America’s Got Talent made a bit of TV history on September 24, 2025, when NBC crowned its AGT 20th season winner. Jessica Sanchez took home the title and the $1 million prize.
The pregnant Filipina singer outperformed nine other finalists to snag the top spot.
Sanchez’s win is a wild comeback story. She first appeared on AGT at age 10 and reached the semi-finals, then went on to become runner-up on American Idol Season 11.
This year, she returned to AGT and gave a showstopping rendition of “Golden Hour” by JVKE, backed by aerial dancers Sirca Marea.
Host Terry Crews revealed that Sanchez earned the most viewer votes during the live finale. The competition was stacked with singers, rappers, dancers, and aerialists, making her win feel even bigger.
Key Takeaways
- Jessica Sanchez won America’s Got Talent Season 20 and the $1 million prize on September 24, 2025.
- She competed on AGT at age 10 and was runner-up on American Idol Season 11.
- Her winning performance was “Golden Hour” by JVKE with aerial dancers.
Jessica Sanchez: America’s Got Talent Season 20 Winner
Jessica Sanchez grabbed the AGT Season 20 crown, $1 million, and a Las Vegas headlining show. Her return to the AGT stage, after first competing as a child 20 years ago, honestly feels pretty legendary.
Historic Victory and Prize
Jessica won during the NBC finale on September 24, 2025. At 29, she walked away with the title and that sweet $1 million.
Sanchez also scored a Las Vegas headlining slot. Chris Turner came in second, and Jourdan Blue finished third.
She performed while nine months pregnant, facing nine other finalists in a two-hour finale. Terry Crews announced her as the viewers’ favorite.
After weeks of narrowing down thousands of acts, only ten made it to the end. Jessica came out on top.
Emotional Reaction to the Win
Jessica sang “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars for the finale, all while nine months pregnant. All four judges gave her a standing ovation.
Howie Mandel called her act the best of the night. Simon Cowell said it was her strongest performance yet.
Sofia Vergara said Jessica looked “like a little pregnant angel” and praised her unique voice. Mel B pointed out her “flawless and pitch perfect” vocals throughout the competition.
The YouTube video of her finale performance racked up over a million views within days. Not too shabby.
Significance of the 20th Anniversary
Jessica first competed on AGT’s very first season as a 10-year-old, making it to the semifinals. Coming back after 20 years made this season’s anniversary feel extra special.
Simon Cowell talked up the importance of her return during the finals. He said her comeback was the perfect story for AGT’s 20th anniversary, showing real persistence in chasing dreams.
Her journey kind of proves you can come back and win, even if you didn’t at first. That message fit perfectly with AGT’s two-decade milestone.
Her win was both a personal triumph and a big moment for the show’s history of finding talent.
Jessica Sanchez’s Remarkable Journey
Jessica’s road to victory spanned nearly 20 years, starting as a 10-year-old contestant and ending as the Season 20 champion. She pulled off unforgettable performances while nine months pregnant, and her golden buzzer moment sent her straight to the finals.
From Child Prodigy to Adult Star
Jessica first hit the AGT stage in 2006 at just 10 years old. She made it to the semifinals as a kid.
Six years later, she became a household name on American Idol Season 11, finishing second behind Phillip Phillips.
The Houston, Texas native showed off her voice from a young age. Coming back to AGT after almost two decades really highlighted how much she’s grown as an artist.
Her 20-year return to AGT is one of the longest gaps between appearances in the show’s history. That’s commitment.
Performance Highlights Throughout the Season
Jessica kicked off Season 20 with a powerful audition. She sang “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone and snagged the golden buzzer from Sofia Vergara.
The golden buzzer sent her straight to the live quarterfinals, where she delivered a passionate cover of “Ordinary” by Alex Warren.
In the semifinals, she performed “Golden Hour” by JVKE. This song became her signature piece, and she brought it back for the finale with Sirca Marea on trapeze.
For her finale performance, Jessica picked “Die With a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. The judges called it flawless and full of emotion.
Return to AGT After American Idol
After placing second on American Idol in 2012, Jessica kept working on her music. She released albums and built a loyal fanbase.
Her decision to return to AGT after almost 20 years away struck a chord with the audience and judges alike.
Jessica’s voice and stage presence have matured since her childhood days. Her song choices really let her connect with people.
The judges saw her growth as an artist. Sofia Vergara’s golden buzzer was a clear nod to how much Jessica’s return meant.
Balancing Pregnancy and Competition
Jessica competed all season while nine months pregnant with her first child. She plans to name her daughter Eliana.
Her pregnancy added a whole new layer of emotion to her performances. The pregnant star wowed everyone with her vocals, even with the physical challenges.
During the finale, Jessica’s condition made her performance stand out even more. Singing while heavily pregnant? That takes serious stamina and control.
Her finale performance drew praise from the judges and tons of viewers. The mix of pregnancy and competition gave her story a unique, inspiring twist.
Unforgettable Performances and Song Choices
Jessica’s Season 20 run was packed with smart song choices that showed off her range and emotional depth. Her finale with “Die With A Smile” got standing ovations, and her audition with “Beautiful Things” blew up online.
Finale: ‘Die With A Smile’ and Audience Response
Jessica nailed “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars in the finale. All four judges stood up for her.
Howie Mandel said it was the best act of the night, and Simon Cowell said it was her peak performance.
Sofia Vergara called her “a little pregnant angel” and said she’d never heard a voice like that. Mel B raved about Jessica’s “flawless and pitch perfect” vocals, every single time.
The YouTube video of her finale hit a million views in just a few days. That kind of response definitely helped her clinch the win.
Noteworthy Audition and Semi-Final Numbers
Jessica’s audition with “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone pulled in 10 million views on YouTube and earned her Sofia’s Golden Buzzer.
The crowd was so loud the judges could barely get a word in. Simon Cowell just grinned and said, “I think they like you.”
Her quarterfinals performance of Alex Warren’s “Ordinary”—while eight months pregnant—left the judges stunned. Simon said he was “absolutely blown away,” and Mel B told her she’d “never sounded better.”
In the semifinals, Jessica sang JKVE’s “Golden Hour.” Howie Mandel didn’t love the song choice, but viewers still pushed her through to the finale.
Collaborations and Special Guests in the Finale
The two-night finale brought some cool collaborations with the finalists. Terry Crews hosted a countdown showing off all the finale performances.
Established artists joined the finalists, adding excitement to the 20th season’s big finish.
Special guests helped celebrate the anniversary. The format let contestants share the stage with industry pros before the winner was announced.
Highlights from the AGT Season 20 Finals
The Season 20 finale brought memorable performances from all ten finalists. Jessica Sanchez took home the win after a suspenseful night.
The two-hour event packed in celebrity collaborations. Each act got to showcase their unique talents one last time.
Top 10 Finalists Overview
The final ten acts came from diverse backgrounds and covered multiple categories. Singers Jessica Sanchez, Jourdan Blue, and Steve Ray Ladson brought powerhouse vocals to the stage.
Rappers Mama Duke and Chris Turner showed off their freestyle skills. They added a fresh energy to the competition.
Performance groups made a strong showing. Leo High School Choir from Chicago delivered tight harmonies. LightWire lit up the stage with their signature dance and glowing visuals.
Team Recycled brought their Golden Buzzer-winning moves. They really knew how to hype up a crowd.
Specialty acts rounded out the lineup. Sirca Marea wowed everyone with aerial artistry. Micah Palace delivered another dynamic musical set.
Each finalist had one last shot to win America’s vote for that $1 million prize.
Top 5 Placements and Runner-Up
The finale results felt tight—nobody knew who’d take it. Terry Crews announced the Top 5 before revealing the final order.
Final Rankings:
- 1st Place: Jessica Sanchez (Winner – $1 million)
- 2nd Place: Chris Turner (Runner-up)
- 3rd Place: Jourdan Blue
- 4th Place: Leo High School Choir
- 5th Place: LightWire
Five acts didn’t make the Top 5: Mama Duke, Sirca Marea, Steve Ray Ladson, Micah Palace, and Team Recycled. That had to sting, but the competition was fierce.
Chris Turner landed as runner-up after a season full of sharp improvisational raps. The final vote between him and Jessica Sanchez was a nail-biter.
Roles of Iconic Judges and Host
Terry Crews hosted the finale, ramping up suspense before each elimination. He kept the show moving, weaving between performances and celebrity cameos.
Crews made the big winner announcement after the votes came in. He knows how to keep a crowd on edge.
The judges—Sofia Vergara, Simon Cowell, Mel B, and Howie Mandel—finished their season-long evaluations. Their feedback shaped the acts all season.
They watched their Golden Buzzer picks fight for the title. Mel B’s pick, Mama Duke, unfortunately exited before the Top 5.
In the end, the judges had to step back. America’s votes alone decided the winner and every placement.
Celebrity Cameos and Guest Artists
The finale stacked up some big-name collaborations. Colombian singer Manuel Turizo joined Micah Palace for “La Bachata” and “Rinkiki.”
Grammy winner Ciara hit the stage with Team Recycled, performing “Low” and “Level Up.” The crowd seemed to love it.
Leona Lewis paired with LightWire for a haunting take on Snow Patrol’s “Run.” The Script’s Danny O’Donoghue sang “Breakeven” with Jourdan Blue.
Aloe Blacc and Leo High School Choir teamed up for “The Man.” That one really got people on their feet.
AGT alumni made appearances, too. Previous winner Richard Goodall performed alongside Journey’s Neal Schon.
Magicians Shin Lim, Matt Franco, and Piff the Magic Dragon showed up to hype the new “Now You See Me” film. Gotta love a little movie magic.
Sirca Marea floated above the stage while Jessica Sanchez sang “Golden Hour” below. Sainted Trap Choir from Season 18 remixed Mama Duke’s song “Feels So Good to Be You.”
Golden Buzzer Moments and Judge Impact
The Golden Buzzer shaped AGT Season 20. Judges used it to send standout acts straight to the live rounds.
SofÃa Vergara’s Golden Buzzer for Jessica Sanchez turned out to be the most pivotal decision of the season.
SofÃa Vergara’s Influence
Vergara played a huge role in Jessica Sanchez’s journey. During Sanchez’s audition, Vergara slammed the Golden Buzzer and sent her straight to the live shows.
That moment changed everything for Sanchez. Years earlier, she’d auditioned for AGT’s first season as a kid but didn’t get far.
Vergara called Sanchez’s finale performance “perfection” and described her as “a little pregnant angel.” She said she’d never heard a voice quite like hers before.
The Golden Buzzer moment happened after Sanchez sang “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone. Honestly, you could feel the emotion in the room.
Memorable Golden Buzzer Acts
This season had some powerful Golden Buzzer moments from all the judges. Simon Cowell, Mel B, and others each picked acts that brought something new to the table.
Cowell gave out his Golden Buzzer during the quarterfinals, showing judges could still shake things up even late in the game.
Golden Buzzer acts ran the gamut—singers, dancers, specialty acts. The judging panel didn’t play favorites with categories.
These moments made for emotional TV and got people talking. Golden Buzzer picks often became fan favorites and picked up momentum fast.
Judges’ Feedback and Season Dynamics
The judging panel—Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, SofÃa Vergara, and Mel B—brought plenty of personality. Tensions flared sometimes, especially during live shows.
During the finale, Cowell and Mel B even clashed briefly. Mel B advised a finalist to be “polite and sweet to everybody,” and Cowell pushed back. Classic AGT drama.
The September 16 semifinal featured 11 acts performing live. Terry Crews and the judges kept the energy high as the competition tightened.
Judge feedback got more critical as the season went on. Their comments definitely swayed audience opinions and votes.
The judges’ different backgrounds made for varied perspectives. That mix kept things interesting and helped contestants grow.
Legacy and Cultural Impact of AGT Season 20
Season 20 of America’s Got Talent raised the bar for diversity and representation. Jessica Sanchez’s win and the range of finalists pushed audience expectations in new directions.
Jessica Sanchez’s Influence on Future Contestants
Jessica Sanchez’s win as a pregnant performer broke new ground. She showed that life circumstances don’t have to hold anyone back.
Her acceptance speech was raw and emotional. She really proved that vulnerability and strength can share the stage.
Her story will probably inspire more expectant mothers to chase their dreams. Sanchez made it clear that you can balance milestones and ambition.
Key Impact Areas:
- Representation of pregnant performers
- Breaking old competition stereotypes
- Encouraging diverse life experiences on stage
Future AGT contestants now have a real example of perseverance. Sanchez proves that timing doesn’t define talent.
Diversity of Talent in Season 20
The top 10 finalists covered a huge range of performance styles. Singers, dancers, rappers, aerialists, and group acts all made the cut.
Season 20 Finalist Categories:
- Vocalists: Jessica Sanchez, Jourdan Blue, Steve Ray Ladson
- Rappers: Mama Duke, Micah Palace, Chris Turner
- Dance Acts: LightWire, Team Recycled
- Specialty Acts: Sirca Marea (aerialists), Leo High School Choir
This kind of variety reflects how entertainment is changing in America. Multiple genres finally shared the spotlight.
Solo artists and groups both got their due. Leo High School Choir showed that formal training deserves a place on the big stage.
The age range was all over the map, from young upstarts to seasoned pros. That mix kept things unpredictable and fun to watch.
Long-Term Success for Finalists
Season 20’s diverse finalists now have all kinds of doors open. Each act can chase unique opportunities in the industry.
The finale exposure usually leads to new gigs. Past seasons show that even runners-up can build lasting careers.
Potential Career Paths:
- Recording deals for singers
- Touring for performance groups
- Corporate bookings
- Social media content creation
The variety show format gives contestants broad appeal. That versatility helps them adapt as entertainment trends shift.
Group acts like LightWire and Team Recycled built real teamwork on the show. Those skills are gold in the professional world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jessica Sanchez won America’s Got Talent Season 20 after a comeback story almost two decades in the making. She earned $1 million and performed “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars in the finale.
Who won America’s Got Talent Season 20?
Jessica Sanchez won America’s Got Talent Season 20 on September 24, 2025.
She’s a Texas native, and NBC crowned her champion during the big finale.
Sanchez is a Filipino-American singer. She first auditioned for AGT way back in 2006, which feels like a lifetime ago.
After two decades, she came back and just—well, she took the whole thing.
What was Jessica Sanchez’s winning performance on AGT?
For the Season 20 finale, Jessica Sanchez performed “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.
She wore a white outfit, really making the moment pop on stage.
Judge SofÃa Vergara called her performance “perfection.” Honestly, she couldn’t stop gushing about Jessica’s voice and stage presence.
What prizes did the winner of AGT Season 20 receive?
Jessica Sanchez received a $1 million prize for her AGT win.
That’s the usual amount, but it never stops being jaw-dropping.
Her win also brought her national recognition. She managed to connect with viewers all over the country—no easy feat, if you ask me.
What are Jessica Sanchez’s future plans after winning AGT?
Honestly, nobody seems to know exactly what Jessica Sanchez plans to do next.
Right after the show, her focus was probably on her pregnancy and her soon-to-arrive daughter. She was nine months pregnant during the finale, which is kind of wild if you think about it.
That just makes her win even more impressive, doesn’t it?
How has America’s Got Talent impacted Jessica Sanchez’s music career?
Jessica first showed up on AGT’s debut season in 2006 as a kid.
Coming back 20 years later really says something about how much the show meant to her.
Her victory feels like the end of a decades-long dream. I mean, her AGT journey pretty much covers the entire history of the show—how often does that happen?
Can you list Jessica Sanchez’s most notable performances on AGT Season 20?
Jessica Sanchez really wowed people with her finale performance of “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. That one stuck with the audience, no question.
She also took on “Golden Hour” by JVKE with aerial performer Sirca Marea. That collaboration was honestly pretty stunning to watch.
The “Golden Hour” number pushed her into the finals. She chose to revisit that song for her last big duet on the show, which felt like a full-circle moment.
