John Foster Takes On Dolly Parton’s “Coat Of Many Colors” At Dollywood
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John Foster is paying tribute to Dolly Parton once again, this time by singing one of her most iconic songs.
Foster has been keeping busy since his time on American Idol. If you remember, the 20-year-old stole hearts nationwide with his traditional country sound and went on to become the show’s runner-up in 2025.
Since then, Foster has been part of some big performances and events. One happened over the weekend, when he took the stage at Dollywood for the theme park’s annual Harvest Festival.
While he was there, he sang a few of Dolly Parton’s most famous songs, including “Coat of Many Colors.”
Parton first released “Coat of Many Colors” in 1971 as the second single from her album of the same name. She famously wrote the song on the back of a dry-cleaning receipt while on tour with Porter Wagoner.
The lyrics are based on Parton’s own childhood of growing up in a poor family with 11 siblings in the Great Smoky Mountains. When she was little, she needed a winter coat, but her family couldn’t afford to buy one. So, her mother, Avie Lee, made her a patchwork coat using colorful fabric scraps.
Watch John Foster Sing “Coat Of Many Colors”
Foster gave a stripped-down version of “Coat of Many Colors.” He sat on a stool and strummed his acoustic guitar as he sang, while a black-and-white photo of Parton appeared on the big screen behind him.
@thomaslknightjr @John Foster singing Coat of Many Colors at @Dollywood Parks & Resorts #johnfoster #americanidol #dollywood #countrymusic ♬ original sound – Mason McNulty
This isn’t the first time Foster has paid tribute to Parton since her passing in August. Two days after her death, he posted a cover of her iconic “I Will Always Love You.”
Not long after that, he added new lyrics to his original song “Tell That Angel I Love Her” in Parton’s honor. Foster had sung the song during his time on Idol. He also sang Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas” one month after she died.
Foster has two more shows scheduled for Dollywood’s Harvest Festival. He will perform today, Monday, October 12, and tomorrow, Tuesday, October 13.
After that, Foster has shows set for the remainder of 2026, including multiple appearances at the Grand Ole Opry.
