“America’s Got Talent” crowned its latest winner Richard Goodall, a self-described “singing janitor” from Indiana.
In Tuesday night’s final, Goodall, who won Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer, beat nine other finalists, including Tanzanian acrobat Hakuna Matata Acrobats, Zimbabwean stand-up comedian Learnmore Jonasi and Japanese dance group Air Foot Works.
The competition was then narrowed down to Goodall and Israeli dog duo Roni Sagi and Rhythm. But the Hoosier ended up winning the $1 million prize.
Goodall ended the night by taking the stage with her band Journey and its co-founder and lead guitarist Neal Schon to perform “Don’t Stop Believin’,” the song she sang in her first audition.
Here are 7 facts about the 2024 winner of America’s Got Talent.
Where is Richard Goodall from?
Goodall is a 55-year-old elementary school janitor who lives in Terre Haute, Indiana. He has reportedly worked for the same Western Indiana school district for 23 years and can often be seen singing in the hallways during his shift.
“Music was a bridge” for widowed Richard Goodall
Goodall grew up in the ’90s singing along to Radio Shack stereos and jumping up and down the stage at karaoke nights, USA TODAY reported. He also performed with two gospel trios until the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Goodall’s wife, Patti, died of cancer in 2021.
“When you`re married for so long and they pass away and you’ve got that void there, your biggest concern is figuring out who you are without them,” he told the Indy Star in May. “And music was the bridge again.”
According to NBC, the students often told Goodall how talented he was. After a while, the janitor finally took them at their word and flew for the first time to audition for a talent competition.
Richard Goodall Marries One Week Before “AGT” Finale
One week before the finale, Goodall married his fiancee, Angie Van Goodall, in the presence of the “AGT” family. He announced on Facebook that their names were now Richard and Angela Van Goodall.
Richard Goodall has made headlines before
In 2022, Goodall made headlines for his rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin'” at a student graduation ceremony. A clip of the performance was posted to TikTok, where it has garnered over 3 million views.
Journey also shared the clip on their official TikTok account, and Goodall received a supportive comment from former frontman Steve Perry.
Richard Goodall is a member of the band
Goodall is not only the winner of “AGT,” but he is also the lead singer of a band called ManOpause. According to their Facebook page, the band plays “classic to current rock anthems that others just can’t play.”
What does Richard Goodall plan to do with his $1 million prize?
Goodall told Indy Star that he plans to spend his $1 million prize on a double trailer. He plans to move the trailer to a retirement home in Florida and enjoy retirement, occasionally eating pasta and seafood.
“I`m not a fancy person,” he said.
What did Richard Goodall sing on “America’s Got Talent”?
Here’s a list of all the songs the winner of America’s Got Talent during season 19
- “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey.
- “How Am I Gonna Live Without You” by Michael Bolton.
- “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor.
- “Faithfully” by Journey.