For singer Jessica Sanchez, winning Season 20 of America's Got Talent (AGT) was a dream come true. When she landed the crown and the $1 million prize on September 24, it was a long time coming. Sanchez auditioned for the show's very first season many years ago when she was just 10!
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During the contest's finale, Sanchez performed "Die With a Smile." It wowed the judges and the audience. thanks to her powerful, expressive vocals and polished stage presence. The little girl who stood on that stage so long ago has evolved into a bona fide star. Before she got the big win, Sanchez said per People via TV Insider, "This has been 20 years in the making, this would mean everything,"
Sanchez Is Grateful and Thrilled by Her Success
Now she is 30 years old and about to have a baby with husband Rickie Gallardo, their first. Sanchez, who reportedly resides in Texas, is reflecting on the past and looking forward to the future. She gushed, "It doesn't seem real right now, but I'm so grateful. I was 10 years old when I tried out for the show the first time. I had that seed of faith. Even though I was devastated when I didn't make it in Season 1, I was determined to show people that I deserved to be in the limelight."
Per People via TV Insider, she continued, "That was the biggest stage that I had ever been on at that time. I was like, 'Oh wow, I feel like being on this stage is something I really want to do and maybe I can take this dream somewhere I never thought I could.'"
She Felt Back Then That She Was Not in Control of Her Destiny
Perhaps because of her youth, Sanchez seemingly felt as though others were taking charge of her professional growth and path forward. "I feel like I was tugged back and forth of where people wanted me to be and who they wanted me to be." Now, however, the timing was just right. "I definitely needed that to be where I am today to be confident in myself, to know who I am, to know what I want. To come back 20 years later, back on the stage where it all started for me, I feel like I'm on cloud nine."
The Singer Competed on 'American Idol' and Guest Starred on 'Glee'
Sanchez had some notable career milestones along the way to her AGT victory. She was the Season 11 runner-up on American Idol thirteen years ago in 2012. Also, she was a guest star on Season 4 of the TV series Glee.
She Definitely Sounds Ready
Sanchez explained, "This year, I just felt this immense peace, like, I'm ready to do this. I took the leap and I found out that I was pregnant a couple days later, but it didn't really hinder me from wanting to take that next step back on that stage," she told the outlet. "If anything, it kind of motivated me a little bit because I'm like, now I get to do this with my daughter. It's like a once-in-a-lifetime thing."
