“American Idol” 2025 contestant John Foster likely broke a few (thousand) hearts on May 4, 2025, when the 18-year-old revealed his girlfriend was in the audience for the live two-hour show. When judge Luke Bryan remarked that he could barely hear out of his left ear thanks to all the screaming girls, Foster smiled as he pointed out his girlfriend and cousins right behind the country star.

The Addis, Louisiana, country singer and aspiring doctor had 31 friends and family members fly to Los Angeles for the live show, according to The Advocate, during which he made it into the top 8 of season 23. But his high school sweetheart, Brooklyn Bourque, has been with him throughout his “Idol” journey.

John Foster & Brooklyn Bourque Graduated From High School Together

Foster and Bourque graduated from Bursly High School in May 2024, according to photos she posted on Instagram after the ceremony, though it’s not clear when they began dating. Borque posted a photo of them attending the Homecoming Dance together in October 2021, but she attended dances with other classmates after that.

On May 26, about a week after their graduation, Bourque posted a photo of herself with Foster, seemingly going Instagram official with the singer. When a friend wrote in the comments “launching🤜🏻🤛🏻hard,” Bourque replied, “yur😜”

Foster is a freshman at Louisiana State University (LSU), majoring in biology with an eye on being a “singing oncologist,” he told the judges during his successful audition for the show. His grandmother told The Advocate on May 1 he’s been keeping up with his studies online while competing on the show.

It’s not clear if Bourque is also enrolled in college. A 2023 Facebook post from Bursly High’s cheerleading program revealed she was one of the squad’s senior captains; in an April 2024 post about the team captains’ college plans, she wore an LSU t-shirt.

John Foster’s Girlfriend Has Been By His Side Throughout ‘American Idol’ Journey

Bourque has been a constant presence for Foster throughout his “Idol” journey. After he made the top 8 on May 4, she posted a photo with him — sans his trademark cowboy hat — and wrote, “MY GUY🤩🤩 so proud of you, I love you😚 #TOP8”

In the fall, Bourque attended Foster’s audition, along with a large group of family and friends. Once his audition aired on ABC in March, she posted several photos of them there and at a party celebrating his golden ticket to Hollywood.

She captioned the post, “EEEKKK!!! He’s going to Hollywood!!!! SO proud and grateful to be by your side on this awesome journey. You amaze me everyday and I am so lucky I get to love a cutie patootie like you😆😆😆”

Bourque also posted photos from Hollywood Week, which taped in Los Angeles in January, and from the Hawaii round, filmed at Disney’s Aulani Resort in February.

For the “Songs of Faith” Easter night special, Foster performed an emotional, original song titled “Tell That Angel I Love Her.” He wrote the song in honor of his high school friend Maggie Dunn, who died in a car accident in 2022, per Parade. Bourque was very close with Dunn, highlighted in her obituary as one of her two “dearest friends.”

Foster is likely to have Bourque’s continued support as he performs on the next live episode of “American Idol” on May 5, aiming to make it into the top 7.