of deep feelings. There is pain, joy, happiness, and even just good vibes walking on the beach. Everything I’ve been feeling during this period of my life.” He added, “When you hear this album. I hope you hear me as a person.” Artis, on the other hand, hasn’t been sitting still either. He’s been deep in the creative process, writing, recording, and building his catalog piece by piece. His latest single, ‘Storybook,’ is part of that ongoing journey.
Former contestants returning and showcasing their growth always impacts the current lineup. Because right now, Season 24 is still in that intense middle stretch. The competition has been trimmed down to a Top 20, and the rollout is split across two episodes. 10 performers took the stage on March 16, while the remaining 10 are set to follow on March 23. Before hitting the stage, contestants got guidance from Keke Palmer and Brad Paisley. Then came the feedback from Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood. But here’s the thing, the judges can only say so much. The real power lies with the viewers.
This season, the voting system has been tweaked just enough to keep everyone on their toes. Fans can still vote the classic way, through the official website or by texting “21523” their pick during the show. But there’s a new option in the mix. Instead of relying on the old app, which is no longer part of the process, fans can head over to the show’s official pages on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, find the pinned voting post, and drop a comment with the name of the artist they’re rooting for. Voting stays open until 6:00 a.m. ET on March 17, giving fans a window to make their picks.
