For his second performance of the night during American Idol’s special Mother’s Day tribute, John Foster delivered a deeply moving version of “Believe” by Brooks & Dunn — and this time, he sang it straight from the heart to the most important woman in his life: his mom.
With nothing but pure emotion and a stripped-back arrangement, Foster’s voice carried a gentle strength. As he sang, his voice quivered with feeling, and the connection to his mother, seated in the audience, was impossible to miss. By the final chorus, the entire crowd was on its feet.
The judges were visibly touched, not just by the performance, but by Foster’s continued growth and sincerity on stage.
“Charisma. Charisma. Charisma. That’s why you’re truly almost there,” Luke Bryan told him, applauding his heartfelt delivery and confident stage presence. “You just keep surprising me every night. You’re killing it, brother.”
Since his very first audition, Foster has stood out for more than just his voice. His heartfelt original, “Tell That Angel I Love Her,” written in honor of his late best friend Maggie Dunn, showed the world that he’s not just a singer — he’s a storyteller with something to say.
That emotional honesty has become his secret weapon. Whether he’s performing a cover or an original, Foster pulls audiences in with his sincerity and soul.
Now, with his name called for the Top 5, the teen from Addis, Louisiana, is inching closer to the finale. Surrounded by family and backed by a proud hometown, Foster is proving that heart, hard work, and humility can carry you far — maybe even all the way to an American Idol win.
