As America’s Got Talent kicks off its 19th season, you might think there are no surprises left. But when 54-year-old janitor Richard Goodall stepped onto the stage for his audition, he proved everyone wrong and became an instant star!
Richard, from Terre Haute, Indiana, was visibly nervous as he introduced himself to the judges. He had been a school janitor for 23 years and had never traveled west of Missouri before this moment. Taking his first-ever plane ride just to be at the audition, he stood before Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel, his voice shaking. Sensing his nerves, Simon offered a few encouraging words: “We’re rooting for you, Richard!”
Then, the music started. Richard chose to sing Journey’s classic hit, “Don’t Stop Believin’.” The moment he sang the first note, the entire crowd jumped to their feet, cheering. His powerful voice filled the theater, and suddenly, all his nerves disappeared. His performance was so flawless it felt like he was born for the stage. Hitting every high note perfectly, Richard stunned the judges. When he finished, the room exploded in applause.
Simon was the first to speak, his face full of admiration. “Richard, you are my hero,” he said. Richard’s eyes filled with tears as Sofia smiled at him and said, “You made our night.” Howie, always ready with a joke, added, “Maybe it’s because you’ve been a janitor for 20 years, but you just cleaned up!” The audience roared with laughter. Then, Heidi Klum spoke up: “You knocked me off my feet.” And just when everyone thought it couldn’t get any better, Heidi shocked the entire theater—she hit the Golden Buzzer!
Golden confetti rained down as Richard covered his face, overwhelmed with emotion. Heidi ran up to the stage to hug him. Backstage, she stayed with him as he called his fiancée, Angie, to share the incredible news. On speakerphone, she screamed, “Oh my God! I knew it! I told you!”
Richard’s love for music started when he was a kid. He would blast his RadioShack stereo so loud that his mom would bang on the ceiling with a broom, trying to get some peace. “I love all kinds of music,” he told Yahoo in an interview. “I love those songs that start smooth, build up, and then by the end, you’re just belting it out.” His song choice for AGT was a perfect example.
Before his big audition, Richard practiced his singing in the school hallways where he worked. He also sang in karaoke shows and entered local radio contests. But music became even more important after his wife, Patty, passed away from cancer in June 2021. “When you’re married for so long, and they pass away, you feel lost. You don’t know who you are without them,” he shared. “Music was the bridge that helped me find myself again.”
Believe it or not, this wasn’t the first time Richard went viral. In 2022, a video of him singing at an elementary school talent show took off on TikTok, racking up over 3 million views and half a million likes!
Now, after his jaw-dropping AGT audition, Richard’s story is touching even more lives. In just one week, his Golden Buzzer moment has already been viewed over 8 million times on YouTube! If you want to follow his journey, you can find him on Instagram, where fans are rallying behind this incredible talent.
Richard Goodall started as a small-town janitor, but with one unforgettable performance, he’s now a nationwide sensation. And with the power of his voice and the heart of a true performer, this is just the beginning!
