- Richard Goodall won America's Got Talent season 19 in September 2024.
- The janitor-turned-singer came back to the NBC series to sing on the show's 20th anniversary celebration episode on August 12.
- Richard also reflected on the impact winning America's Got Talent had on his life.
Richard Goodall is opening up about what winning America's Got Talent has meant to him.
Fans of the NBC competition series met the school janitor back in 2024, when he auditioned in the premiere episode of season 19. His vocal ability stunned audiences at home and in studio, and his moving renditions of pop hits got him the title of champion. Well, he's now taking the time to look back on his journey — and AGT was there to help him out with this.
As AGT celebrated its 20th season during the August 12 episode, the show looked back at moments viewers continue to remember. As for Richard, he sat down to watch his original audition clip. Amid seeing himself perform Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'," he reflected on seeing the audiences and judges Simon Cowell, Sofía Vergara, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel react to his cover. And if that's not enough, he also took note about how winning season 19 had a lasting effect on him.
"I love Simon was doing his own version of dancing," he stated in a clip posted on TikTok. "When I'm done singing, the crowd just screamed. I never expected that reaction. Yeah, I couldn't hold it together after that."
"Before coming to America's Got Talent, I had never ever been on a plane, never been west of Missouri," he added. "So, all this was an absolute amazing time."
As AGT fans also looked back at Richard's journey on the show, they couldn't help but have words of support for him.
"Richard Goodall’s performance in just two minutes was nothing short of captivating. He truly has a unique talent that leaves a lasting impression on the audience," one person wrote in the comments. "This is making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! 😊," another agreed. "What a lovely moment captured! 😍," a different follower added.
So, what exactly is Richard doing just about a year after clinching the top spot on AGT season 19? Well, much to everyone's surprise, he's still a janitor at the Indiana school he was working at prior to the show. But, as he revealed on Instagram on August 8, his day job isn't stopping him from pursuing music (like the upcoming release of his new single "Long Time Coming").
"Hi, this is Richard, just wanted to share my story with you all," he wrote in the caption. "It’s been a wild journey and I often wake up feeling like the luckiest man in the whole world! Many of you have asked what I’m doing next, and I’m excited to share with you all that my single, 'Long Time Coming,' will be released on August 29th on all streaming platforms!! 🎵."
We so love this for him, and we can't wait to hear what he has in store!
As the entertainment and news associate editor for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.
