Jessica Sanchez | Screenshot via YouTube
NEW YORK – Jessica Sanchez just pulled off one of the most emotional and triumphant comebacks in reality TV history—winning Season 20 of America’s Got Talent (AGT) nearly two decades after her first audition as a 10-year-old. And she did it while nine months pregnant, with her daughter literally kicking during her semifinal performance of “Golden Hour” by JVKE.
She was pregnant throughout the competition, eight months pregnant during the quarterfinals, and nine months pregnant during the semifinals and finale.
From her Golden Buzzer audition to her flawless finale performance of “Die With a Smile,” Jessica dominated every stage of the competition. Her vocals were called “flawless” by Mel B and “perfection” by Sofía Vergara. But it was her resilience—performing while carrying her daughter—that turned admiration into awe.
Sanchez’s reaction to winning America’s Got Talent Season 20 was deeply emotional, raw, and full of gratitude. Nearly 20 years after her first AGT audition as a child, she described the moment as “overwhelming” and “a full-circle victory.”
“I was on season one when I was 10 years old… going through all those years of feeling rejected and feeling like a failure, I had to pick myself back up and believe in myself again,” she told Billboard.
She shared that the journey had been physically and emotionally intense—especially while performing in her ninth month of pregnancy.
“I’m fighting against my hormones! And also my baby growing—it’s amazing that she’s healthy, but it’s pushing up against my diaphragm, so I kinda had to teach myself how to sing again.”
Jessica called the experience “the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through physically and vocally”, but also said it ended “so beautifully.” She described her win as a surrender to faith, resilience, and motherhood, saying she was now entering a new season—not just as an artist, but as a mom.
Rickie Gallardo, Sanchez’s husband, was by her side throughout her America’s Got Talent Season 20 journey, including the finale. Although he has kept a relatively low public profile, Rickie has been described by Jessica as her “biggest rock,” offering quiet but unwavering support during her comeback and pregnancy.
They’ve been married since 2021, and Rickie—a lighting technician—was present during the finale taping. He later posted a heartfelt Instagram photo with Jessica, captioned: “What can I say… I’m a lucky guy.”
Their love story is just as cinematic as her AGT win: they met when Rickie was working lights at a church venue where Jessica was performing. He sent her a video saying, “I’m gonna marry you one day”—and he did.
Sanchez won a $1 million prize, paid out as a 40-year annuity or lump sum; a Las Vegas headline show, national exposure, and a career relaunch on her own terms, and a wave of admiration for balancing artistry and motherhood—her baby is due any day now.
AGT 20 ran for four months from May 27, 2025, to September 24, for a total of 24 episodes.
Born to a Filipino mother and Mexican-American father, Sanchez has long embraced her heritage through performances and advocacy. Her win is being celebrated across Filipino and immigrant communities as a symbol of perseverance, talent, and cultural pride.
In 2017, Jessica Sanchez was one of the featured performers during the Philippine Independence Anniversary Commemoration on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. She was also a featured guest performer at Fiesta America 2024, held in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Her appearance was a powerful moment of cultural pride and musical brilliance, especially as it came just months before her triumphant win on America’s Got Talent Season 20.
She performed several songs, including Alicia Keys’ If I Ain’t Got You, her original track Right Here, and a stunning rendition of Stuttering by Jazmine Sullivan. Her set was met with roaring applause and heartfelt admiration from the Filipino American community.
