Fil-Am singer Jessica Sanchez gets golden buzzer on return to ‘America’s Got Talent’

Filipino-American singer Jessica Sanchez returned to the “America’s Got Talent” (AGT) stage for its 20th season and received a golden buzzer from judge Sofia Vergara, sending her straight to the live shows. 

During the episode, which aired July 15, the 29-year-old also revealed she has been married to Rickie Gallardo since 2021 and is expecting their first child. 

Sanchez wowed the audience and judges with a powerful performance of Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things.” All four judges — Vergara, Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel and Mel B — gave her a standing ovation. 

“I was saying earlier, the only people that matter are the people behind us. I think they like you,” Cowell said. 

“Yeah, I gotta say, wow, 20 years is a long time, but well worth the wait. I’ll tell you something, I love that song, and you made this song your own, and you blew the roof off the place you are so wonderful,” Mandel added. 

“Jessica, I’m speechless. You’ve got a voice of a bloody angel. Beautiful song. I’m lost for words,” Mel B noted. 

“I think there’s something very special happened on the stage with you. It’s so amazing that we’re on the 20th anniversary, the 20th season of AGT, you’re here again after 20 years. You’re pregnant. I mean, you’re so beautiful, you’re so ready to do all this. I mean, I really don’t understand what happened in these 20 years, but I guess they were meant to be, because this was a special moment, and I think that you deserve this,” Vergara said as she pressed the golden buzzer. 

Judge Sofia Vergara hits the golden buzzer, sending her straight to the live shows.

Sanchez first appeared on AGT in its inaugural 2006 season, where she became a wildcard act but did not make it to the finals. 

“I’ve been singing since I was a little girl. But me trying out for America’s Got Talent that was a whole different world, just the excitement and the thrill of it all,” she recalled. 

“I didn’t want this so bad. I made it to the semifinals. I did get eliminated. It was devastating, but it really did, like, help me realize, like, I want to sing. AGT, was the beginning of that fire sparked inside of me,” she continued. 

“Throughout the years, I kind of fell out of love of music because I was really young, and I was so swayed by what everybody wanted me to be, who they wanted me to be. And so, you know, it took me, maybe it took me 20 years, but I know exactly who I am. I know exactly what I want. I’m excited to be back,” Sanchez added.  

In 2012, she competed in the 11th season of “American Idol,” finishing as runner-up to Phillip Phillips. 

Since then, she has released several singles, including “Tonight” featuring Ne-Yo, and appeared in the comedy-drama series “Glee” in 2013. She has also performed in the Philippines numerous times, notably on the variety show “ASAP.”