“American Idol” has long served as a launching pad for rising musical talent, even for contestants who don’t take home the crown. Season 22 runner-up Will Moseley, who finished second to winner Abi Carter, is one of those standout artists, continuing to build a music career and reach new milestones since his time on the show.
Most recently, Moseley shared with fans on Instagram that he had the opportunity to perform on one of country music’s biggest stages, calling it “the biggest nights of my career.”
Will Moseley Makes His Grand Ole Opry Debut
“American Idol” season 22 runner-up Will Moseley reached a major career milestone after revealing that he was invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, country music’s most iconic stage in Nashville, Tennessee.
Moseley made his debut during a special “OPRY 100” celebration event on April 25, taking the stage for the very first time at the legendary venue.
The Idol alum took to Instagram to share a clip of his experience as he walked from backstage to the main stage and paused as he took it all in. The video then showed Moseley taking the stage as he performed in what looked like a packed auditorium.
Moseley ended his night cutting a cake in front of family and friends to mark his Grand Ole Opry debut.
“Saturday was one of the biggest nights of my career – making my @opry debut! Thank you to all of you who packed it out and made it a really special night – looking forward to doing it again!” His caption read.
‘American Idol’ Runner-up John Foster Joined Moseley
GettyThe night also included a special appearance by “American Idol” season 23 runner-up John Foster. The country singer, who has performed on the Grand Ole Opry stage numerous times since his Idol run, shared photos of himself on stage and posing alongside country music legend Bill Anderson.
“What an incredible night celebrating country music at the Grand Ole Opry,” his caption began.
“One of the most special yet. Getting to sing a song I wrote with Bill Anderson and Bobby Tomberlin in the sacred circle, with Whisperin’ Bill watching. Paying tribute to Don Schlitz with “Forever and Ever, Amen” and hearing the whole place sing it back. Getting a coffee mug for passing 10 shows, I don’t think I’ll ever drink out of anything better,” he added.
Foster made his Grand Ole Opry debut on June 7, 2025, less than a month after being named runner-up on “American Idol,” where Jamal Roberts was crowned the winner.
Moseley Continues Focusing on His Country Music Career
Moseley has not paused his music career after his run on “American Idol.” In fact, in March, Moseley released his own music, debuting his latest EP, “Old Enough Memory.” The EP features five songs, including “Gone For Good,” “Good Book Bad,” “Mechanic,” “Make Me A Name,” and the title track.
The Idol alum has also been busy touring the U.S. Most recently, he announced a lineup of shows this summer and shared that he will perform at the CMA Fest in June. Moseley is also gearing up to join major country artists like Eric Church and Hardy for the “Boots on the Bend” music festival in August.
With a very busy year, Moseley will forever cherish his time on Idol, even calling it “a blessing” when he spoke to TV Insider back in November 2024.
“I think American Idol was a blessing. I think it was the perfect runway for someone like me from a small town to give me a chance to chase that dream. So far, now I’ve come out and had the opportunity to play a bunch of shows on the road. It looks like by the scheduling that is happening now, it’s continuing for another six or eight months. It allowed me to step into a new career path and something I’ve always dreamed of doing,” he said.
