John Foster may have finished as the runner-up on Season 23 of American Idol, but he’s stepping off that stage with a full head of steam and no intention of slowing down. Just hours after the Sunday, May 18 finale, the Louisiana teenager is already charting the road ahead — and it’s paved with music, memories, and maybe even a little dancing.

Foster is kicking things off with the release of his debut single, “Tell That Angel I Love Her” — a deeply personal track he wrote in honor of his late friend, Maggie Dunn, who tragically passed away in a car accident. “I’m going to push that out as much as possible,” he says. “I wrote that song by myself, and I think it gives people a real look at who I am as a writer and as an artist.” It’s just the beginning, though — he’s already itching to get back in the studio. “I love being in the studio,” he admits. “I can’t wait to record a full album.”

Back home in Louisiana, excitement is building for a hometown celebration complete with a concert and parade — a fitting welcome for the young star who captured America’s hearts. And though Foster isn’t ruling out a spin on Dancing With the Stars — “It’s certainly not a no,” he teases — for now, his immediate plan is a little more grounded. “I’ve been missing my dog,” he says with a smile. “I’m just super excited to get back home.”

Foster took the finale results with grace, smiling even as host Ryan Seacrest announced Jamal Roberts as the winner. “I’m extremely happy to be here,” he reflected. “This season has been unbelievable. The talent — wow. To be second out of 120,000 people? To even be in the Top 24, which was the most talented group I’ve ever seen? I’m proud.”

Meanwhile, third-place finalist Breanna Nix had her moment of reflection too. Unlike Foster, who found out his fate in the show’s final minutes, Nix was eliminated earlier in the evening. But she was at peace with the outcome. “I feel like God ordered every step I took on this show,” she said. “It was meant to be. I even had a feeling in my stomach that I’d be the first one out [in the finale], and I had peace about it.”

Nix, a stay-at-home mom with a powerhouse voice, says she knew who was going to win the second she heard Jamal Roberts sing during Hollywood Week. “I’ll never forget the feeling,” she said. “I thought, ‘He’s going to win. He’s the one.’” She didn’t even know him yet, but she walked over, introduced herself, made her prediction — and asked if she could get it on video. “I said, ‘You’re going to win American Idol, dude. And I want to be the one who called it.’” After Roberts was crowned, she reminded him of that video. “He’s like, ‘I remember, Breanna,’” she laughed.

Both Foster and Nix understand that winning isn’t everything. Many Idol legends — from Jennifer Hudson to Clay Aiken — didn’t take the top spot. But they still soared. “I already feel like I’ve won,” said Nix. “I’ve grown so much. My first song, ‘Higher,’ just came out. That moment was surreal. So many doors have opened, and I’m really excited to walk through them.”

And if Idol comes calling again? She’s all in. “I’d love to come back — as a judge, a mentor, anything. American Idol will always have a huge place in my heart.”

For both finalists, this isn’t the end — it’s the spark that lights a brand-new beginning. “Please be confident in who you are as an artist,” Foster advises future contestants. “Never accept failure as a final defeat. This is only the beginning. Don’t be discouraged. Keep going.”