After being nominated for outstanding reality competition program for the first time last year, Fox's American Idol was knocked off the list of contenders for 2012. By who? NBC's The Voice, which received its first nomination in the category.
Michael Becker / FOXAmerican Idol contestants are making their voices heard this political season, and last night’s Democratic National Convention featured the powerful pipes of season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez.
Sanchez, who tweeted last week that she “might not be old enough to vote, but I’m so honored and excited to perform at @BarackObama’s big party in Charlotte next week,” took the stage in a big way with a majestic cover of the Marvin Gaye classic, “You’re All I Need to Get By.”
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She was joined by the God’s Appointed People Choir on a night that featured a rendition of the National Anthem with Branford Marsalis and a speech by the former President Bill Clinton. As a bonus, Sanchez rubbed shoulders with another teen celebrity — Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast Gabrielle Douglas.
“Thank you so much for having me @demconvention. It was an honor to perform tonight,” the gracious 17-year-old Chula Vista, Calif. native tweeted on Wednesday night after the show. She also gave props to the choir, saying it was an “honor” sharing the convention stage.
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Other Idols are also making their marks in the political arena. Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks was the opening act for Clint Eastwood at the Republican National Convention, and Season 11 semi-finalist Shannon Magrane entertained the RNC at the official welcoming ceremony.
In other Sanchez news, the teenager was recently in New York City working on new songs for her debut album, schduled for a fall release. Sanchez, who in May told The Hollywood Reporter that her next single will be “100 percent me,” unveiled a new track, “Fairytale” at an iHeartRadio performance last week.
Watch Sanchez’s DNC performance and her new song, “Fairytale” (with some Prince thrown in for good measure) below:
Twitter: @Idol_Worship
