America’s Got Talent has crowned a new winner for season 20.
During the Wednesday, September 24, season finale of NBC’s reality show, host Terry Crews announced singer Jessica Sanchez received the most votes from viewers and was named the $1 million champion.
The singer, who is currently nine months pregnant, wowed the judges from her audition of “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone. For the finale, she delivered a powerful performance of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars‘ “Die With a Smile.” As an added twist, Sanchez, 30, originally made it to the semifinals during season 1 of the show in 2006.
“Look at my life. I started when I was 10 years old on AGT, and here I am 20 years later, and those 20 years were full a lot of highs and low lows,” Sanchez exclusively told Us Weekly after the semifinals sponsored by Lavazza. “It’s been a struggle, but I believed in myself and kept pushing, and here I am now more blessed than ever. You just have to keep believing.”
On Tuesday, September 23, 10 acts took to the stage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California, in hopes of wowing judges Simon Cowell, Sofía Vergara, Mel B and Howie Mandel.
Although it was up to America to decide, the judges sang their praises for all the contestants who grew from their very first audition.
“I think everyone did good and everyone can walk away going, ‘I couldn’t give it anymore,’” Cowell, 65, shared with Us after the semifinals. “Every one of them had rehearsed and are better than weeks before. … It’s up to America, and I’m glad I’m not doing it.”
Vergara, 53, added, “I’m very excited because we were expecting a celebration for the 20th anniversary, and this feels like a celebration because everybody stepped it up. Everybody put their best effort to make it a special season.”
Although Sanchez took home the top prize of $1 million, season 20 saw many memorable acts.
Chicago’s Leo High School Choir, led by teacher Ms. LaDonna Hill, impressed audiences with their consistent passion and energy week after week.
Aerial duo Matias Cienfuegos and Micaela Leitner left fans captivated with their gravity-defying act.
Meanwhile, Spanglish pop artist Micah Palace earned a golden buzzer — and plenty of new fans — thanks to his World Cup-worthy song “Rodeo.”
Win or lose, Mandel, 69, previously told Us that many America’s Got Talent acts find success after the show regardless of where they placed in the finals.
With the level of talent he witnessed in season 20, the comedian is confident viewers will see much more of their favorite acts in the months to come.
“I think people who get a chance to be on this show and show their wares end up being winners,” he told Us. “If you drive down the main strip in Las Vegas, most rooms are headlined by AGT participants, and not necessarily the people who’ve won, but the people who become fan favorites. The beauty and the horror of this show is [that] only one act wins. But I think with this kind of exposure, this becomes their career. Their dreams come true. You don’t have to win. You just have to get on the show.”
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