John Foster smiles while holding a guitar in a promotional image announcing his Grand Ole Opry debut on June 7, celebrating the Opry’s 100th anniversary.

Well, that didn’t take long.

Less than a week after finishing runner-up on American Idol, 18-year-old John Foster is already making one of the biggest moves a country newcomer can make. And he just dropped the news like it was nothing.

Saturday, June 7. Circle that date. Because that’s when Foster will officially step into the sacred circle and make his debut at the Grand Ole Opry.

He made the announcement on social media late Saturday night after singing onstage with Opry member Craig Morgan, casually sneaking in one of the biggest “by the way” moments of his young career. In his words, “The first time I went to the Opry, I fought back tears because I was so overwhelmed with joy. As an amateur country music historian, there is no more significant place to my passion than the Grand Ole Opry. This has been my number one dream ever since I started music.”

Now it’s happening. And honestly, it makes perfect sense.

Foster spent the last year going from LSU biology student to national TV standout. He introduced himself to America with a voice that feels like it was carved out of red clay and raised on Randy Travis and Toby Keith. His Idol finale performance of “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” had the room on its feet. Then he backed it up with “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and a duet with Luke Bryan that reminded everyone the kid can hold his own next to a headliner.