Eighteen-year-old John Foster is becoming a household name now that he’s made it to the top 10 on season 23 of “American Idol.” But that name is is one of the many things Foster’s hometown supporters in Addis, Louisiana, want to shed some light on for fans.

The young country singer’s full name is John Foster Benoit, family and friends told The Adovcate on May 1, 2025, but he dropped his last name for his blossoming music career. During his audition, though, he represented the family name by bringing coolers full of Cajun delicacies from his family’s meat shop —Benoit’s Country Meat Block — to judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood.

One of the store’s longtime employees, family friend Rick Bourgoyne, told The Advocate, “ I was telling his daddy, I said, ‘I hope people don’t think that’s his last name because he is a Benoit, and this (store) is Benoit’s.’ His middle name is Foster, just like his daddy and his grandfather’s. He’s the third.”

That’s just one of the background details that the singer and those close to him want to let fans know as he attempts to advance on the next live episodes of “American Idol.”

John Foster Tried to Clear Up Rumors About Himself on Facebook

As Foster grows more visible on “American Idol,” with millions tuning into each episode, he has noticed some inaccuracies reported about himself online. On April 30, he tried to clear up some of those rumors in a Facebook post, including verifying his age and background.

Among the inaccuracies he’d seen, Foster wrote, was that he is 24 (he’s 18, he confirmed) and that he was from Kentucky.

“I was born and raised in Louisiana,” he wrote, adding, “I’ve never even been to Kentucky, but I hope to visit someday.”

Though he’s often been compared to country legend Dwight Yoakam, he said there’s no relation nor a musical connection to the star.

“I’m not related to Dwight Yoakam,” he wrote, “nor am I currently signed under any record label (there was some misinformation that Dwight Yoakam signed me under Sugar Hill Records).”

“I hope this helps y’all to know me better as a person now that y’all know more about my music,” he added.

John Foster is Still Interested in Oncology & Just Launched Cancer Fundraiser

Foster has a huge support system behind him, with 31 family members heading to Los Angeles for the next round of competition, according to The Advocate. They want viewers to know that he’s deeply committed to his family, faith and helping others.

During his audition, he told the judges that he was an aspiring oncologist — a goal he has not dismissed despite his success on the show. Even while competing on “American Idol,” he’s been taking online classes for his second semester at Louisiana State University, majoring in biology, his grandma Verbie Benoit told the paper.

On May 2, Foster launched a Facebook fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, writing, “As many of you know, I am currently studying to become an oncologist (a physician who treats cancer). Whether I decide to pursue medicine or music full-time, I will always be involved in fighting for a cure.”

With a goal of raising $500 by raffling off an autographed photo, Foster raised nearly $3,500 in less than 24 hours. The fundraiser ends on May 9.

The next rounds of “American Idol” air live coast-to-coast on May 4 and 5 at 8 p.m. Eastern time.