Jaehwa Bernardo

Article (news)

How Jessica Sanchez won 'America's Got Talent' after 20-year journey

Yong Chavez

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758787220643JESSICA FINALE PIC 2 COURTESY NBC.png" style="width:750px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Jessica Sanchez. Photo courtesy of NBC</div>Jessica Sanchez has officially made her mark on &quot;America’s Got Talent.&quot; The 30-year-old singer, who first captured attention as a 10-year old on &quot;AGT&quot; and then at 16 as a finalist on &quot;American Idol,&quot; was crowned AGT’s Season 20 winner. This time, she had an even greater story to tell.Tears ran down her face as she fulfilled a two-decade dream, closing a journey that began when she first auditioned for &quot;AGT.&quot; Now, 20 years later, Sanchez stood on the same stage, nine months pregnant, finally holding the title that eluded her for so long.“Going from season one, 10-year-old Jessica to now season 20, pregnant Jessica — just the title alone would mean so much to me,” she said before winning.The path to victory was far from easy. Sanchez admitted she was nervous about whether she could even finish the competition while preparing for motherhood. “I prayed before, which is what I usually do, and I just told myself: Listen, this is the finale, and just give it all you got. Don’t stress about what’s gonna happen next. You’ve already made it this far.”That calmness carried into her performance, which brought the audience and judges to their feet.“Her baby, her story, 20 years waiting for this, spectacular,” judge Sofia Vergara said, calling Sanchez’s win the product of perseverance. Mel B praised her unmatched vocal range: “God, her vocals are just undeniably perfect… she has the range, if not more or bigger than Mariah Carey.”Sanchez’s triumph quickly resonated with her Filipino community, both in the U.S. and abroad. “To all my Filipinos: I love you guys so much. Thank you for all of your immense support throughout the years,” she said, adding that she looks forward to celebrating in the Philippines soon.Her husband, Rickie Gallardo, said the victory meant more than the million-dollar prize. “This journey had nothing to do with her competition. It had everything to do with her fulfilling her purpose and stepping up to that faith.”Even her unborn daughter had a quiet role in the finale. Sanchez laughed that her baby “helped me,” noting that while she kicked before the performance, she stayed still once the music began.Sanchez will remain in Los Angeles for post-win promotional events before returning to Texas to prepare for the birth of her daughter. She hasn’t decided how to use the $1 million prize just yet, though a college fund is already on her mind.For a singer whose career has spanned from &quot;Idol&quot; runner-up to global tours, the &quot;AGT&quot; trophy represents something bigger: a new beginning.

Jessica Sanchez has officially made her mark on 'America’s Got Talent.'