John Foster may have ended American Idol Season 23 as the runner-up to Jamal Roberts, but he’s already full steam ahead with plans for his music career. Just after the Sunday, May 18 finale, the teenage singer shared what’s next on his horizon.
His first priority? Promoting his debut single, “Tell That Angel I Love Her”—a deeply personal ballad written in memory of his late friend Maggie Dunn, who tragically died in a car accident.
“I’m going to push that out as much as possible,” Foster told TV Insider. “I wrote that song by myself. It gives people a great glimpse into who I am as an artist and as a writer.”
Beyond the single, Foster is eager to get back in the studio to work on his first full-length album. “I love being in the studio,” he said, clearly excited for what’s ahead.
As for other opportunities? When asked about possibly joining Dancing With the Stars, Foster didn’t rule it out. “I never really thought about that,” he said. “I’ll tell you this – it’s certainly not a no.”
For now, though, he’s most excited about one simple thing: reuniting with his dog. “I’ve been missing my dog and so I’m super excited to get back home,” he said with a smile.
Foster stayed gracious after Ryan Seacrest announced Jamal Roberts as the winner. “I’m extremely happy to be here,” he said. “It’s been such an incredible season. The talent this year has been amazing. To think I’m No. 2 out of 120,000 contestants and the Top 24, which was the strongest I’ve ever seen, is something I’ll never forget.”
Unlike Foster, third-place finalist Breanna Nix found out her placement earlier in the three-hour finale. Still, she embraced the moment with peace and perspective.
“I feel like God has ordered every single step I took on this show,” Nix said. “I just felt in my stomach that I was going to be the first one out, and God gave me peace with that.”
Interestingly, Nix said she predicted Jamal’s win early on. “I heard him sing during the first round in Hollywood, and I’ll never forget the feeling that came over me,” she recalled. “I thought, ‘He’s going to win.’”
Nix, who didn’t even know Jamal at the time, introduced herself and asked to record her prediction. “I said, ‘You’re going to win American Idol, dude, and I want to be the one who called it,’” she revealed. After the finale, she reminded Jamal of the video. “He’s like, ‘I remember, Breanna.’”
Both Foster and Nix know that success doesn’t only come to the show’s winner. “I feel like I’ve already won,” Nix said. “I’ve grown in so many ways, and I’ve released my first song, ‘Higher.’ That’s such a surreal moment. So many doors have opened in such a short time. I’m really excited.”
She even hopes to return to American Idol in a new role. “I’d love to be a judge or a mentor—anything,” she said. “American Idol will always have a big, special place in my heart.”
As the season wraps, both Foster and Nix expressed deep gratitude for their journeys.
“I feel really good,” Nix added. “I’m ready to tour and start celebrating.”
Foster had this advice for future contestants: “Please be confident in who you are as an artist. Never accept failure as final defeat. Never accept defeat at all. Do not be discouraged—this is the beginning.”
