The first episode of season 19 of “America’s Got Talent” recently premiered, starting things off with a golden buzzer.
When 55-year-old school janitor Richard Goodall took the stage to sing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin,” the judges and crowd were shocked by his beautiful voice.
Speaking with the host Terry Crews ahead of his audition, the Indiana native shared how he fell into his career of 23 years and how he ended up on the “AGT” stage.
“I just belt it out,” he said. “Eventually, I was like, I got to find me a job, so I [became] a janitor at Chauncey Rose Middle School, which is only three blocks away from my house.
The kids would hear me sing, and they tell me that I’ve got talent,” he explained. “That’s why I’m here. That’s why I got on a plane.”
Walking on stage, Goodall was visibly nervous, but judge Simon Cowell offered him some words of encouragement to help. “Shake off those nerves.
We’re here, we’re rooting for you,” said Cowell as the crowd cheered for Goodall before he began to sing. Beginning the song, the janitor immediately shocked the judges and crowd as he belted the iconic song.After finishing his amazing performance, judge Howie Mandel shared his thoughts. “You, and maybe because you’ve been doing it for 23 years, but you just cleaned up.
I would imagine that every kid that has ever been in a school with you is just screaming,” Mandel continued. “I just think you’re amazing.” Fellow judge Heidi Klum was amazed by Goodall’s voice.
“Richard, Richard, Richard, you knocked me off my feet,” judge Heidi Klum said. “I mean, we all had the best time with you up there on that stage.
I really, really feel something when I see you up there and hear you up there, and now this is what I’m going to do for you because I love you.” Klum stood up and pressed the Golden Buzzer where gold confetti showered Goodall as he shed tears of joy.
“It was amazing,” said Klum, who ran up to the stage to give Goodall a giant hug. “I can’t wait to see what you’re going to sing next.”
