American Idol runner-up John Foster celebrated the end to his Season 23 journey with a patriotic delivery of Toby Keith’s signature track, “Courtesy Of The Red White and Blue (The Angry American).”
The stage perfectly captured the energy of the beloved anthem, featuring golden spotlights that beamed down on Foster as he stood in front of a large, rustic American flag, while the crowd lit up in waves of red, white, and blue.
His striking tribute to the country classic kicked off with a blast of colorful pyro, setting the tone for what was to come. Foster’s smooth baritone vocals and unmistakable Louisiana twang carried the message loud and clear, earning cheers, applause, and even some singalong moments from the judges.
The performance wrapped with an epic light show and a standing ovation, signaling a job well done. Foster’s rendition of the late country icon’s hit was as bold and all-American as it gets. Plus, it further cemented Foster’s place as a fan favorite throughout the entire show.
He rounded out the delivery by saying “God bless America, thank you.”
John Foster landed himself a spot in the top three alongside Breanna Nix and Jamal Roberts. During Sunday night’s Season 23 finale, he proudly claimed his title of runner-up. At the end of the night, Idol host Ryan Seacrest crowned Roberts as the winner while Foster finished second and Nix came in third.
During the episode on May 18, Foster also shared the stage with Idol judge Luke Bryan to sing Randy Travis’ 1988 hit, “Deeper Than The Holler.” The track was the second single off Travis’ Old 8×10 album and marked his eighth No. 1 hit.
As his final goodbye to the show, Foster shared a heartfelt message on social media sharing his gratitude for the opportunity to share his music with the world and gain an incredibly supportive fanbase along the way.
“Man, what a true blessing to share this Idol stage with so many incredible heroes, both new faces and legends,” he wrote. “I’m beyond thankful, and I can’t wait to keep making music for y’all as long as the good Lord lets me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart – times a million. 🙏❤️”
Viewers first caught a glimpse of Foster’s talent when he auditioned in front of judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan with a medley of two classic country songs – “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” by George Jones and “Goodbye Time” by Conway Twitty.
This audition brought him Hollywood, where he continued to captivate America’s votes with songs like “In Color” by Jamey Johnson, Garth Brooks’ “Callin’ Baton Rogue,” Brooks & Dunn’s “Neon Moon,” Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock,” a touching original song titled “Tell That Angel I Love Her,” and more.
Fans will have to keep an eye on John Fosters social media platforms to see where his musical journey takes him next.
In the meantime, viewers can get ready for the next round of American Idol contestants coming in 2026. On May 9, the show announced that it would be returning to ABC next year for its 24th year. However, there has been no confirmation regarding the 2026 judging panel.
The post John Foster Honors Toby Keith With Patriotic Finale Performance On ‘American Idol’ appeared first on Country Now.