John Foster may not have taken home the American Idol title, but he’s not stepping away from his dream of becoming a country singer. After finishing as runner-up to Jamal Roberts in the Season 23 finale on Sunday, May 18, Foster took a moment to reflect. Returning to Instagram the following day, he shared an emotional message and a promising glimpse into what’s ahead.
“No words can describe how I truly feel, but I hope that these will try,” Foster wrote. “I can vividly remember that feeling of ‘I’ll never be good enough’ in my early days of Idol, and I can gladly say that I proved myself wrong. I’ve gained friends, confidence, life skills, and most importantly, I gained you, my family.”
The rising country artist expressed gratitude to his supporters and signaled that this is just the beginning. “My gratitude will NEVER be fully expressed, but I hope to show it by working hard to give you some new country music and show dates as soon as I can. God has a reason for me being runner-up, and I will always trust His plan!” he continued. “This is merely a first step into what He has in store for me, and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead. I love you!”
In the caption of the post, Foster took a moment to celebrate his fellow finalists, writing, “I also want to send a very heartfelt congratulations to all of my fellow finalists, especially Jamal, his family, and his community; he is an incredible performer with whom I’m honored to have shared a stage. I’ll certainly be praying for him as he continues his journey.”
Foster’s journey after American Idol is already in motion with the release of his debut single, “Tell That Angel I Love Her,” a deeply personal song inspired by the loss of his friend Maggie Dunn in a car accident. “I’m going to push that out as much as possible,” he told TV Insider. “I think it gives people a great idea of who I am as a writer. I wrote that song by myself. It gives people a good glimpse of who I am as an artist and as a writer.” Looking ahead, he also confirmed his plans to record a full-length album, adding, “I love being in the studio.”
Though he may not have claimed the Idol crown, Foster leaves the competition with a strong foundation, a growing fan base, and a clear sense of purpose. With his heart set on country music and his faith guiding the way, John Foster is only getting started.
