On July 8 , 2011 , Sanchez auditioned for the eleventh season of Fox 's singing competition '' American Idol '' in San Diego , California . She progressed through subsequent rounds prior to being eliminated in the twenty-eighth episode on April 12 , 2012 , which the judges overturned by drawing the " Judges ' Save " in order for her to remain in the competition . Sanchez ultimately finished as the runner-up in the grand finals behind Phillip Phillips on May 23 , 2012 . She subsequently performed three songs ( " The Star-Spangled Banner , " " God Bless America " , and " The Prayer " ) at the PBS ' National Memorial Day Concert from the west lawn of the United States Capitol in Washington , D.C. on May 27 , 2012 . On June 29 , 2012 , it was announced that Sanchez signed a record deal with Interscope Records . She later performed " You 're All I Need to Get By " by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell , where she was accompanied by God 's Appointed People Choir at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte , North Carolina on September 6 , 2012 . Furthermore , the performance was succeeded by four events towards the ends of the year : he City of Hope Spirit of Life Awards Gala on October 10 , 2012 , the 26th Annual Carousel Ball of Hope on October 23 , 2012 , the 2012 Brittania Awards on November 7 , 2012 , and Trevor Live on December 2 , 2012
2012 Democratic National Convention
2012 Democratic National Convention
Jessica Sanchez