American Idol hopeful Jessica Sanchez paid tribute to the late, great Whitney Houston Wednesday with a heartfelt cover of her 1993 hit "I Will Always Love You."
The performance earned the 16-year-old the only standing ovation of the evening, as female contestants were tasked with singing songs from Houston's music catalog; male competitors performed Stevie Wonder covers.
"This is one of the hardest songs in the world to sing," judge Randy Jackson told Sanchez. "You were not only the best vocal of the night, but I think you are one of the best singers in this whole competition!"
Judge Jennifer Lopez, 42, choked back tears. "When you did the last three things and we were right there with you, I think you were even surprised in yourself," Lopez said. "It was beautiful. You are so talented. God bless you!"
Steven Tyler was equally floored, telling Sanchez: "You may be the one. You just made 40 million people cry."
American Idol is hardly Sanchez's first time in the spotlight: when she was 11 years old, Sanchez competed on the first season of America's Got Talent.
