Eighteen-year-old country singer John Foster was among the top 10 American Idol contestants who performed songs made famous by “iconic women in music,” the theme of the episode that aired live across the country on May 4, 2025. Viewers had just under two hours to vote for their favorites during the show, determining who would advance to the top 8 of season 23.
After voting closed during the final commercial break, host Ryan Seacrest was ready to reveal which of the top 10 contestants would make it through to the next round. So, did Foster make it? Yes — he did! John Foster earned a spot in the top 8.
If you head down Louisiana Highway 1 to Addis, you’ll see his face everywhere. Signs supporting Foster, the local country heartthrob on American Idol, are posted every half mile, and the whole town is behind him.
“The buzz was starting to stir around Addis, and everyone was happy for him, obviously. When he made it to TV and they actually aired him, it went big,” said Foster’s father, John “Buddy” Foster Benoit Jr. “I never underestimated how much support he’d get from our community because everyone here is great.”
For Foster’s father, nothing tops the unwavering support of their family. “He has a heart like no other, I really couldn’t be more proud,” Benoit said.
Foster’s journey began at Benoit’s Country Meat Block butcher shop, founded by his grandparents in 1982. He impressed the judges not only with his voice but also with the Louisiana flavor that’s deeply ingrained in him. “To have those judges appreciate that and enjoy it meant a lot to not just John Foster but to myself and our whole family,” Benoit shared.
Business has been thriving at the family shop, with many customers stopping by to ask about John Foster’s journey. “Especially having a business on La. 1, we’re a retail business. People are going in and out, yes we get a lot of that now, and that’s been great,” Benoit said.
The support for Foster doesn’t stop at the city limits. It’s pouring in from neighboring towns as well, all rallying behind one of their own. “We love Addis, we love Brusly, and we love the surrounding areas—Plaquemine, Port Allen, White Castle, all of Bayou Pigeon. All of these communities have been super supportive of John Foster from the beginning, and we can’t thank them enough for that,” Benoit said.
Despite the growing fame, Foster, who is in his first year of college, hasn’t abandoned his backup plan. He told judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood during his audition that he dreams of becoming an oncologist. Even while competing on American Idol, he’s been taking online classes for his second semester at Louisiana State University, where he’s studying biology, as his grandma Verbie Benoit mentioned to The Advocate.
On May 2, Foster launched a Facebook fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, writing, “As many of you know, I am currently studying to become an oncologist (a physician who treats cancer). Whether I decide to pursue medicine or music full-time, I will always be involved in fighting for a cure.”
