Jessica Sanchez is the extraordinary comeback kid of America’s Got Talent. And just maybe, the champion of season 20.
The Texas native has a life story that could’ve been a script written for reality TV. She auditioned for the first season of America’s Got Talent back in 2006, when she herself was a child. Now, performing in the finals of AGT 2025, she’s nine months pregnant with a daughter of her own.
On Tuesday night’s (Sept. 23) finale, Sanchez cranked up the drama and the action, with a performance of “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. Wearing a delicate all-white ensemble, Sanchez was all power and precision, her performance triggering fireworks, confetti and a standing ovation from a full house.
When she auditioned by singing Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things,” Sanchez blew away the judges and scored Sofía Vergara’s golden buzzer, sending her immediately to the live round of the competition.
Naturally, Vergara spoke first, and enthusiastically, about Sanchez’s chances of winning the $1 million prize. “It’s perfection,” she remarked after the singer’s final performance. “You look like a little pregnant angel. I mean you look beautiful, your voice, I’ve never heard anything like that. Bravo Jessica.”
With every performance, remarked Mel B, “you kind of bring us into your world. You give us more emotion, more passion.” And no matter the song, Sanchez’s “vocals are just flawless and pitch perfect, every single time.” Sanchez stuck with the script, noted the Spice Girl, by not delivering her baby before the finale.
Howie Mandel wasn’t thrilled with Sanchez’s previous choice of song, but he had no qualms this time. “So far this is the best act of the night,” he declared.
Simon Cowell, as he so often does, was last to offer his insights. “I felt there was an extra 10% from you, from before,” he explained. “Actually, there are two of you. So it’s like a duo.” Having Sanchez return for the 20th anniversary of AGT was “so important,” he continued, “to show that even if you don’t win the first time, you’ve got to always believe in yourself, right. And that’s what you’ve done.” The arrangement was “beautiful” and Sanchez, he remarked, “sounded amazing” and delivered perhaps her best performance yet.
Now America decides.
The season’s final episode follows on Wednesday night, Sept. 24, featuring performances from past acts, and, of course, the announcement of the big winner. Watch from 9pm ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock.