Carrie Underwood feels like proud mom of | TV Shows

Carrie Underwood is sharing praise for American Idol contestant John Foster, who makes her feel like a ‘proud mom’ while judging the show.

Speaking to People in a roundtable interview after the April 28 live show, Underwood explained: “He’s so sweet and fresh-faced and he’s one of those people that I feel like … don’t even really know how good you are kind of thing.”

A guest mentor for the evening, Underwood watched as Foster performed Randy Travis’ 1987 ballad “I Told You So,” a song she previously covered on her 2007 album Carnival Ride.

Midway through the performance, Foster walked toward the judges’ panel and sang directly to Underwood.

“We were talking after his performance, me, Luke [Bryan] and Lionel [Richie] and we were just saying he’s probably the one that has grown the most since he’s been here,” Underwood added.

“She has such a great version of the song but I knew that I had to sing to her and I knew that I had to let America know my passion for the song and music by connecting with her.”

Foster is now in the Top 10 alongside Josh King, Jamal Roberts, Mattie Pruitt, Thunderstorm Artis, Slater Nalley, Gabby Samone, Canaan James Hill, Kolbi Jordan, and Breanna Nix.

Earlier this season, Foster impressed viewers with an emotional original “Tell That Angel I Love Her,” written about a friend who passed away in 2022.

“You’ve kind of been a wildcard for me the whole time, but what you just did there removed all doubts in my mind that you deserve to be here,” said judge Luke Bryan.

“Now whether that’s old, new, happening now, later, whatever the case may be, it was so believable and I heard every word of every part of your story and that’s what great music is about,” added Lionel Richie.

American Idol airs Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.