Jessica Sanchez, the powerhouse vocalist who first caught America’s attention as a child on the inaugural season of "America’s Got Talent" (AGT), has made her long-awaited and emotional return to the AGT stage.
“To come back 20 years later and just with everything going on in my life, I feel like everything is God’s divine timing,” Sanchez shared exclusively to ABS-CBN’s Here in Hollywood with Yong Chavez. “I feel like it couldn’t have happened at a better time. It’s just an amazing feeling.”
Since her "AGT" debut, Sanchez became a household name as a finalist on "American Idol" at just 16 years old, blazing a trail for young Filipino-American artists on national television. Now, older, wiser, and with a renewed sense of purpose, she’s ready to show the world what two decades of growth, grit, and soul sound like.
“Twenty years ago when I stepped on the 'AGT' stage, it lit a fire inside of me, and it really pushed me to do bigger things than I could imagine,” she said.
With strong family roots and the ever-present influence of her Filipino upbringing, Sanchez recalls those early days of singing for relatives and friends: “We had a little karaoke system, with the words lighting up and the magic mics.” She added, “I’m excited to represent for the Filipino community and for Filipino Americans, and show everyone that we got talent.”
The 29-year-old singer reveals that this comeback comes with an even stronger personal conviction. This time, she knows exactly who she is and why she’s here.
“America’s Got Talent” featuring Sanchez’s audition will air in the US this Tuesday night, July 15 on NBC.
Full feature on Jessica Sanchez drops this Friday on ABS-CBN’s Here in Hollywood column.