In one of the most emotional performances of American Idol Season 23, 18-year-old Louisiana native John Foster stepped into the national spotlight—not just as a rising country star, but as a voice for love, loss, and healing.
During the Top 20 live performances, the LSU student and aspiring oncologist unveiled an original song titled “Tell That Angel I Love Her,” written just days after the tragic loss of two close friends in 2022. With aching sincerity and a trembling strength, Foster used his platform to honor the memories of Maggie Dunn, 17, and Caroline Gill, 16, who were killed in a police pursuit crash on New Year’s Eve.
“Each tear that falls on my guitar / Is a hug from afar / Lord, won’t you tell that angel I love her? / As y’all live in the stars.”
As Foster sang, a hush fell over the audience. The song, simple yet profound, channeled the grief of a young man grappling with unimaginable loss—and turned it into a universally felt prayer. But the moment reached its emotional peak when Foster pointed into the audience, where Erin Martin, Maggie Dunn’s mother, stood with tears in her eyes and her hands pressed to her chest.
“My heart just melted,” Martin later told WBRZ in a tearful interview. “For John Foster to make the song at all and then to perform it—it’s an example, a tangible example of the light and love that Maggie left behind.”
Martin recalled Foster and Maggie’s friendship, which began in middle school, and even shared a photo from Foster’s very first live performance—where a young Maggie sat proudly in the audience. That same signature hat Foster wore that day made a return during his Idol tribute, a quiet nod to the girl he’ll never forget.
A Song With Purpose
More than a personal tribute, Foster’s performance has become a spotlight on a broader issue—the need for reform in high-speed police pursuit policies.
On that devastating night in 2022, Maggie and Caroline were struck and killed by Addis Police Officer David Cauthron, who ran a red light while driving 86 mph in pursuit of a suspect. He did not brake before the impact. Maggie’s younger brother, Liam, survived after a long recovery.
Cauthron, 42, has since been sentenced to 32 years in prison, with 22 years suspended. He will serve 10 years and is required to speak to schools and law enforcement agencies about the dangers of reckless chases in an effort to prevent future tragedies.
Martin hopes that the emotional weight of Foster’s performance will translate into awareness and change.
“For a minute, those millions of people were thinking about my child,” she said. “Maybe one of those people has the power to effect change when it comes to police pursuit policy.”
A Voice That Heals
As John Foster continues his American Idol journey, fans are already seeing him as more than a performer. He’s a storyteller. A truth-teller. A reminder that music doesn’t just entertain—it can also heal.
His courage in sharing “Tell That Angel I Love Her” speaks volumes, not only about his talent, but his heart. And in doing so, he’s honored two lives that were taken far too soon—while also giving a grieving mother, and a hurting community, a voice on one of television’s biggest stages.
In the words of Erin Martin:
“Maggie’s story was heard. And that, to me, is everything.”
