Jessica Sanchez. Trae Patton/NBCWith just one month left before welcoming her first child, Jessica Sanchez delivered a powerful performance on "America’s Got Talent," proving once again why she’s a fan favorite.
The 30-year-old Fil-Am singer closed out the quarterfinals with a heartfelt rendition of Alex Warren’s “Ordinary,” earning loud cheers and applause from the audience and the judges.
This marks Sanchez’s return to the "AGT' live stage nearly two decades after her first appearance, and more than a decade since she captivated America on "American Idol" in 2012. Now, she’s competing with both artistry and resilience while navigating the physical challenges of late pregnancy and keeping her voice in top shape.
“It’s hard!” she admitted with a smile in our exclusive interview before the big night. “I was just taking some pictures, and we were going up some stairs, and I was out of breath. I’m trying everything. Trying to take care of my voice in every way possible. I live in Texas, so the air is more humid, which is great for my vocals. And now I’m in California, so it’s a little more dry out here. So I have a humidifier that I sleep next to. Manuka honey is my best friend. Hot water with lemon. No cold water. Now I’m giving you all my secret tips!”
Last month, Sanchez wowed audiences with Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things,” a performance so strong it secured her an automatic spot in the quarterfinals.
Offstage, Sanchez is equally focused on preparing for motherhood. She and her husband, Rickie Gallardo, are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their daughter. “I have officially entered eight months of pregnancy. So it’s very exciting. I can feel her kicks like really strong now. Her name’s gonna be Eliana. In Hebrew, it means ‘my God has answered.’ We were trying for a baby and God answered, so I felt like the name was very fitting.”
If she advances to the finals, Sanchez will be nine months pregnant during the competition’s climactic night — something that is not a usual occurrence in AGT’s history.
Still, she says she feels calm and supported by her medical team. “I’m actually gonna go the birthing-center route, so I have my midwife, and I just got off the phone with her, and I’m just communicating with her. They’re so supportive. And they’re just like, ‘Anything you need, we’ll fly out there.’
The artist is determined to see where her "AGT" journey takes her.
“I’m grateful to be doing this and have such a great team behind me, so I’m really not nervous. I feel like surrendering it over to God’s will. I’m like: Whatever You want, Lord,” she shares with a laugh. “Ideally I would love for her to come out, you know, later on, but whatever You want.”
Faith is something that propels the singer. “I think my main purpose is to be the salt of the earth and to kind of be a reflection of Jesus to people through my music, through what I do. And that doesn't have to be in the church. It can be through the platforms that I have, just to inspire people and motivate people to do what they love,” she says.
Related: Jessica Sanchez shares her love story
The "America’s Got Talent" finalists will compete for the last time on September 23, with the winner revealed on September 24. Until then, Jessica Sanchez continues to inspire: balancing the journey of motherhood with the dream of winning it all.