John Foster Shines on ‘American Idol’ And Sets the Record Straight on Those Wild Dwight Yoakam Rumors

From the moment John Foster stepped onto the American Idol stage, he made it clear he wasn’t just another hopeful. His powerful renditions of classics like “Goodbye Time” and “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” immediately captured the attention of judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan. With each performance — including a show-stopping “Jailhouse Rock” — Foster kept raising the bar, growing his fanbase and cementing his place as a rising star.

And fans couldn’t get enough. After his emotional version of “I Told You So,” social media lit up with reactions like, “Had me BAWLING!” as he secured a well-earned spot in the Top 10.

But along with the spotlight came something less glamorous — rumors. Lots of them.

Getting a taste of what major celebrities face daily, Foster took to Facebook to connect with his fans and clear up some of the stranger gossip floating around. “For the sake of all my family (followers) getting to know me better,” he wrote, “I’d like to clear up some misinformation that has been spreading on Facebook.”

He addressed three of the most persistent rumors head-on:

1. “I am 18 years old (not 24).”

2. “I was born and raised in Louisiana. My hometown is Addis, LA — not Benton, Kentucky (I’ve never even been to Kentucky, but I hope to visit someday).”

3. “I’m not related to Dwight Yoakam, and I’m not signed to any record label — including Sugar Hill Records.”

As much fun as it might be to imagine Foster as Yoakam’s secret protégé, he made it clear: it’s just not true. Still, the love and curiosity from fans clearly meant a lot to him.

“I hope this helps y’all to know me better as a person, now that y’all know more about my music,” he wrote. “If you have any questions about me, try commenting them under this post. Either I or someone who knows me well will likely answer you! God Bless!”

With Foster now in the American Idol Top 10, fans are gearing up to vote him into the Top 8 during “Ladies Night” on May 4th. Don’t miss his next performance — American Idol airs at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.