‘American Idol’ alum Jessica Sanchez to issue debut album April 30

Nearly a year after Philip Phillips edged her out of being “American Idol’s” first female victor since 2006, Jessica Sanchez is making her debut.

The 17-year-old mini pop diva will issue her post-“Idol” debut, “Me, You & the Music,” on April 30, 19 Recordings/Interscope Records announced Thursday.

Sanchez, who also competed on the first season of “America’s Got Talent,” won over “Idol” viewers during the singing compeition’s 11^th season with stunning covers of Beyoncé, Jazmine Sullivan and Whitney Houston that made her an early front-runner. She placed second behind Phillips.

The singer will return to the “Idol” stage Thursday to perform the album’s first single, “Tonight.”

Featuring Ne-Yo, the track takes a page from the dance-driven R&B-pop; that while incredibly generic is prime for radio. It’s dancey, the chorus is sticky enough to sing along with and Sanchez’s voice packs a wallop.

Here’s to hoping “Me, You & the Music” features some of the sass and diva-worthy pop power ballads and R&B; grooves that her voice is tailor-made for. Good thing she tapped Benny Benassi, Harvey Mason Jr., Rodney Jerkins, Stargate and Toby Gad -- producers responsible for hits from Beyoncé, Rihanna, Jennifer Hudson and Demi Lovato -- for the album.

Sanchez is also set to appear in a two-episode arc on Fox’s “Glee,” where she will play a legendary singer from a rival high school. Her episodes will air in May.

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