Sept. 26, 2025, 10:09 AM EDT
Jessica Sanchez has dreamed of winning “America’s Got Talent” since she was a little kid. What she had not anticipated was that she would be nine months pregnant when she won.
Sanchez made her “America’s Got Talent” in 2005 when she was 10 years old. She sang her way through the show’s first season before being voted off in the semifinal round.
This time around, she made it to the show’s finale. (In between “AGT” stints, she also came in second place on “American Idol” in 2012).
“When Terry (Crews) was about to announce the winner, I was just standing there thinking about my moments on Season 1, when I was 10 years old, and how badly I wanted this,” Sanchez tells TODAY.com.
“I was just thinking how proud my little self would have been making it this far and not ever giving up on my dreams.”
Now 29, Sanchez returned to the show with the same dreams and a life update: She is pregnant with a little girl, whom she plans to name Eliana.
Jessica Sanchez, winner of America’s Got Talent Season 20.Trae Patton / NBC
Sanchez first discovered she was pregnant a few days before deciding to audition for “AGT” again.
Even though she knew it would be a difficult, she decided to not let pregnancy stop her from pursuing her dreams.
“This journey has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, vocally, physically, mentally, and emotionally, because my body is changing and I just keep getting bigger,” Sanchez says.
Sanchez performed a heartfelt rendition of Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” in her audition. After captivating the crowd with her voice, Sofia Vergara hit the Golden Buzzer, advancing Sanchez directly to the live shows, bypassing the rest of the audition process.
“I didn’t expect to get the Golden Buzzer. I honestly had no expectation,” Sanchez said. “Sofia (Vergara) saw something special in me, and that really meant the world.”
Throughout the season, Sanchez continued to amaze the judges and crowds with her voice. She sang “Ordinary” by Alex Warren earlier in the season and performed “Die With a Smile” by Lady Gage and Bruno Mars in the finale.
Jessica Sanchez, Winner of America’s Got Talent Season 20.Trae Patton / NBC
Sanchez said that the baby would “kick hard” every time she sang “Golden Hour” by JVKE.
“That song ‘Golden Hour’ was really special to me, because she was kind of like helping me, or just there really with me during that song,” she says.
Now that she is nearing the end of her pregnancy, Sanchez says she is excited to begin a new chapter.
“I’m excited to pour out everything that I’ve gone through with this experience and just throughout the year fully out into my music and just share it with the world,” she says. “Hopefully with each and every platform that I’m given, I inspire people who are also struggling with following their dreams. I just hope to inspire people.”
“It’s been a long, a long journey, but I’m so grateful for every single minute of it — just getting a chance to sing in front of America again and see what they think of me and my creativity. I cannot believe that I am the winner of Season 20.”