WEST BATON ROUGE — When John Foster stepped onto the American Idol stage Sunday night and sang his original song, “Tell That Angel I Love Her,” he wasn’t just performing—he was pouring out his heart for someone he lost too soon. The emotional tribute, written in memory of his best friend Maggie Dunn, moved millions of viewers. But for Maggie’s mom, Erin Martin, it meant everything.
“I didn’t hear him say ‘I love you, Maggie’ when I was there live,” Erin said through tears. “There was so much clapping, I missed it in the moment. But watching it back at home—it hit me so deeply. That little line meant the world.”
John’s performance came from a place of raw grief. He wrote the song on New Year’s Eve 2022, the day Maggie Dunn and Caroline Gill, both students at Brusly High School, were killed in a tragic crash during a high-speed police chase. Maggie’s younger brother Liam was also in the car and spent weeks in the hospital recovering from serious injuries.
John, now in the Idol Top 14, said the song was “the most beautiful, yet the most horrific” thing he’s ever created. He wrote it sitting by the bayou, letting his emotions guide the melody.
That pain—and that love—echoed through every note. As Erin sat in the audience with John’s family and friends, the night became more than just a performance—it became a moment of healing.
“There were ugly tears,” Erin said with a soft laugh. “Snot and everything. We brought a sign with Maggie and Caroline’s names. Elizabeth, John’s sister, held it up, and they even showed it on TV. That meant a lot to us.”
Since the song aired, interest in Maggie and Caroline’s story has surged, giving Erin and other grieving families a glimmer of hope that real change might come. Maggie’s dad, Randall Dunn, started the MED (Margaret Edline Dunn) Foundation in her honor to push for safer community practices and real reform.
“Maybe someone with the power to change things will hear John’s song and do something,” Erin said. “It’s not just about one tragic night—it’s a bigger issue, and people are tired of nothing being done.”
Beyond the performance, Erin talked about the beautiful bond between John, Maggie, and Caroline. Their friendship wasn’t like most teenage groups—it was genuine, drama-free, and full of encouragement.
“They lifted each other up,” she said. “Maggie always believed in John’s talent.”
And even as he stands in the national spotlight, John hasn’t changed. Erin smiled as she remembered his polite charm—still calling everyone “Mr.” and “Miss,” even when he met Jelly Roll.
“He called him ‘Mr. Roll,’” she laughed. “And Jelly Roll just said, ‘Please don’t ever say that again.’”
One memory that sticks with her most? The letter Maggie wrote to John in high school for an English assignment. In it, she told him to keep going—because he had a gift worth sharing. He still carries that letter with him.
So while American Idol is a competition, for Erin Martin and everyone who loved Maggie, it’s also something more. It’s proof that love lasts. That voices can rise from grief. That a friendship like theirs can echo far beyond the final note.
“I’m just so proud of him,” Erin said. “It’s one thing to say the song was beautiful. But if you want to help—vote.”
John Foster returns to the American Idol stage this Sunday night on ABC, hoping to earn a spot in the Top 10. But for so many, he’s already won—by keeping Maggie’s light shining and giving her a voice through his music.
