‘American Idol’ Standout Thunderstorm Artis Delivers Outstanding “Colors of the Wind” Top 7 Performance

Five years after nearly winning The Voice, Thunderstorm Artis punched his golden ticket to Hollywood on American Idol. The Hawaii native won judges over with an original song, “Don’t Let Me Let You Go.” As the weeks went by, Artis continued winning over fans. He has consistently garnered enough votes to move forward to the next round. Now, the father of two delivered an impeccable performance of a ’90s Disney classic.

Thunderstorm Artis Performs “Colors Of the Wind” For Disney Night on ‘American Idol’

During Sunday’s (May 11) episode of American Idol, John Foster, Jamal Roberts, Mattie Pruitt, Thunderstorm Artis, Slater Nalley, Gabby Samone and Breanna Nix all battled it out to see the Top 6. Tonight brought back a time-honored Idol tradition—Disney Night.

Artis has absolutely brought it all season, and this week seems no different. Tonight, he warmed every ’90s kid’s heart when he belted “Colors of the Wind,” from the 1995 film Pocahontas.

Originally recorded by singer-actress Judy Kuhn, “Colors of the Wind” celebrates animism. Animism is a common Native American perspective that honors the spiritual essence of all living things.

[RELATED: Thunderstorm Artis Delivers Epic Journey Cover on ‘American Idol’]

On Sunday, May 18, we will officially know the identity of this year’s American Idol champion. Will Artis move forward to the Top 6?

On Balancing Music and Parenthood

The Thunderstorm Artis viewers see on American Idol is a very different man from the one who finished third on The Voice in 2020. For one, he’s a dad now. The Top 7 finalist’s wife, Faith, has been by his side cheering him on every week. So have their young sons, Ezekiel and Zion.

Rehearsing for many hours a day and performing live in front of millions will take a toll on anyone even without two small children. Fortunately, Artis received some invaluable advice from Top 14 mentor James Taylor, himself a father of four.

“He was just talking about the importance of being present when you are present, and making sure you continue to make them a priority in your life,” Artis told The Deseret News. “That’s just a message that echoes in my head, making sure that no matter how much fame I acquire or lack of fame that I acquire, that I continue to be present in my boys’ lives. I think often we miss out on that sort of thing.”

Featured image by Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images