‘American Idol’ season 12: Jessica Sanchez books return date to perform ‘Tonight’

Are you excited to hear some new music from Jessica Sanchez? If so, you’re probably even more thrilled with the news that you’re not going to be waiting very long at all now for the reigning runner-up to give her first live performance of new single “Tonight” … and it’s of course going to be on “American Idol.”

According to a new tweet via an “Access Hollywood” reporter, Sanchez will be on the March 21 results show (a week from tomorrow), where she and Ne-Yo will take on the pop / dance track. The singer told MTV News recently that despite being known on the show for singing a wide array of ballads, she wants to show off a personality in her original music that is fun and caters to what is popular in the world today:

“On the show, I was shy and conservative — the ballad singer. I’m opening up to the world and showing everybody and my fans who I really am. I’m not just some timid girl. I love to have fun and I want to show everyone I can do that through my music and this song pretty much describes the whole album because it’s clubby and dancy.”

Jessica is coming just one week after Phillip Phillips is coming on the show to perform his new single “Gone, Gone, Gone,” which is also the goodbye anthem for the new season. The other guests for the season will likely vary depending on who has new music out, but could feasibly include Lauren Alaina, Casey James (who has strangely never performed on the show before since wrapping season 9), Crystal Bowersox, Colton Dixon, Carrie Underwood (if she wants to perform “Two Black Cadallacs” or a new single off of “Blown Away”), Fantasia, and maybe Lee DeWyze if he launches a new single in time and he and Nigel Lythgoe are on good terms after finale-gate at the end of season 10.

Are you glad to hear this news from Jessica, and who do you want to see on “American Idol” this season? If you want to see our preview for Wednesday’s episode, you can do so over here.

Photo: Fox