American Idol contestant brings nation to tears with gut-wrenching tribute to lost friend—his emotional performance leaves judges speechless and fans sobbing across the country

In one of the most heartbreaking moments in American Idol history, John Foster stunned the nation with an original song dedicated to two friends lost on New Year’s Eve. Struggling to keep his composure, John shared that Maggie—one of the angels he was honoring—had been one of his closest friends. As he sang Tell That Angel I Love Her, every note carried the weight of real grief and raw love. The silence after his final whisper, “I love you, Maggie,” was deafening—and deeply moving.

Want to feel every note of this unforgettable goodbye? Watch John’s emotional tribute and see why no one left with dry eyes 👇👇👇

Foster’s Song “Tell That Angel I Love Her” Was Written For Two Friends He Lost

John Foster, a Louisiana native and LSU student studying biology, wants to pursue pre-med to help those undergoing cancer treatment.

During his first audition on the American Idol stage, he expressed his ambition to become a “singing oncologist.”

He charmed the judges with a classic Conway Twitty song, and Luke turned his initial “no” into a resounding “yes” because of the young singer’s infectious personality and Southern charm. Watch below.

John Foster Brought Tears To The American Idol Audience With Original Song

John Foster reached the top 20 of American Idol. He then performed his original song “Tell That Angel I Love Her.” The song is a heartfelt tribute to his two late friends, Maggie Dunn and Caroline Gill.

The emotional performance brought him to tears, and he ended it by saying, “I love you, Maggie.” While the tears fell, Carrie Underwood asked John about that ending sentence.

John shared that it was dedicated to his lost friends. He then gestured toward the audience, where Maggie Dunn’s and Caroline Gill’s parents were seated.

Some of the songs’ moving lyrics are,

“Each tear that falls on my guitar
Is a hug from afar
Lord, won’t you tell that angel I love her?
As y’all live in the stars”

According to L&M Star Productions, Foster said,

“I wrote this for the two sweet angels that were tragically taken from us on New Year’s Eve. Maggie was one of my best friends and Caroline was a good friend of mine who I regret not knowing even more. Until we meet again. So much love to everyone.”

Watch his tearjerking performance below. 

What Happened To Maggie Dunn And Caroline Gill?

Maggie Dunn and Caroline Gill, 17 and 16, respectively, were killed on New Year’s Eve 2022 when a police officer ran a red light while pursuing a suspect. The police officer collided with the teenager’s car, resulting in the death of the two young girls and severely injuring Maggie Dunn’s brother, who was in the vehicle but survived.

The crash occurred near the Addis police station in Louisiana. According to Maggie Dunn’s mother, Erin Martin, John and Maggie had been friends since middle school. Maggie attended John’s first gig. According to Erin, John wore the same hat on the American Idol stage that he wore the first time he played music.

The police officer responsible for the deadly crash pleaded guilty to 2 counts of manslaughter and 1 count of negligent injury and was sentenced to prison.

John Foster brought attention to this tragic story with his performance on American Idol. Erin Martin stated that the performance was “a tangible example of the light and love that Maggie left behind.”

Our hearts go out to all those affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.