The Crowd Waited Years—Now John Foster’s Homecoming Concert Feels Like a Story Coming Full Circle. ML

• “American Idol” runner-up John Foster performed for thousands at the International Acadian Festival in his home state.
• Foster debuted his new single, “Little Goes a Long Way,” as he pursues a career in country music.
• His nearly two-hour set included covers of artists like Garth Brooks, Elvis Presley, and Hank Williams.
• The singer recently signed a record deal with MCA records and has several upcoming performances scheduled.

Just five months after he emerged the 2025 runner-up on “American Idol,” John Foster came home to perform on opening night of the International Acadian Festival. 

The Addis native — who developed a huge national following off the television show — performed for several thousand at the Bayou Plaquemine Waterfront Park.

He performance followed opening act Lauren Lee, a Gonzales native who packed a powerful voice when she sang a variety of rock and R&B tunes. 

Once Foster took to the stage amid a long — and exceptionally loud — applause, he told the crowd it was his first visit to the Westbank since his free mini-concert in May. The show  drew a crowd of 10,000-plus to the Bayou Plaquemine Waterfront Park. 

Foster seemed laid back and happy to return to his home area. He also made occasional quips that drew laughter from the crowd. 

“Give me patience if my guitar dies … you know, I have to put in another battery,” he joked.

He also thanked the crowd for the support through buying tickets to his performances and purchasing his streaming songs. 

Foster delivered the crowd a surprise at the festival concert.

He performed his new single “Little Goes a Long Way.” The song is part of one of his biggest goals.

“My number one goal is to be on the radio and be considered a new country singer — but then traditional country music is my music,” he said. 

One of his influences who fits that bill is Cody Johnson. 

Foster performed nearly two hours on stage and covered nearly every facet of country music.

He sang tunes from Hank Williams and Elvis Presley to Travis Tritt and Garth Brooks. 

Brooks figured prominently in his performance, with tunes such as the 1990 breakout single “Friends in Low Places.”

As no surprise, he drew a huge pop from the crowd with 1993 smash “Calling Baton Rouge.” 

During the show, he occasionally laughed and joked with the crowd and drew a laugh when his guitar string broke on stage.

“That’s the first time that’s ever happened to me in a performance,” Foster said. 

In a solemn moment, he became teary-eyed when he sang “Tell That Angel, I Love Her,” the song he dedicated to the late Maggie Dunn and Caroline Gill. The two girls were close friends who died when in a car a high-speed chase rammed into their vehicle when they were driving to a grocery store. 

Foster signed a record deal with MCA records in June. 

He is scheduled to perform at the Boots on the Bayou Music Festival Oct. 31 in Gonzales.

Foster is also scheduled to perform in Bossier City, Fallston, N.C., Wellston, Ohio and Dunn, N.C.