How to vote for John Foster on American Idol? Top 10 contestant's time on the show explored

As American Idol Season 23 enters its Top 10 phase, voting plays a critical role in determining which contestants will advance to the next rounds. Among the hopefuls is 18-year-old John Foster, a college student from Addis, Louisiana, who has gained attention for both his traditional country style and heartfelt performances.

Fans can vote for Foster during the American Idol Coast-to-Coast Live Shows on Sundays and Mondays. Voting opens at 8 pm EST and closes during the final commercial break at 9:50 pm EST.

Viewers can vote by texting 13 to 21523, visiting americanidol.com/vote, or using the American Idol app. Each method allows up to 10 votes, totaling a maximum of 30 votes per viewer. Foster urged fans for their support via Instagram, writing,

“I can’t do it without you! Let’s go!”

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American Idol: John Foster's time on the show explored

John Foster first appeared on American Idol during his audition earlier this season. A medical student with aspirations of becoming a singing oncologist, Foster showcased his Louisiana roots and hospitality by bringing Cajun food in personalized coolers for the judges. Speaking to the panel, he said,

“I have a passion for cancer treatment. The dream is to be a singing oncologist.”

His audition featured a performance of Alan Jackson’s Don’t Rock the Jukebox, which impressed the judges with its traditional country sound. Carrie Underwood noted that Jackson was the first concert she ever attended in 1994, adding, “Love me some Alan”.

When Underwood asked Foster to demonstrate more vocal range, he performed Conway Twitty’s Goodbye Time. His performance prompted Luke Bryan to sing along and later admit,

“I don’t know if vocally it’s there to make it through many rounds of American Idol, but I think you got a nice voice.”

With approvals from Bryan, Underwood, and Lionel Richie, Foster was handed a golden ticket to Hollywood. In the Top 24 round, Foster performed Callin’ Baton Rouge, famously sung by Garth Brooks and The Oak Ridge Boys.

His energy stood out despite looking slightly uncomfortable without his guitar, which he was encouraged to set aside during parts of the performance. Carrie Underwood called it “a great way to kick off the evening,” while Bryan said it was like a “Hawaiian hoedown,” and Richie stated, “The song showcased your energy.”

Foster’s Top 20 performance marked a deeply emotional moment. As part of the 'Songs of Faith' theme, he sang an original song titled Tell That Angel I Love Her, dedicated to his late best friend Maggie Dunn, who was killed in a 2022 car crash involving a police officer.

Speaking to host Ryan Seacrest during the episode, Foster said, “I wrote it for my best friend Maggie,” with her mother, Erin Martin, present in the audience. Carrie Underwood offered comfort, saying, “It’s OK. It’s OK,” when Foster teared up during his explanation. Luke Bryan remarked,

“You’ve kind of been a wildcard for me the whole time. But what you just did there removed all doubts in my mind that you deserve to be here.”

Lionel Richie added,

“When you open your mouth on this song, you're country, but you're also storytelling country.”

In the Top 14 episode, Foster embraced a more dynamic performance style with his rendition of Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley. He told the judges it was a “go big or go home” moment. Bryan praised him for not turning into an Elvis impersonator, saying,

“It wasn’t Elvis impersonator, it was just John Foster doing Elvis.”

Richie added,

“You were so comfortable. That’s what made it so believable for us.”

Reaching the Top 12, Foster chose I Told You So by Randy Travis and Carrie Underwood, a song previously performed by Underwood and Travis on American Idol in 2009. Notably, it was Foster’s first time performing without his guitar on stage. Underwood commented that she was “flattered” he chose the song and noted, “Randy would approve”.

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American Idol airs Sundays and Mondays at 8 pm EST on ABC.