Fergus Falls fundraiser raises more than $6,000 for Chris Tungseth's Idol run

Chris Tungseth’s name drew a quick response in Fergus Falls, and the money followed. A one-day fundraiser built around the local American Idol contestant brought in $6,122.75, giving his run a measurable boost and showing how fast Otter Tail County can rally behind one of its own.

The fundraiser took place Thursday, April 16, with four Fergus Falls restaurants donating 10% of their revenue for the day. Dairyland, The Viking Café, Don Pablo’s Mexican Restaurant and Uncle Eddie’s Ice Cream Parlor all took part, and several said the turnout was among the biggest they had seen. Dairyland and Uncle Eddie’s each reported one of their busiest days ever, The Viking said it had its busiest Thursday ever, and Don Pablo’s compared the crowd to its grand opening 22 years earlier.

For a contestant who grew up in Fergus Falls, the support carried more than symbolic weight. Tungseth had been working as a construction laborer before a friend sent in his audition tape without telling him, and he has moved forward round after round on American Idol. He grew up singing in his church choir, and before the TV competition he was performing locally at open mic nights and in restaurants.

The local momentum has followed him beyond the stage. Fans gathered at Outstate Brewing Company for a watch party in Fergus Falls, and the community response around the fundraiser showed that support for Tungseth has become a shared hometown project, not just an online vote or a faraway TV storyline.

That timing mattered. Tungseth reached American Idol’s top 11 on April 7, then advanced to the top 7 on April 21 after singing “Let It Go” from Frozen on Disney Night. The competition had become unusually tight, with host Ryan Seacrest saying the results needed extra time to count because of a record number of viewer votes.

Tungseth’s personal story has also deepened the connection for many supporters. His father died in 2023 from leukemia, and his mother is living in a nursing home because of multiple sclerosis. As his run has stretched deeper into the season, Fergus Falls has shown it is willing to stand behind him with more than applause. It turned out, in a single day, with checks, crowded tables and a clear message that one of its own still has a town behind him.