MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-Mexican Jessica Sanchez may not have gotten the American Idol judges on their feet with her solo performance during the Top 8 night Thursday (Manila time), but she did get another standing ovation when she shared the stage with Joshua Ledet.
Sanchez and Ledet sang “I Knew You Were Waiting For Me” which was originally recorded by Aretha Franklin and George Michael.
The two powerhouse singers blew away the Idol triumviate of Jennifer Lopez, Steve Tyler and Randy Jackson. “I’m looking at them and thinking…final,” Lopez said quipping that the two were a “dream pairing.”
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Jackson also had praises for the two singers who he hailed as the “greatest” in the competition.
“They definitely gotta have it,” Jackson said.
American Idol alum Adam Lambert praised Sanchez and even called her a “star” in one of his tweets.
For her solo performance, Sanchez went to familiar territory when she chose the Whitney Houston classic “How Will I Know” for the ’80s-themed night.
Sanchez sang Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”, where she got a standing ovation from the three judges. “Everything you do is beautiful and great,” Tyler said.
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If Sanchez doesn’t get eliminated on Friday (Manila time), she will have outranked fellow Filipino-American contestant Ramiele Malubay who finished at 9th place in 2007. The most successful American Idol finalist with Philippine heritage is Jasmine Trias, who placed 3rd in 2004.
