One of American Idol’s Most Unforgettable Voices Is About to Light Up the 2025 Acadian Festival. ML

The air in Plaquemine will hum a little differently this Friday night — the kind of electric buzz that happens when one of your own comes home.

Louisiana-born singer John Foster, who captured hearts nationwide as the American Idol runner-up, is returning to headline the 57th Annual Acadian Festival — a milestone moment for both the artist and the community that raised him.

“It’s emotional,” Foster admitted in an interview with Unfiltered with Kiran. “This will be my first show back on my side of the Mississippi since Idol, and it’s the first time I get to play my new single live. That’s something I’ve been dreaming about for months.”

That new single marks Foster’s first release in nearly a year — and the first since his whirlwind journey on national television. “It’s crazy,” he said. “A year ago, I was playing bars and church halls. Now, I’m releasing my first song since everything changed.”

He calls it his “post-Idol era” — a chapter marked by growth, gratitude, and grounding. “I’ve learned a lot about who I am and what kind of artist I want to be,” Foster said. “I’ve gained hundreds of thousands of new fans, but the goal’s the same — stay true to my roots.”

Those roots shine through in his new song, an upbeat country track that blends honky-tonk tradition with a modern twist. “It’s fun, it’s fresh, and it still feels like me,” he explained. “I hope people crank it up on their radios and remember why country music feels like home.”

But for Foster, this isn’t just about chart success — it’s about connection. “Every show back home means something deeper,” he said. “These are the people who believed in me first.”

Festival organizers are expecting large crowds for Friday’s performance at Bayou Plaquemine Waterfront Park, where Foster will take the stage at 9 p.m. following a 7 p.m. set by The Lauren Lee Band.

Tickets are $26 at the gate (credit cards accepted). Gates open at 4 p.m., and children one year and older will need a ticket to enter. Chairs are permitted only in the designated hillside area.

The Acadian Festival will continue through the weekend, bringing with it a full lineup of community events — from the Saturday beauty pageant to the Sunday parade.

For locals, it’s a weekend of pride. For Foster, it’s a full-circle moment — one that ties together small-town beginnings, national fame, and the simple joy of singing where it all started.

“Coming home to sing my own song,” he said, smiling. “That’s what makes it real.”