๐๐จ๐ก๐ง ๐ ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ค๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฒ๐๐ง ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก โ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซโ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐
Country soul lit up the American Idol Season 23 finale stage as fan-favorite John Foster joined judge Luke Bryan for a powerful and emotional tribute to legend Randy Travis, performing the timeless classic โDeeper Than The Holler.โ
Airing live on Sunday, May 18, the duet was one of the nightโs most talked-about moments. Millions watched as Fosterโalready praised as the seasonโs most authentic country voiceโstood shoulder to shoulder with Bryan in a performance that struck deep with nostalgia and heart.
โญ A PURE COUNTRY MOMENT IN PRIME TIME
Luke Bryan had just finished his high-energy single โCountry Song Came Onโ when he invited Foster onstage. What followed was pure magic: a stripped-down, soul-rich duet that channeled the very best of โ90s country.
With Johnโs warm twang and vintage tone blending seamlessly with Lukeโs polished presence, the two recreated the spirit of a golden era. Fans were quick to notice:
โJohn Foster sounds more country than Luke Bryanโand thatโs saying something!โ one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter).
โThat was the most genuine moment of the whole finale.โ
๐ถ FOSTERโS FOUR-FOLD STATEMENT
Foster didnโt just stop at one show-stopping duet. Throughout the finale, he showcased his range and identity with a powerful setlist:
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Group Performance: โWe Are the Championsโ (Queen) with finalists Jamal Roberts and Breanna Nix
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Solo: โCourtesy of the Red, White and Blueโ (Toby Keith)
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Solo: โTake Me Home, Country Roadsโ (John Denver)
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Duet: โDeeper Than The Hollerโ (Randy Travis) with Luke Bryan
Each choice echoed Fosterโs deep connection to country musicโs rootsโand his promise as one of its next big stars.