Exclusively : What America's Got Talent Didn't Tell You About Richard Goodall | Awesome Coverage |

[Music] Richard Goodall captured the hearts of millions With His stunning rendition of Don't Stop Believing by Journey on America's Got Talent but what you saw on TV is only a small part of his story Richard's Journey from a small town janitor to an internet sensation is filled with unexpected twists and turns that America's Got Talent didn't show you this is the story of a man who proved that dreams can come true at any stage of Life Richard Goodall a junior from Tera hot Indiana earned the golden buzzer during season 19 of America's Got Talent something every contestant dreams of his moment was nothing short of Sensational heartwarming and breathtaking but behind his success lies a secret that is both emotional and inspiring what we uncovered about Richard Goodall will leave you in shock but before we dive into those details let's take a look at his early life and the struggles that pushed him to stardom Richard was born and raised in a small town in Indiana United States he grew up in a family that couldn't provide for his every need but gave their unwavering support Richard discovered his musical Talent at an early age and began nurturing it His Radio Shack stereo was his closest companion he would often lock himself up in his bedroom singing along with his favorite songs dreaming of a future that seemed perpetually Out Of Reach in high school Richard joined the choir which allowed him to develop his vocal abilities over the years his passion for music grew leading him to join a gospel choir as an adult he sang with the gospel choir for 8 years until it was shut down during the Cor a virus pandemic Richard's passion for music was born out of a desire to impact lives as a simple guy Richard cared less about fancy things and was only committed to achieving his dreams however as he Grew Older the responsibilities of life and the need for financial stability took precedence over his musical aspirations with college Out Of Reach Richard needed to find a stable income to sustain his basic needs unsure of which path to follow he took up a job as a janitor at chony Rose Middle School a job that was degrading but sustainable the job offered him a sense of stability even though it didn't satisfy his deepest passion Richard took great pride in his work and performed it diligently turning mundane tasks into memorable moments for students and teachers for 23 years he never failed to take out the trash sweep the floor and wipe the tables ensuring the environment was safe and habitable for the students and teachers despite the humble nature of his job Richard remained undeterred in his pursuit of music while performing his duties Richard would belt out some tunes filling the hallway with his melodious voice his performances didn't go unnoticed students and teachers were enthralled by his voice they praised him for his unique voice and urged him to take his talent beyond the confines of Indiana this boosted his confidence and reignited his determination to pursue his dreams for Richard sing had always been a source of Joy it was his way of putting smiles on the faces of people and helping them forget their problems even if just for a few minutes I just like people to smile and have fun and forget their problems for 3 minutes and 30 seconds however long the song is he said Richard seized every opportunity to inspire people with his music he soon gained popularity in the school as the singing janitor performing at various school events especially during Veterans Day Celebrations where he often sang God God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood his voice created a sense of fulfillment in the minds of aspiring singers assuring them of a brighter future loved by the students he became known as Mr Richard While others viewed his job as demeaning and one that would lead nowhere Richard saw it as an opportunity to instill discipline and morals in the students around him being a janitor or a custodian you have a certain platform he said the kids love you you love them they know that that you do quite possibly the humblest job in the whole school and as a custodian and janitor I would teach them the Small Things yes sir no sir please thank you and those are the small things that can make a big difference I'm not a teacher but you can teach people small things that would help in life and those things are immeasurable Richard's dedication to his job and music showed his love for service and success aside from being a janitor Richard was a member of a local band in terot Indiana called manapur they often performed at local bars and on the streets Richard often performed with the band during his leisure time relieving himself of all his worries as Richard aged his dedication to music never wavered even though life's responsibilities and challenges pulled him in different directions he remained firm unknown to him his passion and perseverance were about to take him from The Humble Halls of chony Road Middle School to a stage that would transform his life forever Richard's decision to audition for America's Got Talent was fueled by the constant encouragement from his students in school left to his own devices he wasn't sure if he was ready to go through that Journey as he had previously faced disappointment auditioning for America's Got Talent in 2009 and later the voice it was like a double confirmation that he wasn't good enough however with the help of the students at school who continued to reassure him of his undeniable Talent Richard decided to try AGT again as usual he hoped that things would turn out differently but despite his confidence he lowered his expectations even though he knew he was more than enough in 2024 Richard found himself on the coveted stage of AGT a dream that finally came true after so many setbacks here he was standing right before the imposing panel of judges Simon Cowell Sophia vagara Heidi Clum and hoe Mandel as Richard stepped onto the AGT stage for the first time a wave of nervousness spread through his veins it felt almost surreal standing before the judges and a live audience knowing this was his chance to prove his undeniable talent to the world he tried to muster composure but his anxiety was visible however with the words of Simon cowl shake off those nerves we're here for you Richard and the cheer from the crowd Richard regained balance taking a deep breath he began his performance and what followed was nothing short of breathtaking just a small town girl oh as he let out the first few lines of his signature song Don't Stop Believing the initial skepticism from the judges and audience quickly turned into admiration Simon coward 's nod of approval Heidi clums enthusiastic Applause and Howe mandal's smile gave him validation and boosted his confidence the audience also gave their full support their cheers Applause and standing ovations created an electrifying atmosphere making Richard's performance memorable the energy in the room was palpable and the immediate response from the crowd reinforced his belief in his abilities after his rendition the atmosphere was saturated with excitement M ment as the judges gave their verdict Richard was moved to tears hearing the words from Simon Cowell you are my hero because that was special genuinely special and I think America is going to love you and hoe mandal reply you cleaned up the performance made him feel loved but what followed next was shocking as the audience watched with anticipation Heidi Clum praised his remarkable performance you knocked me off my feet and now this is what I'm going to do for you cuz I love you and she slammed the golden buzzer decorating Richard in a Cascade of golden confetti and catapulting him into the spotlight Richard was moved to Tears by the moment later telling the cheering crowd I've never even been on a plane it was not on my radar to come to California it's just a dream come true Richard who was already humbled by his achievement immediately called his fiance Angie to share the news with her while she was clearly proud of him it was evident that she wasn't surprised that his smooth voice earned him a golden buzzer it's unfortunate she couldn't share the moments with him due to financial constraints this viral moment was captured and shared on YouTube where some of his students took the opportunity to express their deepest support for Richard's bravery I can't express with words how lucky I feel to be able to say that I am one of the kids who always told him how amazing his voice is my favorite part of walking through the hallways in school is hearing this phenomenon Richard you are indeed a true hero another commented he is the janitor at my twins School West vgo they were screaming and crying tears of happiness for Mr Richard last night with their friends I was right there with them as was the entire vgo County Community we are so excited for him it couldn't happen for a more humble and kind man he is so deserving of this I can't wait for America to see what we hotian peeps have had the pleasure of seeing for two decades let's go Mr Richard the consensus was clear Richard not only deserved the golden buzzer but had also touched countless lives his performance was a clear demonstration that extraordinary Talent can be found in ordinary places his rendition was not just a song it was a message of Hope perseverance and a reminder to himself and others to keep believing in their dreams no matter the challenges after the cameras stopped rolling Richard went backstage where he spoke in a private interview with the producers I couldn't help but cry he told the AGT producers I mean me you know I'm just a regular person I'm the guy that wipes down the tables takes out the trash and sweeps the floor he added later I kept on singing to the kids I kept doing what I do I mean Don't Stop Believing has kind of been a mantra I got a golden buzzer Reminiscing on his early days Richard said I was that kid up in my bedroom with the Radio Shack stereo my favorite thing was just to sit up and listen to my music and I just belted it out despite the many positive comments some people had reservations about his performance one Reddit user expressed his opinion about Richard's performance I know a lot of people love Richard on Reddit because his voice is very good and he doesn't have a so story I don't know though but for me personally I don't really like his voice that much no I don't want every single so story to get golden buzzers because it's been getting ridiculous but Richard's voice underwhelmed me a bit but not as much as you think you can say in the comments that it's impressive for a guy in his mid-50s which it is but let's see how he does in the semis however this comment is no surprise because Fame comes with both positive and negative reactions Richard's Fame continued to spread like wildfire nothing could have prepared him for the recognition that came after the show after the show aired there has been so much support Richard told wtwv I cannot answer all of the messages that have come across like like thousands and thousands Richard's bandmate Tom Greenberg wasn't surprised by all the results I knew that was coming he said he deserved it he's just so good and journey I mean you throw him on a journey song and he's just the best of the best he's just a perfect Journey singer he said America's Got Talent also announced that they would be covering all of Richard's expenses for his journey to the competition as you already know Richard is just an ordinary janitor and doesn't earn much making it difficult for him to afford plane tickets accommodation and other expenses there is even a rumor that Richard might perform with his band in the finals of America's Got Talent but here is where the story gets interesting Chris Bon a fellow resident of ter hot Indiana took it upon himself to launch a GoFundMe campaign begging for support from viewers he wrote let's give Terry hot Indiana's AGT Golden Buzzer winner our support Richard Goodall traveled to the first competition alone on his first ever flight this August he returns for 10 days to compete at the next level your generosity will allow him to have a worry-free experience financially with family to accompany him and whatever else he might need while his travel and accommodations are covered his support group and other expenses are not the quick response from viewers was nothing short of extraordinary the campaign started on May 30th 2024 and had already hit its Target as of July 19th 2024 amounting to a staggering $119,000 the love and support from fans was overwhelming it was a way of showing their gratitude to the man who had inspired their journey in life this Collective effort ensured that Richard was equipped with all he needed to advance on the show despite his Newfound success Richard remained The Humble janitor from Tera hot Indiana how could I possibly become a diva type of person I'm not that is not going to happen he said I am not a fancy person I never have been and I never will be I am a basic person just like everyone else as of today Richard's video has amassed over 19 million views on YouTube becoming the highest viewed video on America's Got Talent this season while America Got Talent gave the world a glimpse of Richard's exceptional Talent it merely scratched the surface of his emotional story here are several things America's Got Talent didn't tell you about Richard Goodall struggles and challenges Richard Goodall's rise to fame is a testament to perseverance resiliance and unwavering determination even at his age he never relented in pursuing his dreams his decision to audition for AGT was fueled by a lifelong passion for music growing up he had always dreamt of sharing his voice with a larger audience and AGT presented a platform for achieving his dreams in 2009 Richard took the Bold step of auditioning for America's Got Talent with so much hope and expectation he was ready to Showcase his musical prowess unfortunately his hopes were abruptly cut short when he didn't make it past the first round in Chicago Richard was heartbroken and devastated for a while but soon he garnered the strength and courage he needed reminding himself that every disappointment was a blessing with renewed Vigor Richard decided to audition for another prominent show The Voice this time he sent in a video of him singing the iconic song Don't Stop Believing for the audition hoping that things would turn out differently unfortunately he got another disappointing email from the organizers saying hello Richard thank you so much for auditioning in our virtual open call we have reviewed your performance of Don't Stop Believing unfortunately you will not be moving on to the next round please keep working and we hope to see you again next season Richard was devastated once again he was shocked that he wasn't good enough for the show the email was in sharp contrast with the many compliments he received on social media it was as though he had been lied to about his voice or that the Praises he received were from a place of pity Richard went into a dark phase of self-doubt and disappointment he took to his social media to vent his anger saying just so everyone knows I'm worthy of The Voice voice but I'll try for AGT but regular people just don't cut it in this world love you all for your support Richard Goodall this stirred responses from fans who supported him almost immediately it's not that you're not good enough they just look at it like you're not the young classic standard they need because you sing amazing another commenter said biggest mistake The Voice ever made you are incredible despite his current predicament Richard remained hopeful constantly reassuring himself that he was good enough he believed strongly that he had what it took to succeed and with the constant persuasion and encouragement from the kids at school Richard's hopes were renewed once more his Relentless efforts soon paved the way for him as years later he found himself on the stage of America's Got Talent but before that Richard had already experienced a taste of viral success after his cover of don't stop Believe In by Journey stormed the internet in 2022 the students and teachers of Davis Park ele School gathered to celebrate the graduation of fifth grade students with a talent show when the event came to an end the teachers asked Richard to perform a song for the students but unknown to him things were about to take a different turn usually he would sing God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood but this time he chose the powerful song Don't Stop Believing a song that would Inspire the kids to keep believing in their dreams dressed in jeans sneakers a ball cap and a stereotypically large set of keys hanging from his belt Richard took the stage as Don't Stop Believing began to play his Golden Voice resonated deeply with the audience creating an unforgettable moment in their hearts even though the students couldn't truly appreciate what they heard they were clearly having a good time waving their arms and eventually jumping to their feet to dance along the adults in the crowd were equally impressed right after the first line of the song Someone near the camera screamed oh God you could hear the surprise in her voice Mariah denahi a woman who works with one of the Davis Park students with special needs was so moved by Richard's powerful performance that she decided to record it she later posted the video on Tik Tok the clip captured not just Richard's Raw talent but his profound musical prowess the next day while Richard was performing his regular duties denahi told him that she posted a video of him on TiK ToK by then the footage had garnered over 100,000 views by the end of the week the video had surpassed a million views sparking widespread astonishment and admiration from people who couldn't believe that a janitor could possess such an amazing voice Richard had no clue he would go viral I've never had this kind of response I don't know what to think of all this he said although Richard had been posting consistently on his Tik Tok page it was this very performance that led to his big break while he sang hoping to motivate the audience with the lyrics of the song he wasn't prepared for the fame that would follow the sudden surge in popularity provided Richard with greater and better opportunities than he had ever dreamed of his viral video caught the eyes and ears of some notable figures in the music industry one of them was Steve Perry a former lead singer of Journey who helped co-write don't stop believe in when Perry saw the video of Richard singing he was so moved by his amazing performance that on June 29th Perry took to Twitter to share his admiration writing I love this Perry also made the same comment on Tik Tok where Richard reposted the clip to his own profile Richard was blown away by Perry's response as he had greatly admired the iconic musician he never expected to get noticed by someone of Perry's status and the comment reassured him of his abilities with heartfelt gratitude Richard responded to Steve Perry saying I love your music sir thank you for commenting this means so much to me his admiration for Perry was evident in his response reflecting the Deep respect and appreciation he had for the singer Richard's Fame didn't stop there it was just the the beginning of a greater experience Richard received support from all over and soon more fans joined his list the official Journey account on Tik Tok reposted Richard's Tik Tok to show their support the most shocking acknowledgement was from Hoy mandal a famous comedian and judge on America's Got Talent whom Richard would soon stand before he posted a video reacting to Richard's Tik Tok Richard needs to be on AGT Richard couldn't believe it at first he thought it was a random fake account trying to pull his leg so he held back his excitement in case it wasn't real but when he confirmed it was genuine his Joy was Indescribable it was like a dream come true as if that wasn't enough Richard got an opportunity to perform with Rudy cardinus an American Idol finalist on August 27th 20122 an opportunity he would forever cherish Richard didn't hesitate to to share this amazing news with his fans updating them on the time and location of the event Richard's viral video Once captured the hearts of Rudy cardinus he was so impressed that he invited Richard to perform with him on stage despite receiving numerous invitations to perform on stage singing alongside a legendary figure like Rudy cardinus was a unique experience for Richard standing on stage in front of a huge crowd Richard reminisced about his humble beginnings and was shocked at how far he had come before they started singing Rudy introduced Richard to the crowd in a very special way together Richard and Rudy created a magical moment with their performance inspiring the crowd to believe in their dreams Richard's collaboration with Rudy is a testament to the fact that dreams indeed do come true if you dream it you will have it later that day Richard posted a video of their performance on Instagram and in the caption he wrote an absolute awesome day thank you to the Drake family for setting this up Jeff gindhart and Chelsea for being my brother from another mother and filming me and the whole Mill staff the awesome band and my ter hot friends in the audience I hope more to come still enjoying the ride y'all Richard and Angie the unexpected Fame also had a positive impact on his music band manapur suddenly manapur began receiving offers to perform at different local bars something the band had never experienced before they accepted every offer and in no time they were fully booked fans who came to watch the band perform were astonished by Richard's vocal prowess and Stage presence showering him with praise and admiration Richard also took to his Instagram to share this great achievement he said and just like that we are booked every weekend in July thank you to the broken rock band for their awesome hard work and the band manager for working on getting the gigs see you folks Saturday night at Archie sports bar at 7:30 don't miss a note since Mariah Dene posted the initial video of Richard's cover on Tik Tok it has been viewed more than 10 million times he had also been featured on news outlets like ABC News where he expressed his sincere gratitude it's humbling and fun but I'm still the same person I've always been I'm just me you know this response revealed Richard's true character despite his Fame he remained a humble janitor in an interview Richard reflected on the many opportunities his band received and the response from Perry he said I was nearly in tears because this is the music I grew up with the artists I listen to I have no formal training as a kid I surrounded myself with speakers in my bedroom turned on the radio and just sang along regarding how he combines his love for singing with his job as a School Janitor he said said I'm not just the guy who wipes tables and takes out the trash I want people to smile and be happy explaining why he chose to perform the journey hit Richard said it was to inspire his students to never stop believing in themselves and to chase their dreams it was clear that Richard wasn't just an ordinary janitor he was an ordinary man with a strong will and desire to change the world around him however the initial challenges Richard faced were just the the tip of the iceberg and can't be compared to the tragedy that struck him in 2021 during Richard's groundbreaking moments on America's Got Talent he mentioned Angie his fiance and Newfound lover however there is a backstory that many don't know Richard had a wife named Patricia Sue she was a supportive and dedicated wife often sharing updates about her husband's concerts on Facebook showing her unwavering support they were a perfect match spending time together and creating fond memories their relationship spanned an incredible 30 years filled with love and respect for each other their photos on Instagram showed they spent every Valentine's Day and Christmas together revealing a bond that was truly special despite Richard's job as a janitor Patricia remained faithful to him however life took an unexpected turn when Patricia was struck down with cancer despite efforts to combat the disease it spread throughout her body causing immense pain Patricia sadly passed away at the age of 74 on June 21st 2021 leaving behind a grieving family it was a trying moment for Richard as he struggled to survive without his wife the day she died he tearfully shared the sad news on Instagram I'm so sorry I did my best but my best wasn't good enough cancer is like getting punched in the gut falling to the ground then told to get back up and start all over he said however Richard quickly moved past his pain and in 2022 things changed when he found love again on August 25th Richard shared a picture of his Newfound lover Angie on his Instagram captioning it fun night with my Lane at Taco Tequilas it seemed Richard had found love again the picture showed they were truly infatuated with each other it's exciting that the singing janitor has found both love and fame while we await the next round of America's Got Talent let us know what your thoughts are about Richard's performance what do you think of Richard's journey to fame let us know in the comments don't forget to like And subscribe and if you like this video make sure to click on the next video on your screen [Music]