“He’s Always Been Ours!” — American Idol Star John Foster’s Grandparents Reveal Shocking Family Secrets, Hidden Struggles, and the Emotional Moment They Knew He’d Make It

“He’s Always Been Ours” – John Foster’s Grandparents Share Untold Stories from His American Idol Journey

As John Foster captures hearts across the country as a Top 10 finalist on American Idol 2025, the spotlight may seem to define his present — but those who’ve known him longest say the story began long before the big stage.

In a quiet living room in small-town Louisiana, John’s grandparents sat surrounded by photo albums, church recital flyers, and a guitar that hasn’t gathered dust in years. With a mix of pride, joy, and just a touch of awe, they opened up for the first time — sharing the side of John that America hasn’t yet seen.

“He’s always had that spark,” his grandmother whispered, running her fingers along a worn snapshot of young John singing barefoot on the front porch. “But what we love most isn’t what he does under the lights. It’s the kind of man he’s become in the dark — kind, faithful, and true.”

From the age of five, John was the child who hummed hymns after Sunday school and turned family gatherings into impromptu concerts. His voice, even then, had a stillness to it — a way of making people listen, not just to the music, but to the heart behind it.

“We remember when he stayed up all night to learn guitar just to play for his cousin’s wedding,” his grandfather added, chuckling. “That’s who he’s always been — thoughtful, driven, and completely himself.”

But beyond the talent and early signs of stardom, it was the quieter moments that shaped him: sitting with grieving neighbors to sing old hymns, volunteering at church events, even writing songs in the margins of his high school notebooks — lyrics no one knew existed until he finally sang them at Maggie Dunn’s tribute on Idol.

“There were no lights then,” his grandmother said, voice trembling. “Just John, his guitar, and the sound of something real.”

The community remembers too — from the school janitor who says John never forgot to say “thank you,” to the diner owner who still keeps a napkin where John scribbled lyrics during a coffee break. His success hasn’t changed him. If anything, it’s revealed more of who he already was.

“People ask if he’s going to be a star,” his grandfather smiled, eyes shining. “But to us, he already is. Whether he wins Idol or becomes a small-town doctor like he once joked — he’ll always be our John.”

And in that quiet certainty — in the voices of those who raised him, believed in him, and stood by him — one thing becomes clear:

John Foster isn’t just rising in the ranks of country music. He’s rising from a foundation of love, legacy, and a hometown that will never stop cheering him on.