UCO Professor Returns to Stage After Kidney Failure

Maycee Elerick September 28, 2026 12:56 pm

UCO adjunct professor and R&B singer, Tony Foster Jr., performed at the ACM to raise money after being diagnosed with kidney failure.

He received funds from limited-edition merch and a portion of ticket sales. Tony Foster Jr. is also accepting donations on GoFundMe.

Supporting act Flow the Wise bends over with microphone. (Maycee Elerick/The Vista) — Supporting act Flow the Wise. (Maycee Elerick/The Vista)

Supporting act Sid Carter. (Maycee Elerick/The Vista) — Supporting act Flow the Wise. (Maycee Elerick/The Vista)

Crowd watches the stage covered in pink lighting. (Maycee Elerick/The Vista) — Crowd watches the stage. (Maycee Elerick/The Vista)

Tony Foster Jr. smiling at crowd .(Maycee Elerick/The VIsta) — Crowd watches the stage. (Maycee Elerick/The Vista)

Tony Foster Jr. (Maycee Elerick/The Vista)

A performer on stage under red lights. (Maycee Elerick/The Vista) — A performer on stage. (Maycee Elerick/The Vista)

Tony Foster Jr. raises his arm up while preforming. (Maycee Elerick/The Vista) — A performer on stage. (Maycee Elerick/The Vista)

Tony Foster Jr. and Sid Carter sing together with arms in the air. (Maycee Elerick/The Vista) — Tony Foster Jr. and Sid Carter. (Maycee Elerick/The Vista)

Tony Foster Jr. raps while holding microphone cord. (Maycee Elerick/The VIsta) — Tony Foster Jr. and Sid Carter. (Maycee Elerick/The Vista)