Chris Tungseth

S24 · Eliminated (4th–5th)

As of June 5, 2026

Chris Tungseth is a construction worker from Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He graduated from Grand Canyon University in spring 2025 with a degree in exercise science. He wrote Lonely Road after his father died in 2023 and sang it at his American Idol audition. Idol recordings on 19 Recordings and Atlantic begin with Apologize on March 23, 2026. He was eliminated in the Top 5 round on May 4, 2026, and at the May 11 finale he sang Cruise with Nelly. Lonely Road came out on June 5, 2026.⁠[1][2][3][4]

Career

Before the show

  1. 2025In spring 2025 he graduated from Grand Canyon University with a degree in exercise science.⁠[2]

During or around the show

  1. March 23, 2026On March 23, 2026 Apologize (from American Idol) came out on 19 Recordings and Atlantic Recording Corporation.⁠[3][4]

After the show

  1. June 5, 2026On June 5, 2026 he released Lonely Road on 19 Recordings and Atlantic Recording Corporation.⁠[2][3]

Date not documented

  1. He is a construction worker from Fergus Falls, Minnesota. To prepare for his Nashville audition he performed at Outstate Brewing Company there.⁠[1]
  2. He wrote Lonely Road shortly after his father died in 2023, and he sang it at his American Idol audition.⁠[2]

Discography

No releases are documented yet.

Awards

Checked October 8, 2026; none found.

Other activity

  • May 4, 2026He was eliminated in the Top 5 round of American Idol on May 4, 2026. At the season finale on May 11, 2026 he sang Cruise with Nelly.⁠[4]

Sources

6 sources

  1. Minnesota's Chris Tungseth reaches top seven of American Idol — MPR News, published April 21, 2026. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (4)
    • Job and town: “construction worker from Fergus Falls”
    • Job: “construction worker from Fergus Falls”
    • Prep: “To prepare for his "American Idol" audition in Nashville”
    • Venue: “Outstate Brewing Company”
  2. GCU grad hits the big stage on American Idol, living late father's musical legacy — Grand Canyon University News, published March 23, 2026. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (8)
    • Degree: “graduated from GCU in spring 2025”
    • Field: “degree in exercise science in 2025”
    • Song: “Lonely Road”
    • Year: “in 2023, his father passed away”
    • Caption: “graduated from GCU in spring 2025”
    • Degree: “degree in exercise science in 2025”
    • Title: “Lonely Road”
    • Death year: “in 2023, his father passed away”
  3. Apple album lookup for artist 1885969205 — Apple. Release database. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (8)
    • Apologize: "releaseDate":"2026-03-23T07:00:00Z"
    • Lonely Road: "releaseDate":"2026-06-05T07:00:00Z"
    • Earliest Idol single: "releaseDate":"2026-03-23T07:00:00Z"
    • Copyright: "copyright":"℗ 2026 19 Recordings, Inc., under exclusive license to Atlantic Recording Corporation"
    • Title: "collectionName":"Apologize (from American Idol) - Single"
    • Apologize: "collectionName":"Apologize (from American Idol) - Single"
    • Lonely Road: "collectionName":"Lonely Road - Single"
    • Lonely Road: "copyright":"℗ 2026 19 Recordings, Inc., under exclusive license to Atlantic Recording Corporation"
  4. American Idol season 24 (Wikipedia revision 1364749034) — Wikipedia, updated July 18, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (8)
    • Top 5 (May 4) table: “|+ Top 5 (May 4)”
    • Top 5 (May 4) table, Chris Tungseth row: “| "[[Northern Attitude]]"”
    • Finale heading: “===Top 3 – Finale (May 11)===”
    • Finale, non-competition performances: “Chris Tungseth with Nelly”
    • Finale, non-competition performances: “| "[[Cruise (song)|Cruise]]"”
    • Top 20 streaming: “The songs performed by the Top 20 and onwards were published on all music streaming platforms.”
    • Streaming: “The songs performed by the Top 20 and onwards were published on all music streaming platforms.”
    • Song: “Apologize”
  5. List of American Idol finalists — Wikipedia, updated June 10, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • Contestants table, row Chris Tungseth: Season 24, Place finish 4th-5th
  6. American Idol season 24 — Wikipedia, updated July 18, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • Top 5 – Class of 2006 Reunion (May 4) table (Eliminated); Elimination chart, row Chris Tungseth: Pl. 4 (shared), 5/4 column

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