American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez made a trip back home Saturday to sing for San Diegans.
The Chula Vista native sang as part of a special holiday show at the newly remodeled UTC mall in La Jolla, which recently hosted its grand opening.
Sanchez – who’s now finishing up her senior year of high school through home schooling classes – told NBC 7 she was happy to be home.
Since wrapping up the "American Idol" tour, Sanchez said she’s been keeping busy developing her singing career.
“I've been working on my album, I'm going to be on “Glee” and I'm doing this back in San Diego. So, definitely amazing things coming my way, amazing opportunities, I'm very excited,” Sanchez told NBC 7.
The 17-year-old songstress said she’s also working on her album, which will show off a sassier side of her personality, not just her trademark affinity for big ballads. The teen said her album will drop sometime next year.
At UTC, Sanchez belted out the Jackson 5 hit “I’ll Be There” and Whitney Houston’s ballad “I Have Nothing,”
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She also performed a special version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and brought out fellow “American Idol” season 11 alum DeAndre Brackensick, who played ukulele on stage as she sang.
