A shy school janitor stunned everyone on 'America's Got Talent' with a voice no one saw coming
For many years, Chauncey Rose Middle School was maintained and cleaned by Richard Goodall, a janitor from Terre Haute, Indiana. However, he kept his incredible singing ability a secret, often just singing to kids to kill time. So, the day this school janitor appeared on the stage of 'America's Got Talent,' everything changed. He soon turned from an unknown worker to a budding star with an amazing performance that astounded the judges and the audience. During the talent show, Goodall performed a beautiful rendition of Don't Stop Believin' by Journey.
Stepping onto the AGT stage, Goodall was quite nervous when he faced the judges. Standing there, he just said that his performance had been going on for a long time. As reported by Fox News, judge Simon Cowell said, "Shake off those nerves. We're here, we're rooting for you." Goodall immediately won over the audience with his mesmerizing performance. After his performance, Cowell said, "Richard, you are my hero.” Another judge, Howie Mandel, said, "You, and maybe because you've been doing it for 23 years, but you just cleaned up. I would imagine that every kid who has ever been to school with you is just screaming. I just think you're amazing."
Another judge, Heidi Klum, also praised Goodall and said, "Richard, Richard, Richard, you knocked me off my feet. 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 hit the coveted Golden Buzzer, filling the room with excitement as Goodall burst into joyful tears. Goodall also recalled his connection with music and said, “I was that kid in my bedroom with the radio shack. My favorite thing was to blast my music and belt it out.”
With a humble smile, Goodall also revealed why this song meant so much to him. To him, it wasn’t just lyrics—it was a life lesson. It was a reminder that even when the bills pile up and life feels impossible, hope should never fade. He spoke candidly about his struggles to make ends meet while living paycheck to paycheck. But despite all the hardships, he made it to one of the largest talent shows in the world. Therefore, his message to the audience was simple yet powerful: No matter what life throws at you, never give up what you believe in, as reported by GOOD.
For his final performance, Goodall performed a heartfelt rendition of Journey's Faithfully, a song that was very special to him. He disclosed that this song was a tribute rather than just a performance. It was a tribute to Angela Richards, who supported him, had faith in him, and helped make his goal come true. In another video posted by AGT, Goodall stood on stage, overwhelmed with joy and disbelief, as he was announced the season’s winner. He just said, "2 minutes can change your life. My life has been transformed. I did it, Ange!" What began as a janitor’s dream turned into a heartwarming victory.