Jessica Sanchez, the Filipino-Mexican-American singer who won “America’s Got Talent” Season 20, has entered 2026 balancing a growing music career with new motherhood.
She gave birth to daughter Eliana Mae Gallardo in October 2025, released a new album titled “Szn” in May 2026, and performed at the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in Cebu. Her husband, Rickie Gallardo, remains a constant presence throughout these milestones.
This article answers the most-searched questions about Jessica Sanchez’s husband, daughter, career, and upcoming plans.
Who Is Jessica Sanchez? From American Idol to AGT Champion
Jessica Elizabeth Sanchez was born on August 4, 1995, in Chula Vista, California. Her mother, Edita Sanchez, has family from Samal, Bataan, in the Philippines, while her father, Gilbert Sanchez, is a Mexican American who served in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
Sanchez first appeared on television at age 10, competing on the very first season of “America’s Got Talent” in 2006, where she was eliminated in the semifinals.
She returned to the spotlight years later on “American Idol” Season 11, finishing as runner-up in 2012.
In 2025, Sanchez made a full-circle comeback. She auditioned for AGT Season 20 and received a Golden Buzzer from judge Sofía Vergara, sending her directly to the live shows. She went on to win the season on September 24, 2025, becoming the first former contestant to win in the show’s history and the oldest female winner at age 30.
Early Career and Breakthrough Moments
After “American Idol,” Sanchez released her debut studio album, “Me, You & the Music,” in 2013, which reached the Billboard 200. She continued releasing singles and EPs through the 2010s, including collaborations with Filipino artists such as Christian Bautista, while also performing frequently in the Philippines.
By her own account, Sanchez stepped back from the industry for a period in her twenties, feeling pulled between different expectations for her sound and image before choosing to refocus on music that felt authentic to her.
Jessica Sanchez Personal Life: Husband Rickie Gallardo and Daughter Eliana
Jessica Sanchez’s husband is Rickie Gallardo. The two met in 2017 at a church that was being used as a concert venue, where Gallardo was working on stage lighting. According to Sanchez, a friend told him to come watch her sing, and he did, later telling her he planned to marry her someday.
The couple dated for nine years before marrying in April 2021 in what Sanchez has described as a small, last-minute ceremony planned around their pastor’s availability.
On October 13, 2025, less than a month after her AGT win, Sanchez gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Eliana Mae Gallardo. The baby weighed 6 lbs., 12 oz. and measured 20.5 inches. Sanchez said the name Eliana means “God has answered.”
Sanchez had announced her pregnancy publicly during her AGT audition, and she performed through much of the season while pregnant, later saying she had to relearn how to sing while adjusting to her changing body.
Balancing Motherhood and Career
Since Eliana’s birth, Sanchez has spoken openly about the physical and emotional adjustments of new motherhood, including changes to her voice caused by postpartum hormone shifts. She has said she relies on additional vocal techniques to stay in top form while touring and recording.
Gallardo has remained closely involved throughout, with Sanchez repeatedly crediting him as a steady source of support during the AGT season and the months that followed.
Jessica Sanchez 2026 Plans: New Album with Filipino Songs, Philippines Concert, and ASEAN Summit
Sanchez returned to the Philippines in late December 2025 for a New Year’s Eve concert in Pasay City, her first Philippine performance since winning AGT. During a courtesy call with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace, she confirmed plans for a new album.
“I’m working on an album now. It will be released by the first quarter of next year,”
Sanchez said, adding that the project would be independently produced and include collaborations with Filipino artists. She also expressed interest in recording a Tagalog song.
President Marcos invited Sanchez to perform at the 2026 ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in Cebu, which the Philippines hosted in May. First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos noted that Sanchez’s reputation had already reached fellow ASEAN leaders, recalling that Singapore’s prime minister had spoken admiringly of the singer during an earlier regional meeting.
Sanchez followed through on her album plans, releasing a new eight-track project titled “Szn” on May 8, 2026. The record includes the songs “Electric Honey,” “All the Sweet Love,” “Pray It Hurts,” “Faith,” and “Trauma,” among others, along with an earlier single, “Two Lines,” written about learning she was pregnant.
Speaking about the album’s title, Sanchez said it reflects the different chapters, or “seasons,” of her life, particularly the period spanning her AGT run, childbirth, and return to music.
Days after the album’s release, Sanchez performed at the ASEAN Summit in Cebu, including a duet with “The Voice” Season 26 winner Sofronio Vasquez. She then held a homecoming concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Manila on May 16, 2026, joined by Filipino music icons including Regine Velasquez, Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, Morissette, Darren Espanto, James Reid, and Vice Ganda.
Jessica Sanchez Career Highlights: AGT Season 20 Win, Music Releases, and Tours
- 2006: Competes on AGT Season 1 at age 10; eliminated in the semifinals.
- 2012: Finishes runner-up on “American Idol” Season 11.
- 2013: Releases debut album “Me, You & the Music.”
- 2021: Marries Rickie Gallardo.
- 2025: Returns to AGT Season 20, earns Sofía Vergara’s Golden Buzzer, and wins the season on September 24.
- October 2025: Gives birth to daughter Eliana Mae Gallardo.
- December 2025: Performs in Manila; meets President Marcos; announces new album plans.
- May 2026: Releases album “Szn”; performs at the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in Cebu; headlines a homecoming concert at Araneta Coliseum.
Her AGT win also came with a $1 million prize, which Sanchez has said she plans to reinvest in her music career.
never let a filipina chakra diva hold a mic in karaoke, let alone sing inside a bus, because they’re gonna eat with live vocals.
exhibit #1: morissette and jessica sanchez 👏🏻🔥 pic.twitter.com/9Tq10WGoaP
— Mareng Morissette 💙✨ (@itsmorislays) June 2, 2026
Jessica Sanchez Style, Faith, and Influence
Sanchez frequently credits her Christian faith as central to her personal and professional journey, describing her AGT comeback and the timing of her pregnancy as something she views through a spiritual lens.
She has also spoken about navigating the music industry as a Filipino-Mexican artist, saying she faced early discouragement from people who doubted her prospects because of her mixed heritage. She now frames her visibility as part of a broader moment for Filipino talent internationally, pointing to a wave of Filipino artists gaining recognition on global stages.
Onstage, Sanchez has embraced a soulful pop and R&B sound, a direction reflected throughout “Szn,” while continuing to draw on the vocal power that first made her known during “American Idol.”
FAQ
Q. Who is Jessica Sanchez’s husband?
A. Jessica Sanchez’s husband is Rickie Gallardo. The couple met in 2017, dated for nine years, and married in April 2021.
Q. Does Jessica Sanchez have a daughter?
A. Yes. Sanchez gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Eliana Mae Gallardo, on October 13, 2025, less than a month after winning “America’s Got Talent” Season 20.
Q. Did Jessica Sanchez win AGT?
A. Yes. Jessica Sanchez won “America’s Got Talent” Season 20 on September 24, 2025, becoming the first former AGT contestant to win the show and the oldest female winner in its history.
Q. What is Jessica Sanchez’s new album called?
A. Her new album is titled “Szn,” an eight-track project released on May 8, 2026.
Q. Is Jessica Sanchez performing in the Philippines in 2026?
A. Yes. She performed at the 2026 ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in Cebu and headlined a homecoming concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Manila on May 16, 2026.
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Last Updated on July 3, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
