Jessica Sanchez was a singer from Season 1 of America's Got Talent. She was eliminated without performing in the Semifinals, but she returned for the Wild Card Show, where she was eliminated again. Nineteen years later, Jessica returned in Season 20, where she won that season of the competition and $1,000,000.
Background[]
Born and raised in Chula Vista, San Diego, California, Sanchez has worked on honing her vocal versatility for almost her entire life. “I started singing when I was two,” says Sanchez, who lists Mariah Carey, Etta James and Ray Charles as some of her musical influences.
"I took any opportunity I could to sing in front of other people, like at birthday parties or just in front of my grandmother’s friends, but I was so shy that I had to stare at the floor the whole time." Sanchez eventually overcame her shyness and, at age 10, performed Aretha Franklin’s "Respect" on an episode of Showtime at the Apollo.[1]
Season 1 Audition[]
Jessica Sanchez's audition on Episode 101 was never televised. It is unknown whether or not she was buzzed, but at least two judges voted "Yes", sending Jessica to the Semifinals.
Season 1 Semifinals[]
Jessica Sanchez was one of five acts eliminated by the judges from the competition in Week 1 of the Semifinals without performing in Episode 104.
Wild Card[]
Jessica Sanchez was brought back by Brandy Norwood for the Wild Card Show. Her performance on Episode 112 consisted of singing "I Surrender". Piers Morgan, Brandy Norwood and David Hasselhoff all gave Jessica "✓" votes. Still, Jessica did not receive enough votes to finish in at least second place for America's Vote, eliminating her from the competition in Episode 113 again, instead of David & Dania - Quick Change and Nathan Burton.
After Season 1[]
Over the next few years, Sanchez performed at different venues, both large and small (including a 2008 San Diego Chargers game), and released a number of covers (such as Etta James’s “I’d Rather Go Blind”) through an independent record label.
After nailing her American Idol (season 11) audition in 2011, Sanchez climbed to the final two and landed her deal with Interscope soon after the season finale. Diving into the recording of her debut, Sanchez took a break from the studio to tear through a choir-backed rendition of Marvin Gaye’s “All I Need To Get By” at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
In 2013, she released an album and appeared in several episodes of the Fox series Glee, playing Frida Romero, the lead singer of a rival glee club. “The fact that I get to put out something that’s all my own is so exciting,” she says. “Music has always been what I want to do with my life, and these songs are all me”.[2]
Jessica later stepped away from music for a time so as to work out her identity and what she wanted whilst also settling down and marrying Rickie Gallardo in 2021, Jessica made the brave decision to step back into the limelight with a newly lit fire located within her soul so as to provide for the family that she is due to build once she reaches her due date.
Season 20 Audition[]
Jessica Sanchez returned for the 20th season. Her audition in Episode 2007 consisted of singing Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” while accompanied by a band. Amazed by her performance, Sofía Vergara hit the Golden Buzzer, sending her directly to the live shows.
Season 20 Quarterfinals[]
Jessica Sanchez's Quarterfinal performance in Episode 2014 consisted of singing Alex Warren's "Ordinary". Howie Mandel, Mel B and Simon Cowell gave her standing ovations. She received enough votes to enter the top 5 of the night in Episode 2015 instead of Benn Family Band, and advanced to the Semifinals along with Mastermind and Chris Turner instead of Jacqueline & Wagner and Messoudi Brothers.
Semifinals[]
Jessica Sanchez’s Semifinal performance in Episode 2018 consisted of singing JVKE's "Golden Hour". Mel B, Sofía Vergara and Simon Cowell gave her standing ovations. She received enough votes to advance to the Finals in Episode 2019 instead of Birmingham Youth Choir.
Season 20 Finals[]
Jessica Sanchez’s Finals performance in Episode 2020 consisted of singing Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga's "Die With a Smile". Howie Mandel, Mel B, Sofía Vergara and Simon Cowell all gave her standing ovations.
Season 20 Finale[]
In the Episode 2021 finale, Jessica reprised her Semifinal song "Golden Hour" while Sirca Marea performed a trapeze routine. She received enough votes to enter the Top 5 instead of Steve Ray Ladson. She finished in 1st place ahead of Chris Turner, Jourdan Blue, Leo High School Choir and LightWire, winning the title of Season 20 champion, a trip to Universal Orlando Resort, and $1,000,000.
After Season 20[]
Sanchez and her husband Rickie welcomed their first child, Eliana Mae Gallardo, on October 13, 2025, less than a month after she won the show.
Other Appearances[]
Trivia[]
- Jessica holds the record for longest gap in returning between seasons with 19. The previous record was 14 held by George.
- She is the second Early Release to be awarded the Golden Buzzer, following the Messoudi Brothers.
- She is also the first Glee alum to participate in the show since Noah Guthrie in Season 13.
- While appearing on Season 20, she is the second contestant after Carissa from Us the Duo to compete while pregnant. She ultimately became the first contestant to win while being pregnant.
- She is the first main series winner who competed on the show in the past.
- She is the fourth overall female singer to win the show, following Bianca Ryan, Grace VanderWaal, and Darci Lynne.
- However, unlike those three previous winners, Jessica is the first female singer to win as an adult.
- She is the first winner to have previously competed on American Idol, which also featured Simon Cowell as a judge. Though Simon had already left the panel during her time on that series.
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