Before he ever sang a note on the American Idol stage, John Foster was already standing out—from his values, to his voice, to his real name. Turns out, “John Foster” isn’t his full name. The 18-year-old country star’s name is John Foster Benoit, and he’s proud of it.
John chose to go by “Foster” professionally, but never forgot where he came from. His family owns Benoit’s Country Meat Block in Addis, Louisiana, and when he auditioned for Idol, he brought personalized Cajun cooler gifts for the judges. “He is a Benoit,” a family friend shared. “That name means something back home.”
John Foster Wins Over Judges with Cajun Charm & Conway Twitty—Luke Changes His NO to YES!
John recently took to Facebook to correct rumors: he’s not 24, not from Kentucky, and no—he’s not related to Dwight Yoakam. In fact, he’s not signed to any label (yet). “I’ve never even been to Kentucky,” he joked. Fans loved the transparency, calling him “real,” “humble,” and “exactly what country needs.”
Off-stage, John’s a biology major at LSU with dreams of becoming an oncologist. Yes—while competing on American Idol, he was taking online classes. He even launched a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, raising $3,500 in under 24 hours. Music or medicine, his heart’s in the right place.
John Foster Performs His New Single “Tell That Angel I Love Her” – American Idol 2025 Grand Finale
His original song, “Tell That Angel That I Love Her,” written in memory of his late friend Maggie Dunn, left viewers emotional. Maggie’s mother was in the audience as he performed. The song wasn’t just beautiful—it was brave.
You can follow his journey on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, where he shares music, memories, and moments with the family who helped shape it all.