On an ordinary Wednesday morning, Side Porch Daiquiris in Addis, Louisiana, hummed quietly—the radio playing in the background, daiquiri machines churning in rhythm. But just weeks ago, this humble bar was anything but quiet. The place was electric, pulsing with music and pride as hometown hero John Foster played what might be his final local show before heading to American Idol’s national stage.
“I always had a feeling he’d be too big for us one day,” said Brady Creighton, the bar’s manager. Creighton began booking Foster just after the COVID-19 pandemic, when the now-Top 10 American Idol contestant was still just a teenager with a guitar and a dream.
A Star Shaped on the Westside
For Foster, the Westside bar and festival circuit was more than just a place to perform—it was his proving ground. From Side Porch to Charlie’s Lounge and even the local Feast on the Levee festival in Brusly, the now 18-year-old honed his classic country sound and natural stage presence before ever stepping into the Hollywood spotlight.
“That’s the same voice he’s had since he was 16, 17,” Creighton said, noting that John’s tone, confidence, and charisma were evident even in his early sets.
Locals still remember watching him play to modest crowds like it was a stadium gig. Longtime supporter Gary Tullier recounted telling Foster, “Man, you did excellent, you need to go on American Idol” after a festival performance. It turns out, Foster was listening.
More Than Just a Voice
But it wasn’t just John’s voice that made him stand out—it was who he was offstage, too.
“He’s an honest, genuine, probably the most respectful person his age I’ve ever met in my life,” said local Ryan Comeaux. “I mean, I gotta tell him to quit calling me sir.”
There’s a quiet pride in the community that raised him—a sense that they were in on a secret long before the rest of America caught on. Foster’s gigs at West Baton Rouge venues were already stacking up for the year before Idol came calling. While no one’s sure if he’ll still be able to honor those dates, no one would blame him if he can’t. They just want to see him win.
A Homegrown Talent on a National Stage
As John Foster continues his journey on American Idol, the people of Addis remember the boy who turned barrooms into concert halls and who treated every small-town set like it was his big break. And in a way, it was.
For them, he’s already a star. And for the rest of the world? They’re just catching up.
