'Glee' First Look: 'American Idol's' Jessica Sanchez Finally Arrives

Eddy Chen/FOX

Jessica Sanchez on "Glee"

Nearly a year after news broke that American Idol's season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez would join Fox's Glee for a major arc, the singer's time has finally arrived.

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Sanchez will guest star on Thursday's "Lights Out" episode of the Fox musical dramedy in the first of a multiple-episode arc as a student from a rival school described (naturally) as a legendary diva powerhouse singer. (Worth noting: That story line was one of five THR suggested for the young performer back in November.)

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"I love to be creative -- that's what the entertainment business is about. You have to be out there sometimes, and Glee is so colorful and unexpected with everything. I'm really excited to see what they have planned for those episodes," Sanchez told The Hollywood Reporter in March. The singer and aspiring actress also told THR in November that she was taking acting lessons to prepare for her upcoming role.

"I’ve been studying up," she quipped. Sanchez is also slated to appear in the May 2 and May 9 season finale of Glee as New Directions preps for Regionals.

Check out a first-look photo of Sanchez's Glee appearance, above, and our gallery of episodic images from season four here.

Glee airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on Fox. Hit the comments with your thoughts on Sanchez's appearance.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit