Right after 'Idol,' I was like, 'I've got to become a totally different person. I gotta upgrade myself.' I can't just stand there and be all shy and sing.
— Jessica Sanchez
I do sing ballads, but I'm not a balladeer. I'm not the next Celine Dion.
I've been watching 'American Idol' since I was five years old.
Christmas is my favorite holiday because you spend time with family. I love the decorations, the music, and buying gifts for people. Everything about Christmas is the best.
In the U.S., no one minds who I am, even if they saw me in 'Idol.' If I'm not doing any shows, my friends and I can just drive around the neighborhood and go to bars at night and chill till four in the morning.
But I'm really into old music - bluesy, soulful singers, like Etta James, Ray Charles, and Aretha Franklin. I wouldn't have minded being born in the 1960s!
I've been training myself and listening to other artists and seeing where their emotion comes from, singing a heartbreak song when they're in a happy relationship.
I have a picture with Obama in my house, and I freak out every time I see it. I'm like, 'What the heck? Did that even happen?' It's like a dream.
I'm very blessed and appreciative of everything that's happened, and I'm just working hard for more opportunities to come.
I don't speak Filipino or Spanish, but I've sung in both.
I used to have hair so long, my nickname was Pocahontas.
I've been in the 'Idol' bubble, and now it's popped, and I don't know what's going to happen.
On 'Idol,' you have to show off your vocal abilities, so I stuck to the ballads, so I'm glad my first single is 'Tonight' so I can show off my fun, young side, and what I want to do as an artist.
Before I was on 'Idol,' I just sat at home and played video games all day long. Now I get to travel and work towards my dream. It's the best feeling ever.
My friends are mostly familiar with music that plays on the mainstream radio.
I love artists that just do what they do with so much passion and emotion.
I don't want people to just hand me music and be like, 'Here, you sound good on this. Sing it.' I want to be able to say, 'This is me.'
I'm all about risque - I love that stuff. I love to be creative - that's what the entertainment business is about.
I've been working hard my whole life.
I have always wanted to do a Christmas album and covers.
I know when to have fun, but when it comes to my music, I'm really serious about my career.
It's important to work hard, stay humble, and not let the criticism or the compliments go to your head.
I feel like artists and their lyrics are something that people can relate to when it comes to love and break-ups. I really want people to know how I felt when I went through a break up, when I really felt alive, and everything in between.
'American Idol' is such a big platform. It's been on for so many seasons. I went on the show not thinking I was going to make it that far at all because there was so many talented people that auditioned.
I was born in America, but I consider myself a Filipino.
I always make a wish at 11:11, even if it's something cheesy.
'Idol' was more of a competition, and that was more of a platform that I wanted to get a hold of and get on top of. And I finally got that opportunity, and now it's more like, I just gotta show and prove myself to everybody that I'm not just the 'balladeer.'
I'm playing a powerhouse singer who is big competition, but she's also really down to earth and sweet. But the whole sweet thing goes away when she's in competition mode. I love the show, so I'm very excited to be a part of it. I'm going to kill it on 'Glee!'
I grew up singing ballads, but what I really wanted to get into was the mainstream music on the radio because I really love the beats and everything.
On 'Idol,' I understood that everyone wanted to hear my vocals, so I stuck with the ballads.
I listen to music when I'm feeling down or just a certain way. I don't know what I'd do without it!
This is going to seem odd, but I love Eminem because he has so much conviction and emotion in the way he raps. Every word that he raps, you feel it.
It was crazy... working with Ne-Yo. Everything was such a blur, and I was just a fangirl the whole time.
Every single year, I tell myself I am going to drive. It never happens. I don't know how to drive. I am already 20. This needs to happen.
Music has always been my passion. It was not a hobby or something I can take out of my life.
I am a workaholic. I like to work, work, work.
I want to do more urban R&B with a little bit of pop, but not much. I want to have that soulful kind of side of me come out.
I remember Steven Tyler coming up to me once. He was like, 'Oh my god, you have a God given talent,' and I freaked out. He's so sweet.
'Proud Mary' was the best song for me to perform because it was so much fun.
I play volleyball on the beach. It's a great way to work out and have fun.
I've been homeschooled since ninth grade.
I wanna be more like the Rihanna kind of, Beyonce kind of thing, but I don't want to compare myself to anybody, because I wanna be somebody new, too.
I grew up always wanting to be a part of 'Idol,' and I never thought I would make it as far as I did. I was really lucky, and it's given me the opportunities that I have now.
I personally love J.Lo because she's a fashion icon and I love her music.
During 'Idol,' I wasn't expecting anything. I just wanted to survive the competition, but my album and my music are a big part of who I am. Hopefully it translates well and I keep growing as an artist.
Music has always been a huge part of my life.
