Louisiana teen John Foster stole the hearts (and stomachs) of the “American Idol” judges when he showed up to his audition in Nashville, Tennessee, with Cajun food from his family’s business in Addis, Benoit’s Country Meat Block. 

He walked in with three small plastic coolers filled with boudin, Benoit’s seasoning and beef jerky and proceeded to tell the judges about his hopes to go to medical school. He’s currently enrolled at LSU, studying biology. 

“I have a passion for cancer treatment, so the dream is to be a singing oncologist,” he said.

Since his audition, Foster has climbed his way to the top five in the show, performing songs like “Callin’ Baton Rouge,” “Jailhouse Rock” and Disney’s “Almost There.” On Monday night, he’ll perform at 7 p.m. on ABC for a chance in the show’s top 3. Those in the top 3 will head into the Sunday finale.

Take a look at Foster’s performances on “American Idol” thus far. 

Cajun charm and Conway Twitty

Foster, 18, first performed “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” by Alan Jackson for his Nashville audition. Then, “Idol” judge Carrie Underwood asked him for another song that would showcase his vocals a bit more.

“Goodbye Time” by Conway Twitty proved to be the perfect choice for Foster to receive his golden ticket to Hollywood. 

“You’ve got a lot of great tools. That last song really showed us that,” judge Luke Bryan said.

Hollywood week

The show’s “Hollywood Week” is historically stressful for the participants, with the judges making big cuts to the number of contestants. Foster performed “In Color” by Jamey Johnson.

Johnson is a Grammy-nominated country music singer and songwriter who is a Grand Ole Opry member.

Top 24 

After pulling an all-nighter in preparation for the show’s duets round, Foster makes the top 24. The contestants headed to Aulani, a Disney resort in Ko Olina, Hawaii, where Foster took it up a notch in his energy levels with “Callin’ Baton Rouge,” by Garth Brooks. 

“I haven’t really shown America or the judges what I can do with a really energetic song. I’m usually a slow, sad ballad guy,” Foster told guest mentor Josh Groban prior to taking the stage.

While performing, Foster was lively, and the crowd and judge Underwood sang along. 

Top 20 

Foster sang an original song to gain a spot in the top 20. He performed “Tell That Angel I Love Her,” in honor of his friend Maggie Dunn, who was killed on New Year’s Eve in 2022 when an Addis police officer ran a red light during a high-speed pursuit.

Foster’s family, along with Dunn’s mother, Erin Martin, and friend Leslie Kleinpeter were in the studio audience for the show.

“When you open your mouth on this song, you’re country, but you’re also storytelling country, judge Lionel Richie told Foster. “Now, whether that’s old, new, happening now, later, whatever the case may be, it was so believable and I heard every word of every part of your story and that’s what great music is about.” 

Top 14 

For a spot in “Idol’s” top 14, Foster covered Brooks and Dunn’s 1991 “Neon Moon.” During this episode, LSU student Baylee Littrell was one of six contestants sent home. 

After Foster performed, all three judges were on their feet with applause.

Top 12 

Music icon James Taylor mentored Foster before his tribute to Elvis’ 1957 hit “Jailhouse Rock,” which earned him a spot in the top 12. Foster steered clear of the Elvis impersonator route, which proved to be useful. 

“John, I’m very proud of you on that one. It was exactly what you wanted — it wasn’t like an Elvis imper(sonator), it was just John Foster doing Elvis. It was very comfortable just watching you,” judge Luke Bryan said.

Underwood wrapped up the critiques with, “That was such a great song choice, you were having fun with it, you made it your own and I feel like I was watching like a young Dwight Yoakam up there.” 

Top 10

Despite ditching his guitar, Foster was pure country when he covered “I Told You So,” which Underwood and Randy Travis performed on “Idol” in 2009. 

“Idol” winner Fantasia mentored Foster, who she said looks like “a little Ken doll.” 

“I’ve never been called a Ken doll before, but to be called a Ken doll by Fantasia was quite the compliment,” Foster said.

When Foster told her that he planned to sit during his performance, a first for him, she urged Foster to do a modulation on the song. 

“He has a beautiful voice,” she said. “It’s like water, and I didn’t want it to get lost.”

Top 8 

For the show’s “Iconic Women in Music” night, Foster covered Bonnie Raitt’s “Something to Talk About” to make it into the top 8. Miranda Lambert served as a guest mentor. 

During his session with Lambert, Foster admitted that she was his first crush. 

“I had a really hard time making eye contact with her because, you know, she was my first childhood crush. I was too nervous,” Foster said on the show.

Lambert encouraged him to interact with the crowd during his performance, which he did while sporting a cowboy hat and his guitar. 

Top 7

Judge and former “Idol” winner Underwood offered George Strait’s “I Cross My Heart” for Foster to sing during the show’s “Judges’ Choice” night. Foster went with Underwood’s pick, one of three songs the judges chose for the finalist to perform.  

While Foster honored Straight, he also dedicated the song to his girlfriend, Brooklyn Bourque, who got time in the spotlight during the episode. 

“I’ve never been able to perform a love song that I’ve actually meant. I’m now dating someone, we’ve almost been dating for a year now,” Foster said. “I’m really excited to take the stage again. Brooklyn, this one’s for you.”

Top 5

Foster moved his way up in the competition to “Idol’s” top 5. On Sunday night’s show, the remaining seven contestants were trimmed to five, Foster included.

He performed “Almost There,” from the film “The Princess and the Frog,” for the show’s “Disney nights,” a tribute to his Louisiana roots. 

Later in the Mother’s Day episode, Foster sang Brooks and Dunn’s “Believe” to his mother, Amanda Benoit. 

Lin-Manuel Miranda was the mentor for contestants Sunday night and is expected to return for Monday night’s show. 

Foster and the other four contestants will perform again at 7 p.m. Monday on ABC for part two of the show’s Disney nights. After voting, the top 3 will be announced and will head into the Sunday finale.

The show streams the next day on Hulu. Voting is only allowed while the show airs.

To help put Louisiana teen in the top 3, here’s how to vote (up to 30 times):

The BP oil spill—triggered by the Deepwater Horizon explosion 15 years ago last month—remains the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. The Deepwater Horizon explosion killed 11 people and released nearly 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf, devastating ecosystems and contaminating key fishing grounds.

Among the species affected were menhaden—small, oily fish essential to the Gulf’s ecosystem and Louisiana’s economy. As filter feeders and prey for larger predators, they play a critical ecological role. Louisiana’s menhaden fishery, one of the largest in the nation, was hit especially hard. Just two companies harvest menhaden from Louisiana’s waters: Westbank Fishing in Empire and Ocean Harvesters in Abbeville. Together, they employ more than 2,000 workers and contribute over $25 million annually to the state and local economy. But when oil from the spill spread across the northern Gulf, it forced widespread closures of federal and state waters—including over half of Louisiana’s inshore fishing grounds. The industry was suddenly paralyzed, facing a collapse in access, markets, and operating stability.

For Westbank Fishing, the disaster struck just five years after Hurricane Katrina had devastated its home base in Plaquemines Parish. The company had only recently rebuilt its fleet, processing facility and workforce. “We’d already learned how to survive after Katrina,” said Shane Treadaway, Vice President of Operations. “So, when the oil spill happened, we knew how to dig in, stay focused, and do whatever it took to come back strong.” That hard-earned resilience became critical as the company confronted yet another crisis.

The closure of nearshore waters turned daily operations upside down. With more than 55% of Louisiana’s state waters off-limits, Westbank’s vessels were forced to travel up to 200 miles west—just to find open seas. “We went from steaming 45 minutes to our grounds to running 17 hours west just to fish,” said Treadaway. “The oil spill didn’t just close the water—it upended everything overnight.”

The longer trips took a toll. “We had to burn more fuel, work longer hours, and face rougher seas,” Treadaway said. Crews had less time for rest and maintenance, and the boats were pushed to their limits. “More miles meant more wear and more breakdowns. We had to set up mobile support just to keep the fleet running that far from home.”

Beyond logistics, the industry faced a second blow: hesitation from buyers. Though menhaden isn’t eaten directly, seafood safety concerns slowed international demand. The spill’s environmental effects were also severe. Menhaden depend on clean, oxygen-rich water to survive, and the oil and dispersants harmed plankton, larvae, and juvenile fish.

“There was real fear among the crews,” said Treadaway. “I wanted to build a career and retire in this industry. What if they padlocked the gate and said, ‘Sorry, it’s over’? A lot of people had put blood, sweat, and tears into this company. That uncertainty was the hardest part.”

For communities across southern Plaquemines Parish, the impact ran deep. Westbank Fishing was one of the largest employers in the region, supporting countless rural families. “It wasn’t just about fish. It was about families, about paying bills, about whether a way of life was going to disappear,” Treadaway said. “You walked into any store in Empire, and that’s all people were talking about. Was our way of life going to disappear?”

Despite these challenges, Westbank Fishing took steps to support its workforce. “No one was let go. Everyone got their 40 hours,” said Treadaway. “We made a commitment to our people—we weren’t going to leave anyone behind.” This dedication to their employees helped the company weather the storm and emerge from the crisis.

In the years since, Louisiana’s menhaden industry has shown remarkable resilience. The BP oil spill was a turning point, exposing the fragile link between ecological health and economic survival. Fifteen years later, the industry continues to harvest menhaden, sustain jobs, and support the state and local economy. It has also earned Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, recognizing its careful management and commitment to ecological balance.

Yet these gains exist against a backdrop of growing vulnerability: coastal erosion, climate change, and regulatory shifts continue to threaten the fishery’s stability. And the memory of the BP oil spill still looms large, a reminder that environmental disasters can reshape lives and livelihoods in an instant.

“We just kept our heads down and went to work, day by day,” said Treadaway. “Fifteen years later, I can say: we fared pretty well. But we’ll never forget what it took to get here.” The scars remain—but so does the strength of the communities that endured them, determined to protect their future on the water.