Sometimes, it really does take three tries. When John Foster walked into American Idol in 2024, it wasn’t luck that got him there — it was grit.

The young singer from Addis, Louisiana, had already faced rejection twice: once during the pandemic-era Zoom auditions, and again in person. Both times, he left empty-handed — no golden ticket, no glory — but with a deeper resolve. “He turned failure into fuel,” said his mother, Amanda Benoit. “He didn’t give up. He showed up.”

And this time, he wasn’t just a contestant — he was a standout.

Foster’s defining moment came when he performed an original song, “Tell That Angel I Love Her,” dedicated to his late best friend Maggie Dunn, who died in a car crash on New Year’s Eve 2022. The performance became one of Season 23’s most talked-about moments.

“He carried Maggie with him,” Amanda said. “Every word of that song, she was there.” The song was more than tribute — it was a promise kept. Maggie had left Foster a note before her death urging him to keep going: “Never give up on your singing dreams. Your voice is too good to go unheard.”

Throughout the season, Foster stayed true to himself, delivering stirring renditions of ’90s country hits from legends like Brooks & Dunn, George Strait, and Randy Travis. Judge Carrie Underwood praised him as a “throwback” — a voice from country’s golden era. Viewers across America agreed.

Though he finished second, Foster’s journey didn’t end with the finale. On June 7, 2025, he stepped into the historic circle at the Grand Ole Opry. “It’s been my number one dream since I started music,” he shared online. “The first time I went to the Opry, I fought back tears because I was so overwhelmed with joy.”

With two more shows already lined up, Foster’s post-Idol path is just beginning. More than a runner-up, he’s carving out his place in the country music world.

Back home, Amanda still finds herself stunned. “I watched him clean chicken houses. I watched him play at church fairs,” she said. “And then I saw him on that stage. He earned every bit of it.”

Foster’s story — marked by resilience, loss, and an unshakable love for music — is already resonating with fans. And for many, he’s already won.