NASHVILLE — For West Baton Rouge native John Foster Benoit, dreams keep coming true. Shortly after the young star won second in American Idol, he made an announcement that his “#1 dream” would be happening: he’s making it to the famed stage of legend in country music, the Grand Ole Opry.

Foster shared with his followers on social media that he is “incredibly honored” to be making his debut at the Grand Ole Opry on June 7th.

“The first time I went to the Opry, I fought back tears because I was so overwhelmed with joy. As an amateur country music historian, there is no more significant place to my passion (country music) than the Grand Ole Opry,” Foster wrote on social media.

This year, the Opry is celebrating 100 years and as part of this celebration, is putting on the Opry 100 show, where even more new stars—like Foster—will have their chance to perform in the legendary country music landmark.

Read More from John Foster about his future plans

Foster started singing seriously in 2022, and songwriting became a passion of his, specifically in healing from the pain of losing a close friend and another classmate in a tragic car accident. His dear friend, Maggie Dunn, along with her friend Caroline Gill, were struck and killed during a high-speed chase.

“So the day that they passed away, which was New Year’s Eve of 2022, you know, the most tragic and horrible day of my life. But music shows up, of course, as it always does,” he told UWK.

Music became more than a hobby—it became his voice, his way to process emotions, and a means to honor those he loves. Foster learned to play the guitar as a natural extension of his passion for singing, realizing he needed the instrument to fully express himself.

The same day that he received the heartbreaking news, he sat by the bayou and poured his emotions into lyrics that would become his most personal and poignant creation—Tell That Angel, I Love Her.

He performed the song at the school’s prom, and then later again while on American Idol, tugging at the heartstrings of viewers all over the nation.

After being voted second overall in American Idol, Foster came back to the Bayou State and performed at the Cajun Country Jam in Livingston Parish. His first official Nashville, Tennessee, appearance will be during a concert on June 4 with other American Idol names, including this season’s winner, Jamal Roberts.

Foster will perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday, June 7 at 7 p.m. as part of the Opry 100 show. Other artists for the evening include Craig Morgan, Mark Willis, Bill Anderson, and Old Crow Medicine Show, according to the Opry’s calendar.