- American Idol season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez auditioned for America's Got Talent season 20.
- Jessica was also a contestant on the first season of AGT.
- Judge Simon Cowell had thoughts on Jessica's audition before she got a Golden Buzzer from Sofía Vergara.
Simon Cowell may no longer be on American Idol, but the show seems to always have a way of coming back to visit him.
During the July 15 episode of America's Got Talent season 20, viewers got to meet 29-year-old singer Jessica Sanchez. As she explained how she actually had been on the first season of AGT at nine years old, she explained to Simon, Sofía Vergara, Howie Mandel and Mel B how being eliminated from the show had dimmed her desires to make it as an artist. What's more, during her time away from the NBC series, she actually competed on American Idol season 11 in 2010 — and was voted runner-up behind Phillip Phillips.
Now, two decades after Jessica first appeared on TV and expecting a baby, she was ready to try her hand at being on the show again. Her incredible rendition of Benson Boone's "Beautiful Things" had the entire room giving her a standing ovation, and Simon (who was famously an American Idol judge for the series' first nine seasons) had some feedback for her audition.
"I was saying earlier — the only people that matter are the people behind us," he stated in a clip posted on YouTube. "I think they like you!"
But that's not the only moment Jessica got from the judges. When it came time for Sofía to share her thoughts, she delivered the ultimate response by giving out a Golden Buzzer.
"I think there is something very special that happened on this 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 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. I think that you deserve this."
Just like Simon and Sofía, fans online were equally enamored by Jessica's remarkable vocal talent.
"She has unfinished business. Get that win, girl. We're rooting for you!!" one person wrote in the comments. "That wasn’t just an audition — that was healing in motion. She reclaimed a piece of herself. ❤️," another penned. "Honestly, what better way to celebrate AGT’s 20th season then to see a contestant from its very first season come back and get the Golden Buzzer?" a different follower added.
With all of this going for Jessica, we can't wait to see what she has in store this season on AGT!
As the entertainment and news associate editor for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.
