Idol Chatter & Voice Views

John Foster after delivering his heartfelt tribute on American Idol. (ABC Photo)

Other singers hit bigger notes and delivered more flamboyant performances Sunday night on American Idol.

But John Foster provided what was easily the night’s most moving performance, singing an original song called “Tell That Angel I Love Her.”

John’s a graduate of Brusly High School in the Baton Rogue area of Louisiana. He wrote the song a couple years back as a tribute to two classmates tragically killed in an automobile accident.

As the judges launched into their post-performances comments … well, they seemed trivial compared to the story behind the song John had just delivered in such a heartfelt passion.

And on a show that loves heart-wrenching stories, I was shocked the judges didn’t seem to know the one behind the song.

John, 18, from Addis, La., wrote the song for Maggie Dunn and Caroline Gill, whose mothers were in the audience for the Idol Top 20 show.

Maggie and Caroline were cheerleaders at Brusly High. There’s a Facebook photo of John and Maggie appearing as though they’re preparing to attend a high school dance together.

On New Year’s Eve 2022, Maggie and Caroline were killed in a high school police chase they weren’t even a part of.

Police were pursuing a suspect in a stolen vehicle case when an officer ran a red light and crashed into the car in which Maggie, 17, and Caroline, 16, were passengers.

The officer, David Cauthron, has since pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

John posted another tribute to the young ladies on Dec. 31, the anniversary of their deaths, singing Willid Nelson’s “I Still Can’t Believe You’re Gone.

In the post, he calls Maggie “my forever muse.”

By the way, John released the song in August 2023, so it’s available on streaming sites.