Richard Goodall is becoming a global music phenomenon. His talent and charm have not only made a name for himself but also the pride of America.

Richard Goodall works at a middle school just a few blocks from his home in Terre Haute, Indiana. The 55-year-old, who has been a janitor for 23 years, often sings while on the clock — in part to pass the time but more because of the response he gets from the students and teachers passing by in the halls.

It was the support of the students, who call him Mr. Richard, that led Goodall to hop on a plane for the first time in his life to travel to Los Angeles and audition for “America’s Got Talent.”

“I’m not a fancy person. I take out the trash, I wipe off the tables, I sweep the floors. I’m just having fun and I’m trying to make people happy,” Goodall said in a clip that aired ahead of his “AGT” audition. “The kids would hear me sing and they’d tell me that I’ve got talent. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I got on a plane.”

Since his audition, Goodall’s fanbase has grown — substantially. His audition, featuring a performance of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” went viral. To date, it has 24 million views on YouTube. All of his subsequent performances on “AGT” have well over 1 million views on YouTube.

Now, Goodall is one of the top 10 competitors vying for the $1 million prize and a headlining slot in Las Vegas. His final performance aired Wednesday night and “AGT” will reveal the winner on Sept. 24.

Here’s a look at Goodall’s run on “AGT” — and how he landed on the show in the first place.

Terry Crews, Richard Goodall and Heidi Klum following Goodall's "AGT" audition.
Terry Crews, Richard Goodall and Heidi Klum following Goodall’s “AGT” audition. | NBC

Richard Goodall auditions for ‘AGT’

Goodall was visibly nervous as his time came to perform in front of “AGT” judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Sofia Vergara. But after singing just the very first line of “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Goodall had the audience on its feet. By the end of the song, he was overcome with emotion as he heard all of the applause and cheers.

“Richard, you are my hero,” Cowell said. “Because that was special, genuinely special. I think America is going to love you.”

Klum went on to give her golden buzzer to Goodall, advancing him straight to the quarterfinals of the competition.

During the quarterfinals, Goodall received high praise for his performance of Michael Bolton’s “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You.”

“I felt your nerves a little bit today, but I also feel the passion that you have when you sing, with every syllable that you sing,” Klum said.

“I think you’re one of the most memorable contestants we’ve had for a long, long time,” Cowell added, telling Goodall he believed the singer had a shot at winning the whole competition.

For the semifinals, Goodall brought an energetic performance of Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” to the stage, leading Klum to call it an “epic performance.”

And “AGT” viewers keep voting him through. Goodall gets one more performance before the show’s big reveal, but in his mind, he’s already accomplished what he set out to do.

“This was not on my radar to come to California. It’s just a dream come true,” he said during his “AGT” audition.

For his final appearance, Goodall brought his time on the show full circle with a performance of another “Journey” song: “Faithfully.” Following the performance, all of the judges declared their desire for the singer to win the entire competition.

“I have been faithfully your biggest fan since the very, very first day we met,” Klum said. “You are such an amazing man. You’re so humble. You’re so kind. You’re also a little bit quiet, but not when you are behind that microphone. Then you are a big rock star. … I want you to win this so bad, Richard.”

“We all need a hero right now,” Cowell added. “And you are our hero.”

“I think you just sang yourself $1 million,” Mandel said.

Related Posts

TX Supreme Court Sets Sept. 4 Hearing In Case To Remove Dems From Seats

When Texas House Democrats fled the state to stall a vote on a new congressional map, Gov. Greg Abbott made the extraordinary move of petitioning the Texas…

Sydnie Christmas brings rugby past back to life as she takes on a new role, showing BGT didn’t tell the full story

With a career defined by powerhouse vocals and show-stopping stage presence, Sydnie Christmas has once again surprised audiences by stepping into an entirely new arena: the world…

Millionaire stop in front of beggar and Says you Are my Mom, When the DNA results show up she became SPEECHLESS

For as long as Daniel Foster could remember, two truths shaped his life: he had been adopted, and somewhere in the world lived a woman who had…

I Criticized My Wife’s Gift to Her Parents — I Never Expected Her Response

My wife works tirelessly — holding down two full-time jobs and earning a strong six-figure income. Meanwhile, I’ve been in a season of “finding myself,” trying different…

What Happened at Home That Taught Me a Valuable Lesson

One evening, I came home later than usual, tired from a long day. As I walked down the hallway, I noticed my roommate quickly slipping into her…

America’s Got Talent Champion Darci Lynne Lights Up the Holidays With Her Joyful and Charming Performance of the Classic “All I Want for Christmas”

The holiday season is always filled with music, joy, and a sense of togetherness, but few performances capture the true spirit of Christmas quite like Darci Lynne’s rendition…