“American Idol” season 23 runner-up John Foster‘s road to success was more complex than fans realized. His mom, Amanda Benoit, revealed in a recent interview that Foster tried out for the show twice before getting the chance to perform in front of the judges.

Foster’s first audition was in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic, and he performed via Zoom in his family’s home. “He didn’t make it past the open call that first time,” Benoit told Unfiltered With Kiran. Nevertheless, it was a thrilling experience for Benoit.

“… I’ll never forget how excited I was,” Benoit shared. “We had everything set up, and my heart was pounding. I just had so much faith in him—even when he didn’t quite believe in himself yet.”

Foster was not one to give up, and he returned the following year for another open call audition. Shockingly, he was eliminated even before he had the chance to perform for the judges.

Third Time’s the Charm

According to Benoit, Foster’s career had begun to take off locally. The country singer was playing to sold out crowds, which gave his confidence a much-needed boost. By then it was 2024, and this time the “American Idol” producers reached out to Foster, inviting him to audition once again.

Foster’s “Idol” run was extremely successful, and he won legions of fans with his performances, including an original song dedicated to a friend who died in a 2022 car accident.

“Tell That Angel I Love Her” was Foster’s tribute to his late friend Maggie Dunn, who his mother says was his biggest fan. “I think Maggie knew his potential before John Foster even did,” Benoit said. “She believed in him and pushed him to go after this dream.”

Foster’s Mom Is Proud of More Than Her Son’s Success

Since coming in second on “Idol,” Foster’s career is thriving. He made his Grand Old Opry debut on June 7, and returned on July 9, which happened to be his 19th birthday. Foster will once again grace country music’s biggest stage on August 21.

While Benoit is extremely proud of her talented son, it’s not his career milestones that she values the most. “He never changed to fit what someone else thought he should be. He went through ‘Idol’ just being John Foster,” she explained.

Benoit continued, “He’s got little boys tipping their hats and standing for the anthem. He’s got older folks messaging me just to say, ‘thank you for raising him this way.’ That’s what hits my heart.”