Sanchez first auditioned for the reality competition show for its inaugural season in 2006, at just 10 years old. This season, she returned \u2014 20 years older \u2014 in pursuit of her dreams of being a singer, which came true when host Terry Crews<\/a> announced her name as the winner at the season finale<\/a> on Wednesday, Sept. 24.\u00a0<\/p>\n Speaking to PEOPLE on the red carpet after the finale on Sept. 24, Sanchez says, \u201cI don\u2019t even know how to react right now, I\u2019m just feeling on cloud nine. It just feels amazing!\u201d<\/p>\n Trae Patton\/NBC<\/p>\n Jessica Sanchez on ‘America’s Got Talent’<\/p>\n Related: https:\/\/people-app.onelink.me\/HNIa\/kz7l4cuf<\/a><\/p>\n During the finale, the powerhouse singer sang Lady Gaga<\/a> and Bruno Mars<\/a>\u2019 hit song Die With A Smile, wowing the audience and judges alike. Sanchez was up against freestyle rapper Chris Turner for first place and the chance to win $1 million.<\/p>\n \u201cI was just so grateful to be a part of the finals and then also to be there sharing the stage with Christ,\u201d Sanchez says. \u201cChris is just amazing. I don\u2019t know how he does what he does. I was happy either way, whatever the outcome was.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Terry said my name, I was just like, \u2018What the heck is happening right now?\u2019\u201d Sanchez adds. \u201cSo I\u2019m just feeling very loved. I\u2019m feeling very blessed and so grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n Trae Patton\/NBC<\/p>\n Jessica Sanchez at the season 20 finale of ‘America’s Got Talent’<\/p>\n Sanchez\u2019s win comes after she impressed judges and the audience week after week with her powerful vocals. The Texas-based singer auditioned with a cover of Beautiful Things by Benson Boone<\/a>, which prompted Sof\u00eda Vergara<\/a> to hit the Golden Buzzer.\u00a0<\/p>\n As for what Sanchez plans to do with the prize money, she says she\u2019s not sure.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t really thought about it. Everybody keeps asking me,\u201d Sanchez shares. \u201cBut I feel like from the beginning, when it came to winning, I was like, \u2018If I win, I feel like it would mean more than the money.\u201d<\/p>\n She continues, \u201cIt would just be like 20 years of me fighting for this dream. And it would be a message to my daughter too, to continue to fight for her dreams once things start getting tough.\u201d<\/p>\n Nine months pregnant, Sanchez says she can\u2019t wait for her baby to be born. She is expecting a baby girl, her first child with husband Ricki Gallardo. The singer discovered her pregnancy days after auditioning for Season 20 of the reality competition show.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI was thinking, when I was on that stage, \u2018I\u2019ve already won. I\u2019m about to go home, and I\u2019m at the end of my pregnancy. I\u2019m going to give birth to a beautiful baby girl and start motherhood,\u2019” she shares.<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for\u00a0PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a>\u00a0to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\n America’s Got Talent\u00a0can be streamed on Peacock.<\/p>\n![\"Trae](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/3a17e7d5d28494b8a508b24056e4687c.jpeg\"\/)
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