Richard Goodall has emerged as the champion of season 19 of America’s Got Talent, winning the hearts of audiences and judges alike. The singer, affectionately dubbed the “singing janitor,” earned the grand prize of $1 million following a series of powerful performances that garnered over 130 million views across social media platforms. His authentic approach and emotional connections during his performances resonated strongly with the voting public.
Goodall first impressed the judges with his rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin’,” which earned him a Golden Buzzer from Heidi Klum. He continued to shine in the qualifiers with Michael Bolton’s “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You,” resulting in a standing ovation.
In the semifinals, his cover of “Eye of the Tiger” solidified his position, leading to a memorable finale performance of Journey’s “Faithfully.” This performance was particularly special as he shared the stage with Neal Schon and other members of Journey during the finale results show.
The judges praised Goodall’s performances, with Klum expressing her desire for him to win and Mandel declaring his performance worthy of the $1 million prize. Cowell emphasized Goodall’s role as a hero for audiences during challenging times. In response to his victory, Goodall reflected on the life-changing impact of the competition saying “winning ‘AGT’ is important and means so much to me. Simon said two minutes can change your life. It has transformed mine, and I’d like to help others, one song at a time.”
America’s Got Talent season 19 concluded with a finale at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, featuring star-studded appearances from guests such as Michael Bublé, Simone Biles, and the Detroit Youth Choir.
Created by Simon Cowell, the show remains a leading summer entertainment program, co-produced by Fremantle and Syco Entertainment.
