John Foster Breaks Hearts Again with New Original Song for His Late Friend — “Just As She Was Leaving” Is a Raw, Heartfelt Tribute Full of Pain and Love

John Foster, the Louisiana country singer who captured hearts on American Idol and made it into the Top 14, continues to honor the memory of his late friend Maggie Dunn with a powerful new original song titled “Just As She Was Leaving.”

While his emotional tribute “Tell That Angel I Love Her” made waves on the show, “Just As She Was Leaving” is a quieter, more intimate track that many listeners may have missed—but it’s just as devastating.

Written in the wake of Maggie’s tragic passing in 2022, the song captures the raw heartbreak and regret Foster still carries. His lyrics cut deep:

“Now, I’m in love with a memory
The sound of her voice is haunting me
I can’t forget the way she touched me
When we were alone, ’cause she warned me
Like a fool, I let her love slip through my hands
And I’m alone, now I understand…”

The song is a painful confession of how guilt and sorrow can haunt those left behind. Foster’s vulnerable performance makes every word feel painfully real, allowing listeners to step inside his grief—and recognize their own losses too.

Though it hasn’t gone viral like “Tell That Angel I Love Her,” this new track shows a deeper side of Foster’s artistry, revealing how he continues to use music as a way to process unimaginable pain and keep Maggie’s spirit alive.

Who Was Maggie Dunn, the Friend Behind John Foster’s Music?

Maggie Dunn, along with her close friend Caroline Gill, tragically lost her life on New Year’s Eve 2022 when a police officer in Addis, Louisiana ran a red light during a high-speed chase. Both girls, beloved high school cheerleaders, were killed instantly. Maggie’s brother, who was in the backseat, survived but was seriously injured.

The officer, David Cauthron, later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 32 years in prison, with 22 years suspended.

In the wake of the tragedy, Maggie’s father founded the Margaret “Maggie” Edline Dunn (MED) Foundation to honor her vibrant spirit and inspire positive change in the community.

For John Foster, Maggie was more than a friend—she was one of his biggest believers.

“He carries around a letter that she wrote for him,” shared Erin Martin, Maggie’s mother. “It was a school assignment for junior English class, where she told him to keep chasing his dream because he had real talent.”

Now, standing on the American Idol stage with the nation watching, John is doing exactly what Maggie encouraged him to do—turning his grief into something beautiful, and making sure her light continues to shine.

“In a lot of ways, I’m not surprised,” Martin said proudly. “He was valedictorian. If he has a goal, he’s going to achieve it.”

Through every lyric and every performance, John Foster is keeping Maggie’s memory alive—and reminding the world how powerful love, loss, and music can truly be.