American Idolseason 23 finalist John Foster has now advanced to the Top 3 and will compete in the finale, and there is a lot of proof that he’ll win the whole competition. John, an 18-year-old college student from Addis, Louisiana, impressed the judges–Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan–at his audition when he sang “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” by Alan Jackson. Then, when Carrie asked him to sing another song that showcased his vocals a bit more, he sang, “Goodbye Time” by Conway Twitty, earning three votes of yes from the judges and a golden ticket to Hollywood.
DuringAmerican Idolseason 23Disney Heroes & Villains Night, the Top 5 contestants–John, Breanna Nix, Jamal Roberts, Slater Nalley, and Thunderstorm Artis–competed for their places in the finale. In the end,John, Breanna, and Jamal earned the most votes from America, and they advanced to the Top 3. As they prepare to compete in theAmerican Idolseason 23 finale, here’s why John will be victorious.

American Idol Season 23 Finalist John Foster Has A Beautiful Voice
John Gives Consistently Great Performances
Since hisAmerican Idolseason 23 audition,John has showcased his crystal clear country voice, which is truly beautiful. His Hollywood Week Showstoppers performance of “In Color” by Jamey Johnson, and his Head-to-Head round duet of “Until I Found You” by Stephen Sanchez with Clara Rae earned him his place in the Top 24 contestants when the judges chose him to advance.
During theAmerican Idolseason 23 voting rounds,John has been a shining light on the stage every week, with sensational performancesthat include “Callin' Baton Rouge” by Garth Brooks, his original song “Tell That Angel I Love Her” (Top 20), “Neon Moon” by Brooks & Dunn (Top 20 celebration song), “Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis Presley (Top 14), “I Told You So” by Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis (Top 12), “Something to Talk About” by Bonnie Raitt (Top 10), and “I Cross My Heart” by George Strait (Top 8).
In addition, John put his own spin on classic songs such as “Almost There” fromThe Princess and the Frogand “Believe” by Brooks & Dunn (Top 7), and “The Bare Necessities” fromThe Jungle Bookand “Rainbow Connection” fromThe Muppet Movie(Top 5). In every one of these performances, John had perfect vocals, showcasing his range and his emotions.He’s never been afraid to spread his wings and try new things on the show, including singing without his guitar during “I Told You So.” Because John has been a constant presence of greatness on the show, he’ll winAmerican Idolseason 23.
John Makes Every Song His Own
John Infuses His Magic Into Every Performance
John is a country singer, andhis body of work onAmerican Idolseason 23 consists of all different genres of music that he’s transformed into country tunes by infusing them with his own magic. From the Elvis rock classic “Jailhouse Rock” to the Disney standard “The Bare Necessities” to the folk song “Rainbow Connection,” John was able to stay true to his country roots by adding country flair to songs outside of the genre. He even paid tribute to his home state in his own style by singing “Almost There” from the film,The Princess and the Frog, which takes place in Louisiana.
John is reminiscent ofCarrie, who wonAmerican Idolseason 4by defining herself as a country singer early on and remaining true to herself until she emerged victorious during the finale. Like Carrie, John has a clear identity, which makes him appear comfortable and confident on stage.It’s easy to imagine that all of John’sAmerican Idolsongs could appear on his album and become major hits for him.
John Is An Authentic Country Singer
Country Singers Have A History Of Winning American Idol
As a country artist, John definitely has an advantage in theAmerican Idolseason 23 competition becausecontestants who are country singers have a history of winning and going far on the show. They also have a long history of having very successful post-show careers, whether they win or not. They include winners Carrie, Scotty McCreery, Laine Hardy, Chayce Beckham, and Noah Thompson; runners-up Lauren Alaina, HunterGirl, amd Will Moseley; and finalists Kellie Pickler, Bucky Covington, and Gabby Barrett.
John’s authenticity in the genre could earn him the win because he’s the real deal. Carrie has repeatedly said that he reminds her of old-school country singers such as Dwight Yoakam. There’s nothing about John that feels performative or fake. Instead,he’s an authentic country singerwhowill most likely winAmerican Idolseason 23like those who came before him.
John Has Spectacular Star Quality & Stage Presence
John Is A Polished Performer
No matter what he’s singing, John is always polished and poised on stage. He seems at home there, and he has spectacular star quality. His stage presence makes hisAmerican Idolperformances feel more like his own concerts than part of a reality competition series.John looks so relaxed and comfortable on stage, which puts the audience at ease.
When John takes the stage,his smile lights up the room. He’s humble, yet confident, which is the perfect balance for a performer. He never allows any nervousness to seep into his performances. It’s so exciting to watch John enjoying himself as he sings and plays his guitar, which is why America will likely vote for him to be the next American Idol.
John Has A Very Sincere Personality
John Seems Like A Genuine Person
Because John has such a sincere personalityand seems so genuine,he’s been one of the most likable and relatableAmerican Idolseason 23 finalists. This really came through when he sang his original song, “Tell That Angel I Love Her,” which he wrote as a tribute to his late friend, Maggie Dunn, who passed away on July 02, 2025. During that performance, John showed such pure emotion and was so relatable. He’s continued to do this throughout all of his songs, including when he dedicated “I Cross My Heart” to his girlfriend, Brooklyn.
It’s no surprise that John has made it to theAmerican Idolseason 23 finale. As a talented country singer with his beautiful voice and the sparkle in his eyes, he’s captured everyone’s hearts. John deserves to be the next American Idol because he’s brought so much joy to viewers throughout the season.John will winAmerican Idolseason 23.
TheAmerican Idolseason 23 finale airs Sunday, May 18 at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.