When “American Idol” season 23 third place finisher Breanna Nix and runner up John Foster reunited in Nashville during CMA Fest, the two spent some of their downtime in between shows working on a duet of the Randy Travis hit “I Told You So.”
On a video Nix posted of them singing the country tune on June 9, 2025, she wrote, “Let us know how it sounds to you…should we finish the rest?”
To Nix and Foster’s surprise, Travis replied on June 11 and implored them to finish their rendition, insisting that he and his friend — “American Idol” judge Carrie Underwood — would love to hear it in full.
Breanna Nix Says She & John Foster Will Keep Working This Week on Randy Travis Tune
In the video that 25-year-old Nix shared, she sang the first verse and Foster, 19, sang the second of “I Told You So,” a song that Travis, 65, made famous in 1997, before either of them were born. Underwood recorded her own version of the song 10 years later in 2007 — two years after she won “American Idol” — and she and Travis sang it as a duet on the show in 2009.
After seeing Nix and Foster’s rendition on June 11, Travis wrote in the comment section, “”Please finish! I need to hear it!! Ya’ll are incredible artists and will make Carrie and I both proud! Looking forward to hearing so much from ya’ll in the years to come! Thank you”
Stunned, Nix replied, “Oh my word! Yes sir!!!! Thank you so very much!! We will get to it!”
She later posted a screenshot of the country star’s comment in her Instagram Stories and wrote, “The legend himself wants more!!! We’re gonna work this week! ”
Fans were thrilled to see Travis supporting Nix and Foster, including one who replied to him, “Oh my goodness!! This is the best news ever coming from You!! Thank you for giving them your blessing!! John and Breanna are such talented artists who have proven themselves to let their voices be heard and let their precious hearts shine”
Randy Travis Suffered a Near-Fatal Stroke in 2013 But Continues to Tour
Travis has had a huge impact on country music since 1985, winning seven Grammy Awards, landing 16 Billboard number one hits, and selling over 25 million records, according to NBC. But in July 2013, Travis suffered a near-fatal stroke, was placed on life support, and needed emergency surgery to relieve swelling around his brain.
Though he miraculously survived, his wife Mary later revealed he had aphasia, telling Woman’s World in 2023, “Aphasia has taken a lot of Randy’s speech and of course the singing away … I want people to understand that Randy understands everything, it’s just that he can’t communicate as effectively as he once did.”
Underwood paid tribute to Travis at the Grand Ole Opry’s 100th anniversary celebration in March, singing a medley of his hits as he sat in the audience. When she sang “Forever and Ever, Amen,” she approached him in the audience and he managed to sing the last “Amen” of the song, bringing many to tears.
Travis has been touring the U.S. with his original touring band and special guest vocalist James Dupré. Although he doesn’t sing, he does appear onstage during the “More Life Tour.”
