Country Singer John Foster Delivers an Impressive Alan Jackson Performance That Takes Carrie Underwood Back to Her First Concert

“I’m not sure if vocally it’s strong enough to make it through many rounds of American Idol, but I think you’ve got a nice voice…”

John Foster is a medical student with a deep passion for traditional country music and a dream of sharing that passion with the world through American Idol. Before showcasing his vocal talent, he treated the judges to some authentic Louisiana food, served in personalized coolers, as a way of displaying his Cajun hospitality.
As Luke Bryan sampled the treats, Foster explained that he is currently studying biology on a pre-med track, aiming for medical school.
“I have a passion for cancer treatment,” he shared, adding, “The dream is to be a singing oncologist.”

Watch his full performance below.

Foster presents himself with genuine southern charm and a sense of intelligence that could make a significant impact on the world of medicine one day. However, during his audition, the judges were more focused on his vocal skills, which evoked the timeless country sounds of legends like Alan Jackson and Conway Twitty.

Clad in jeans, a flannel shirt, and a cowboy hat, Foster began strumming his guitar to Jackson’s iconic hit, “Don’t Rock The Jukebox.” The judges sat quietly, admiring the traditional, authentic twang in his vocals. Carrie Underwood, in particular, was transported back to her first concert, when she saw Alan Jackson live in 1994.
“I was 11. Love me some Alan,” she gushed.
She then asked Foster if he had another song that would showcase a bit more of his vocal range. Foster chose another classic — Conway Twitty’s “Goodbye Time.”

Before he could even begin the song, Luke Bryan excitedly exclaimed, “Oh hell!” admitting, “I was singing it all day.”
Bryan jumped in to sing a few lines himself and offered words of encouragement as Foster confidently let his musical ability shine before the judges.

As Foster’s vocal power grew, Bryan stood up and delivered the final lyrics alongside him.
“If being free is worth what you leave behind, / And if it’s too late for love to change your mind, / Then it’s goodbye time,” Foster sang, earning applause and a “thank you” from the judges.

Underwood was impressed with his second song choice, saying, “I got the information I wanted from that. There’s such a sweet spot in your voice that that song really brought out.”
She also offered advice on how to navigate the competition, should he move forward:
“If you end up going through to Hollywood, when we ask you to sing different genres, be yourself, but think about how you’ll approach different situations,” she advised.

Lionel Richie agreed with Underwood, sharing that he would love to hear more individuality from Foster in the future.
“I love the timber in your voice, but now you’ve got to carve your own way and start making your sound,” he said.

Bryan, who had initially been leaning toward giving Foster a “no,” admitted that his second performance won him over.
“Lionel said what my heart was thinking. I don’t know if vocally it’s there to make it through many rounds of American Idol, but I think you’ve got a nice voice. You’ve got a lot of great tools. That last song really showed us that. I’m a Yes.”

Now, 18-year-old John Foster from Addis has made it to Idol’s top 10, and fans are hopeful that Foster could be Louisiana’s next American Idol winner. In 2019, Laine Hardy from Livingston became the state’s first contestant to take home the title.