Jessica Sanchez on her 'AGT' win: 'I'm here for a reason'
Following her win on America's Got Talent Season 20, singer Jessica Sanchez took to social media to thank her supporters.
"I just want to thank you guys so much for voting for me and for believing in me. I love you guys so much," she said during the livestream on Facebook.
Sanchez, who is nine months pregnant, thanked the judges, including actress Sofia Vergara, who she felt "really helped [her] get this far with the Golden Buzzer."
"I mean, she really made that moment for me. So I can't thank her enough," she said.
She also thanked Simon Cowell, who was very supportive of her throughout the season.
"And then Simon, I've always wanted to sing in front of Simon ever since I was a little girl. And tonight he just showed me so much love. I mean, throughout the whole season, he showed me so much love, but tonight he like came up to me and said, 'If you ever do anything, I'm here for you.' And that just means so much," Sanchez continued.
Still in shock, Sanchez also praised her fellow contestants, whom she said were amazing on stage.
"Honestly, I did not think tonight was gonna go the way it did tonight because I shared the stage with so many amazing talents. And, I mean, you guys watched it. Everybody was so amazing," Sanchez continued. "I'm just so honored and so grateful that you guys thought I deserved to be crowned the winner, and again, just for believing in me, I thank you guys so much."
Twenty years after her first audition, Sanchez returned to the AGT stage. She confessed that coming back was "really scary" because she felt she had "failed" everyone the first time around. Despite her fear, she felt at peace with her decision to "give it another shot."
"I just took the leap of faith and did the audition, and I got so many comments that it inspired so many people to pursue their dreams again. And that is the reason why I, you know, wanted to get back into music, is to use this gift to inspire others," she explained.
Sanchez shared that competing while pregnant was "one of the most challenging things" she's ever experienced. She credits her fans for helping her "get back up," and she believes she was meant to be there, saying, "I'm here for a reason, and God placed me here for a reason."
She also thanked her husband, Rickie Gallardo, who was with her during the livestream. "This man knows the struggle that I've been through just mentally when it comes to... my music," she shared, crediting him for his support.
She then announced that she is excited to release new music, promising "all vocals" for her fans, adding that it's been "a long time coming."
After a round of interviews, the 30-year-old singer said she and her husband would be driving back to Texas to get ready for their baby girl's arrival. She added that she can't wait to share this next chapter, as her fans have been with her since she was 10 years old.
Fellow artists and fans flooded the comments section with praise for Sanchez.
Spanish-American singer-songwriter Leroy Sanchez wrote, "You Did That!!!!!!! Congratulations sistaaaah," while singer Candice Boyd added, "I'm so proud of you and happy for you. You deserve this."
On her own Instagram, Vergara celebrated the finale by sharing photos and writing, "What an amazing season!!! Thank u America! So proud of my Golden Buzzer Jessica Sanchez for winning @agt season 20!!"
At her audition, Sanchez belted out a soulful rendition of Benson Boone’s Beautiful Things and earned not just a standing ovation from all four judges—Cowell, Vergara, Mel B, and Howie Mandel—but also the famed Golden Buzzer from Vergara. With the Golden Buzzer, Sanchez bypassed the standard voting process for auditions and went straight through to the live shows.
On Sept. 24, Sanchez, resplendent in all white, stunned with Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ duet Die with a Smile, drawing another standing ovation from the judges.
“It was so important for our 20th anniversary that you came back,” Cowell said after Sanchez’s performance. “You sound amazing. I think it was the best performance we’ve heard so far.”
The Filipino-American belter first appeared on America’s Got Talent Season 1 in 2006 at 11 years old. She made it through to the semi-finals before getting eliminated.
Sanchez's return to the show was first teased in May when she appeared in the official trailer for AGT's 20th season.
Reflecting on her experience on social media, she shared how AGT played a "massive role" in her belief in bigger possibilities, expressing her excitement for this full-circle moment.
"Being 10 years old on AGT played such a massive role in me believing in something bigger for myself, for my voice. What a huge blessing it is to be able to come back and chase after my dreams again after 20 years," she wrote. "Can’t wait to see what God has in store for me."