Photo credit: www.billboard.com
American Idol marked Easter Sunday with a special three-hour episode showcasing the top 20 contestants, who delivered heartfelt performances centered around themes of faith and spirituality. A standout moment came from contestant John Foster, who performed an original song as a tribute to his late friend.
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During his poignant performance of “Tell That Angel I Love Her,” 18-year-old Foster captivated the audience with lyrics expressing deep sorrow and love. His song was a tribute to Maggie Dunn, a close friend who tragically lost her life, along with another friend, in a car accident caused by a police chase on New Year’s Eve 2022.
Foster sang, “No words can describe how I truly feel/ But I hope these will try/ It’s a feeling that I can’t explain/ Deep and endless like the sky.” He continued to evoke emotion with the chorus: “Sure the sun will come up/ But it won’t shine on her skin/ And I’d give anything I have/ To talk to her again.” His heartfelt delivery culminated in an emotional declaration, “I love you Maggie,” as tears welled up in his eyes at the conclusion of the song.
After his performance, judge Carrie Underwood praised Foster for his traditional country sound, stating, “There’s something wonderfully throwback about your voice, about your style,” and emphasized the importance of authenticity in country music. Luke Bryan recognized Foster as a “wild card” but expressed that this performance had fully validated his place in the competition.
The episode began with judge Lionel Richie performing “Eternity,” joined by a gospel choir and several of the top 24 contestants. This was followed by Luke Bryan’s rendition of “Jesus ‘Bout My Kids,” and Underwood’s powerful version of “How Great Thou Art,” which added to the emotional depth of the evening.
Other contestants in the top 20 included Canaan James Hill, Drew Ryn, Desmond Roberts, Filo, Josh King, Thunderstorm Artis, Amanda Barise, Mattie Pruitt, Olivier Bergeron, Breanna Nix, Victor Solomon, Baylee Littrell, Isaiah Misailegalu, Gabby Samone, Slater Nalley, Zaylie Windsor, Jamal Roberts, Ché, and Kolbi Jordan.
As the competition narrows, the top 20 contestants will be trimmed to the top 14 in the upcoming episode set to air on Monday night at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
For those interested, John Foster’s emotional performance can be viewed below.
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