He may have finished second on American Idol Season 23, but John Foster is walking away a winner in every sense of the word. Just hours after the emotional finale on Sunday, May 18, the 18-year-old Louisiana native is already mapping out his next moves — and fans have a lot to look forward to!
First up is his debut single, “Tell That Angel I Love Her,” a heartfelt song John wrote in honor of his late friend Maggie Dunn, who tragically passed away in a car accident. “I wrote it by myself, and I really think it shows who I am — not just as a singer, but as a writer too,” he shared. “I’m going to push it out there as much as I can.”
And that’s just the beginning. Foster is already eager to return to the studio, where he feels most at home. “Recording is something I love. I’m definitely planning to work on a full album soon.”
Back home in Louisiana, excitement is brewing as the town prepares to welcome their hometown star with a parade and concert. And while John isn’t ruling out a spin on Dancing With the Stars (“It’s not a no,” he teased), right now he’s looking forward to something a little simpler. “Honestly, I just can’t wait to see my dog again,” he said with a smile.
During the finale, John took his second-place finish with total grace. As Jamal Roberts was crowned the winner, Foster stood proudly beside him, reflecting on the wild journey. “To be second out of 120,000 people? To make the Top 24 with the most talented group I’ve ever seen? That’s something I’ll always be proud of.”
Third-place finalist Breanna Nix shared similar sentiments. Though she was eliminated earlier in the finale, she says she felt at peace with the outcome. “God ordered every step I took on this show,” she said. “I had this feeling I’d be the first to go that night, and I was okay with it.”
Breanna even predicted Jamal’s win during Hollywood Week! “The first time I heard him sing, I just knew,” she said. “I went right up to him and said, ‘You’re going to win this thing. And I want to be the one who said it first!’” Sure enough, when Jamal took the crown, she reminded him of that moment — and he remembered.
Both John and Breanna agree: you don’t have to win American Idol to launch a meaningful career. “I already feel like I’ve won,” said Breanna. Her debut song, “Higher,” just dropped, and she’s excited about what’s next. “So many doors have opened. I’d come back to Idol in a heartbeat — as a mentor, judge, anything. It’ll always have a special place in my heart.”
As for John Foster, he’s just getting started — and he has some advice for future contestants:
“Be confident in who you are. Don’t let setbacks stop you. This isn’t the end — it’s just the beginning.”
