Richard Goodall has been capturing the hearts of judges and viewers alike for months, impressing everyone with performances of classics like Journey’s «Don’t Stop Believin’» and Survivor’s «Eye of the Tiger,» which kept fans voting for him week after week.
The road to this moment has been a long one. It all began back in May when we first heard that Richard, a janitor at West Vigo Middle School, would be appearing on «America’s Got Talent» (AGT). This opportunity came about after a TikTok video of him serenading students went viral.
“One of the kindergarten teachers came up to me and mentioned that the video had reached 100,000 views,” Goodall recalled. “I asked if that was good, and she said she didn’t even have 1,000 followers. By the end of the weekend, it had hit a million.”
What Goodall couldn’t share at the time was that he had received the coveted Golden Buzzer from AGT judge Heidi Klum, which advanced him directly to the quarter-finals.
After triumphing in the quarter-finals, Goodall returned home to a warm welcome at the school he’d worked at for many years. He addressed the students and staff, delivering an inspiring message.
“No matter how old you are or how you look, you can achieve anything you set your mind to,” Goodall said. “It doesn’t matter what color your hair or eyes are. If you keep pushing and honing your craft, someone will eventually notice.”
He then advanced to AGT’s semi-finals and made it to the finale, where he received even more love from the judges.
“He’s a true hero, representing every underdog out there,” said AGT judge Simon Cowell. “He’s touched my heart, my soul, and I’m sure he’s touched everyone else watching at home.”
Despite all the attention, Goodall remains grounded. «I’m going to stay humble, no matter where this journey takes me,» he added.
Richard Goodall’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, and you can watch the moment he was announced as the $1 million prize winner below.
