The American Idol Season 23 finale aired on May 18, 2025, crowning Jamal Roberts as the winner. However, John Foster, the runner-up, garnered immense popularity throughout the competition, with nearly half of America rooting for him to win.
The three-hour finale featured numerous performances, including a special appearance by the Top 14 contestants and the judges, who treated the audience to personal concerts on the American Idol stage.
Taking to Instagram, the 18-year-old country singer from Addis, Louisiana, expressed his gratitude to supporters and reflected on his journey. Despite his young age, many fans praised John for his mature voice, saying it sounded like someone with 30 years of experience.
John wrote:
“Man, what a true blessing to share this Idol stage with so many incredible heroes, both new faces and legends. I’m beyond thankful, and I can’t wait to keep making music for y’all as long as the good Lord lets me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart – times a million.”
John Foster’s Performances in the Finale
The first round saw John performing the patriotic anthem “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” Mentor Jelly Roll encouraged John to give an extraordinary performance that would captivate the large audience he had amassed.
When asked about his chances of winning, John humbly replied, “It’s all going to come down to what America wants to be the next American Idol, what they think the next American Idol is.”
In the second round, his heartfelt rendition of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” impressed the judges and had the audience clapping along.
After Breanna Nix was eliminated in the second hour, John and Jamal advanced to the final round. For the last performance, John chose to sing an original song he wrote called “Tell That Angel I Love Her,” a tribute to his friend Maggie Dunn, who tragically passed away in a car accident. John poured his love and pain into the performance, deeply moving the judges.
Meanwhile, Jamal Roberts performed his original song “Heal,” described as a prayer and a first-time television performance.
The Winner Announcement and Aftermath
The competition was extremely close. After America’s votes were tallied, host Ryan Seacrest prepared to announce the winner. However, fans noticed something unusual: John Foster appeared to have a disappointed expression moments before Ryan revealed Jamal as the winner. This led to speculation that John might have seen the winner’s name in the envelope early.
Viewers shared their thoughts on social media, with some writing:
- “John Foster fully just saw the American Idol results 4 seconds before Seacrest announced it. He very clearly looked at the card.”
- “It looked like John Foster seen the envelope!”
- “Ryan needs to be facing the contestants rather than next to them when announcing results. John Foster saw Jamal’s name before it was announced.”
Despite the outcome, John Foster received widespread support online. Fans praised his talent and predicted a bright future for his music career. One fan wrote, “Congratulations to John Foster! We think you’re a great American and we love your music. I’m sure his career is about to take off.” Another added, “So proud of John Foster even though he didn’t win. Definitely made Addis, Louisiana and all of West Baton Rouge proud!”
