“I just feel so fortunate. I’m so blessed…”
Chris Tungseth, 27, was the last hopeful singer to step into the American Idol Season 24 audition room, and it’s safe to say we have not seen the last of him in the competition. The Minnesota native’s life story has involved a lot of highs and lows and a lot of emotions that he now expresses through music. With his family by his side, he is ready to embark on the next chapter in his life.
The footage took viewers to Chris’ home in Fergus Falls, MN to show a glimpse of the path that he has walked to get to this point in life. Growing up, he says his childhood was “so fun and so simple,” but that unfortunately changed as he got older.
At 10 years old, his mom was diagnosed with a “pretty aggressive” form of multiple sclerosis and had to be in a hospital located four hours away. Twelve years after enduring that struggle, his dad, who he described as being his “best friend” and his “foundation,” was diagnosed with leukemia.
“That was the worst thing I’ve ever had in my life. Like Superman is no longer Superman. My siblings moved home to help me take care of them. I mean, all of us put life on hold, but there was nothing else that we would’ve done. That was honestly the biggest gift for us to be close to them.”
Now that his father has since passed, Chris is making strides to carry on his legacy and keep their family’s passion for music alive. For his audition, he chose to sing an original song that he penned in honor of his late loved one, titled “Lonely Road.”
In another heartbreaking image of the aspiring singer standing over his father’s grave, he said “Pops, I wish you were part of this. I wish you were here to see this thing go through, but I’m just going to be me, and I hope they see you through me.”
The footage returns to the audition room just in time to heart Chris perform his powerful song as his siblings listened intently from the side of the room. The deeply moving story was so raw and emotional, it could easily bring tears to anyone’s eyes. Strumming his acoustic guitar, the singer lets each word flow straight from his heart, capturing the weight of loneliness, loss, and the longing to be reunited.
The lyrics tell a story of someone who feels far from home and forced to learn life’s hard lessons with a piece of their heart missing. With lines like “I still have a million questions only you got answers to” and “We’re gonna make it through / I’m holding onto you,” the song creates an intimate, emotional experience that resonates long after the last note.
There was no doubt in Carrie Underwood’s voice when she told Chris, “I love everything about you.”