Richard Goodall
{{Short description|Singer and janitor}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Richard Goodall
| image = |
| birth_name = Richard Goodall
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Indianapolis, Indiana
| occupation = Singer, janitor
| years_active = 2024–present
| known_for = America's Got Talent season 19 winner|
}}
Richard Goodall is an American singer and janitor. He is best known as the winner of season 19 of America's Got Talent in 2024.{{Cite web |title=Richard Goodall: The Singing Janitor's Triumphant Journey to Winning America's Got Talent 2024 |url=https://theprimeheadline.com/richard-goodall-from-janitor-to-agt-2024-champion/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=The Prime Headline |language=en}} He was the first singer in five years to win the show and received a golden buzzer in the first round from Heidi Klum.{{Cite web |title='America's Got Talent' Crowns Its Newest Champion! See Who Won Season 19 |url=https://people.com/americas-got-talent-season-19-winner-richard-goodall-singing-janitor-8717915 |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}
Background
Goodall lives in Terre Haute, Indiana, where he has worked as a school janitor with the Vigo County School Corporation for 23 years. Often singing to amuse himself while on the job, a video of him performing "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey to the students went viral online in 2022.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-28 |title=Richard Goodall — Don't Stop Believin' on TikTok. |url=https://www.tiktok.com/@thebenstory/video/7374256023273639214|access-date=2024-09-24 |website=TikTok}}
News outlets such as Fox News and ABC News shared the clip in 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-20 |title=Elementary school janitor goes viral for 'Don't Stop Believin'' performance {{!}} Fox News Video |url=https://www.foxnews.com/video/6309780327112 |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}
Career
=''America's Got Talent''=
In 2024, Goodall auditioned for the nineteenth season of America's Got Talent. His audition aired on May 28, 2024. His performance received widespread acclaim from the public and judges and judge Simon Cowell called Goodall his "hero".{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=KiMi |title='America's Got Talent' 2024 winner revealed to be Indiana's 'singing janitor' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2024/09/24/agt-2024-finale-winner-richard-goodall/75366892007/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} Judge Heidi Klum gave him a golden buzzer, sending him directly to the live shows. His audition has over 40 million views on the show's official YouTube channel. His next performance was in the first live show of the season, singing Michael Bolton's "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You". Goodall dedicated the performance to his fiancé, Angie Vanoven.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-15 |title=Janitor Richard Goodall Sings His Heart Out to "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" |url=https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/agt-2024-janitor-richard-goodall-how-am-i-supposed-to-live-without-you |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=NBC Insider Official Site |language=en-US}} In the semifinals, he sang Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger".{{Cite web |date=2024-09-13 |title=Richard Goodall's "Eye of the Tiger" Cover Draws Rocky Comparison from Simon Cowell |url=https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/agt-richard-goodall-eye-of-the-tiger-cover |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=NBC Insider Official Site |language=en-US}} Advancing to the finals, Goodall sang "Faithfully" by Journey. In the finale, Neal Schon and other members of Journey performed with Goodall; they sang his audition song, "Don't Stop Believin'".{{Cite web |last=Hays |first=Holly V. |title=Watch Richard Goodall perform with Neal Schon, Journey on 'America's Got Talent' finale |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/2024/09/24/americas-got-talent-finale-richard-goodall-performs-with-neal-schon-journey-dont-stop-believin/75363343007/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US}}
=Performances and results=
class="wikitable" |
Week
! Song choice ! Original artist ! Result |
---|
Audition
| Journey | Golden Buzzer from judge Heidi Klum |
Quarterfinals
| "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" | Advanced |
Semifinals
| "Eye of the Tiger" | Survivor | Advanced |
Finals
| "Faithfully" | Journey | N/A |
bgcolor=gold
| Finale | "Don't Stop Believin'" ft. Neal Schon and Journey | Journey | Winner |
Personal life
Goodall married his fiancé, Angie Vanoven, in Pasadena, California on September 18, 2024, six days before he was announced the winner of season 19 of America's Got Talent.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-25 |title=Congrats! AGT's Richard Goodall Got Married in Malibu a Day After the Final (DETAILS) |url=https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/agt-winner-richard-goodall-married#:~:text=Richard%20Goodall%20married%20his%20love%20in%20Malibu&text=On%20September%2018,%20Goodall%20updated,wife's%20name%20is%20Angie%20Vanoven.) |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=NBC Insider Official Site |language=en-US}}