Chris Tungseth grew up watching singing competition "American Idol" with his family in Minnesota.
As many singers and musicians do, the Grand Canyon University graduate dreamed of being on the big stage when he was little but never thought it would be possible.
Now he is performing on Season 24 of "American Idol," debuting tonight in Hawaii for a chance to advance to the next round. It will be aired on ABC at 7 p.m. Phoenix time.
“It’s all so surreal,” Tungseth said. “You are on set, you see the 'American Idol' sign, you see Ryan Seacrest (show host) and the judges and internally, you are just like, 'What the heck?' Going from watching people on 'American Idol' my whole life to then that being me, there is no way I can even wrap my brain around it.”
With his dad as an experienced opera singer and a worship leader and his mother a pianist, Tungseth’s childhood was marked by music.
They often performed together, and when Tungseth and his three older siblings were old enough, his parents quickly instilled the love for music into them.
They grew up performing at church and regularly watching "American Idol" at home. Despite the different interests in sports and hobbies, music always brought his family together.
Music became Tungseth’s escape, too.
His mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis years ago and became disabled because of it, and his father was diagnosed with leukemia in 2021. Tungseth and his siblings moved home to take care of their parents.
Tungseth became his mother’s primary caregiver and helped his dad exercise regularly while in chemotherapy, but in 2023, his father passed away.
“Music was where I turned to in dark times to navigate my story, navigate the season of life I was in. For that reason, a lot of the songs I wrote were sad and difficult.”
In that time, Tungseth developed a passion for physical therapy. He enrolled at GCU to pursue exercise science. He grew a heart for people with disabilities and wanted to help care for them, just like he did for his parents.
“I have always wanted to go to GCU because I had a lot of friends in Phoenix. I wanted to turn over a new leaf and start a new season. I got placed with three random roommates, and they all become my best friends.
“During move-in, they saw I had a guitar and a record player. They were going through my records and were like, ‘You like music? You should play us a song.’ I played them an original, and they started crying, all of us, just crying in the living room.”
It was an instant connection. Though Tungseth hadn’t shared his story with his roommates, they quickly became his safe space and unknowingly helped him through his darkest season of life.
Tungseth earned his degree in exercise science in 2025, ready to pursue a career he thought was most tangible and suited for him. But after a friend surprisingly signed him up for "American Idol" auditions, Tungseth realized pursuing music full time and honoring his father’s legacy with his talent was really where his heart was.
Just two months after graduation, he was on his way to Nashville to sing in front of musicians Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, the "American Idol" judges.
“This is very humbling to see,” older sister Laura Tungseth said. “The Lord has brought our family through so much, and to now give Chris this platform to share his voice, live our dad’s legacy through this and bring glory to God is ultimately his goal.
Though the preliminary audition came by surprise, Tungseth quickly knew what song he would sing in front of the judges.
An original song dedicated to his father, “Lonely Road,” wowed the judges as Tungseth poured his heart into the lyrics and melodies. He wrote the song shortly after his father’s passing and often used music as an escape and a connection to his dad.
“Initially, I was scared,” Tungseth said. “Not a lot of people outside my family knew about my life. I didn’t want to use a traumatic story to build a career. But at the same time, it’s a chance for me to reach a lot of people that have a similar story, that want to connect and need music to get through difficult times.
“My legacy is the same legacy my father had, and it is to know Jesus and love others. I don’t care if anybody knows me, but if they can see Jesus through me, that is most important.”
Tungseth will perform tonight at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii. The episode will be aired at 7, Phoenix time. People can watch on ABC or stream on Hulu and Disney+, available the next day.
To vote for Tungseth, visit AmericanIdol.com/vote.
GCU staff writer Izabela Fogarasi can be reached at [email protected]
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