NEWS'American Idol' Runner-Up Jessica Sanchez Performs 'And I Am Telling You... I'm Not Going' on 'Today'
May 31 2012, Published 1:59 p.m. ET
Jessica Sanchez may not have won the American Idol title, but that isn't stopping her from keeping a smile on her face.
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The 16-year-old from Chula Visita, Calif., stopped by the Today show this morning to perform the showstopping number that she sang with Dreamgirls star Jennifer Holliday on the big Idol finale: "And I Am Telling You... I Am Not Going." She also belted out Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You."
Even though the teen lost the big prize to Phillip Philips, she is definitely not a sore loser and says that he deserved to win, especially as he has been battling a kidney illness all season. "He really fought through the competition, not only mentally, but physically too. His health issues, he really fought through it, and now he is working on it at this moment. I'm really proud of him," says Jessica.
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It has been reported that Phillip is scheduled to have surgery this week to repair the problems with kidney stones that he has been battling.
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Matt Lauer asked which is more like the real Jessica, the quiet one or the soulful diva? "I am more quiet. When it comes to me just walking around, I don't really talk much. But when I am on stage, I am a different person."
Check out Jessica belting out the famous Dreamgirls number, below.
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