Filipino-American singer Jessica Sanchez is now a mother to a healthy baby girl, less than a month after winning the 20th season of “America’s Got Talent.”
The “American Idol” Season 11 runner-up made headlines for her “America’s Got Talent” journey, dating back to competing on the inaugural season as a 10-year-old up to a redemption win while expecting throughout the competition.
Her second “America’s Got Talent” stint was marked by a golden buzzer from Sofia Vergara because of Jessica’s powerful audition song Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things,” sending her to the live quarterfinals, where she gave an equally passionate cover of Alex Warren’s “Ordinary.”
In the semifinals, Jessica performed a cover of JVKE’s “Golden Hour” while her finale song was a solo version of “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and fellow Fil-Am artist Bruno Mars.
Throughout the competition, Sofia and her fellow judges quipped that Jessica should hold off giving birth until her eventual win.
Jessica confirmed on social media that she and husband Rickie Gallardo welcomed their baby girl Eliana Mae last October 13.
“From one dream season to the next. This time, the most precious one yet,” Jessica said. “We are grateful beyond words for our baby girl, for the gift of motherhood, and for the love that grows deeper every day.”
The singer told People magazine they nameed her Eliana as it means “God has answered” and their daughter symbolized that for the couple.
“These first few days have been emotional, sleepless, beautiful…everything I dreamed of and more… I’m healing, learning and soaking in every second with her. My heart has never been this full,” Jessica added.