Dolly Parton Honored In Breathtaking Tribute From “American Idol” Alum John Foster
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Dolly Parton‘s influence was immense and spanned across multiple generations of country artists. Everyone from Reba McEntire to Lainey Wilson has been inspired by her music and magic.
Following Dolly’s death on August 25, 2026, tributes came pouring in from celebrities, brands, organizations, and even public landmarks. Those who are musically inclined have been singing Dolly’s songs, honoring her with her own words.
One such person is John Foster. You may remember him from his time spent competing on the 2025 season of American Idol. He was a fan-favorite contestant, known for his moving original song “Tell That Angel I Love Her.”
John was named the runner-up of the season, with Jamal Roberts coming in first place.
Like many country artists, John adored Dolly Parton. After she passed away, he sat down with his acoustic guitar to deliver a tender rendition of her iconic song, “I Will Always Love You.”
His breathtaking performance earned widespread praise from his and Dolly’s fans. Over 2,000 comments complimented John for delivering a “beautiful” and “wonderful” version of “I Will Always Love You” that would have made Dolly proud.
The video, which currently has over 628,000 views on Instagram, was paired with a thoughtful caption from John. He wrote:
“There are so many things I’d like to say about how wonderful Dolly Parton was, what a gift she was to the genre that means so much to me, and what a gift she was to this country and this world, but I know that my words could never do her justice. Instead, she said how I’m feeling when she wrote one of the best songs ever written. We will always love you, Mrs. Dolly. Rest with our Jesus.”
Watch John Foster sing Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” below.
Dolly Parton Has Been Remembered By Kevin Costner, Miley Cyrus, & More
Over the past few days, the people who knew, loved, and were inspired by Dolly Parton have honored her through touching tributes, like the one delivered by John Foster.
Kevin Costner, who championed the inclusion of “I Will Always Love You” in the film The Bodyguard (performed by Whitney Houston), said he was left “breathless” by Dolly’s death.
One of the most emotional tributes came from Miley Cyrus, who is Dolly’s goddaughter. She wrote:
“I will always love her and want to make her proud. My heart breaks for the world, her family and friends who will miss her deeply. We’re in this loss together and we will see her in all of the most beautiful things.“
Dolly is also being remembered by her six surviving siblings, including her younger sister, Stella (Dolly had a total of 11 brothers and sisters). Stella posted a heart-tugging tribute to Dolly two days after her death, saying:
“My sister was always thinking of others, and if you want to honor her legacy, show more kindness, lift up others, and give more of your time and resources, as she continued to do to the very end.“
Our prayers go out to Stella and to all of Dolly’s family members during this difficult time. She was, and still is, so dearly loved.
