MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that “America’s Got Talent” Season 20 grand winner Jessica Sanchez has been invited to perform during next year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Summit in Cebu.

During Sanchez’ courtesy call at Malacañang, Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos shared that Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, a music enthusiast, is a fan of the Filipina singer and is looking forward to her performance.

Mrs. Marcos recounted their conversation in Cambodia with Wong: “He said, ‘You guys have no problem. You are so musical, you know you have Jessica Sanchez.’ And my husband was, ‘Oh, she’s singing [in ASEAN 2026].’”

President Marcos added, “The problem is with the ASEAN, they expect now a really high level of performers and of musicality. We got the best.”

Sanchez, who recently gave birth to her first child, expressed excitement over performing before world leaders. “I need some time to really plan out what I’m gonna be singing because I’ll be representing the Filipinos. So I wanna take my time figuring out my song choices,” she said.

The singer also revealed plans for her upcoming album, slated for release in the first quarter of 2026, which will include Tagalog songs and collaborations with Filipino artists.

Sanchez rose to fame after finishing second on “American Idol” in 2012 and won “America’s Got Talent” Season 20 this year while pregnant. Reflecting on her journey, she said, “Starting when I was 11 years old trying out for ‘America’s Got Talent,’ being rejected, and then coming back on ‘Idol’ at 16 and not winning, and again coming back 20 years later and taking it home… this was really my year.”

Sanchez is currently in the Philippines to perform during the New Year’s countdown at Newport World Resorts in Pasay City and will return to the United States afterward to spend time with her family and work on her independently-produced album.