Jessica Sanchez just signed a record deal and is getting ready to release her first album in October. But that’s not the only thing the young singer’s got planned post-Idol.

On American Idol, mentor Jimmy Iovine praised the pint-sized singer’s powerful voice, and now Interscope Records’ head honcho has her in the studio working on her debut album. This season’s runner-up already started recording and has been keeping fans updated on her progress, tweeting smiley faced messages like:

At the stuuuuudio recording some amazing tracks for the upcoming album <3

— Jessica Sanchez (@JSanchezAI11) June 27, 2012

On the show, Sanchez focused on ballads that showed her vocal range, but sources say her record will be more urban-flavored. To prove she’s moving away from all the sugary sweetness of AI, the 16-year-old told MTV that she’d like to have Eminem appear on her album.

“This is going to seem odd, but I love Eminem, because he has so much conviction and emotion in the way he raps; every word that he raps, you feel it,” she said. “And I think our talents would mesh. So, hopefully, it could happen, and I would just die if he’d collaborate with me!”

Maybe Iovine can work a little magic to make that happen since Em is also signed to Interscope.

Recently, it was announced that Jessica would make her acting debut on the upcoming season of Glee, but it seems she might also be headed to the big screen.

It’s been reported that the Filipino singer is up for the role in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical, Miss Saigon.

She’s even earned the support of the play’s original star, Lee Salonga, who told the national news network in the Philippines that, “If she’s the one that they’ve chosen, or she’s somebody in serious consideration, then that’s a good thing. We all know she’s talented.”

Watch the talented Miss Sanchez below singing her version of Beyonce’s “Sweet Dreams.” Her rendition of Bey’s hit is featured on one of The American Idol Season 11 Highlights CDs, out now.

- Shannon Carlin, CBS Local