Country fan-favorite John Foster embraced his inner Elvis when he performed “Jailhouse Rock” on American Idol.

Idol hosted Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night on Sunday (April 27). The Top 12 contestants performed, Carrie Underwood recreated her iconic “Alone” performance from her Idol days, and the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees were revealed.

Additionally, viewers got to vote for their favorite contestants live, and the Top 10 were revealed at the end of the episode.

John Foster Channeled Elvis For His “Jailhouse Rock” Performance

Before learning he’d advanced into the Top 10, John Foster took to the stage with an energetic performance of Elvis Presley‘s “Jailhouse Rock.” The performance allowed Foster to showcase his skills as an entertainer, perhaps more than any other performance he’s delivered so far this season.

18-year-old John fully channeled “The King” for his performance and showcased some of his best Elvis dance moves throughout the song. The dancing was subtle, but distinctly Elvis-inspired, as Foster shook his hips and kicked his feet around while he sang. Of course, he did so all while flashing his signature bright smile at the crowd.

The judges jumped out of their chairs to give John a standing ovation at the song’s end. It took a while for the crowd to calm down so Luke, Lionel, and Carrie could offer their commentary. Once the cheers quieted, Luke Bryan popped in to deliver the first words of praise:

“John, I’m very proud of you on that one,” Luke said. “It was exactly what you wanted…it was just John Foster doing Elvis. It was very comfortable watching you.” He also noted one point when Foster lowered his voice in the song, saying that was extremely well done.

“I knew you were in the zone…I said, ‘that boy knows what he’s doing,’” Lionel Richie commented. “You were so comfortable, and that’s what made it so believable for us. You did a great job.”

Carrie Underwood said, “That was such a great song choice, you were having fun with it, you made it your own, and I feel like I was watching like a young Dwight Yoakam up there.”

Idol fans have compared John to the “Fast as You” singer throughout the season. Now, hearing it come from Carrie’s mouth makes it even more evident that John seems destined to be a country star!