As the 19th season of America’s Got Talent approaches, it could be simple to assume that the shocks are over. However, janitor Richard Goodall, 54, became an overnight sensation with his astounding audition in the season premiere episode.

Richard, very nervous, introduced himself to Simon Cowell’s panel of celebrity judges. He said he had been a school janitor for 23 years and had spent his entire life in Terre Haute, Indiana. Richard, who had never traveled outside of Missouri before his audition, was flying for the first time to get to this LA audition. However, in spite of his nervousness, Simon sympathized with Richard during the interview, telling him, “We’re rooting for you, Richard!”

The audience erupted into a standing ovation after Richard’s first verse. As Richard sang “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey, his nerves gave way to the unexpected strength of his voice. His flawless performance caused the LA theater to come alive. Simon began criticizing Richard after he nailed his high notes flawlessly and ended his audition in a tone that echoed the hit song. Simon said, “Richard, you are my hero.”

Richard got amazing praise everywhere he looked, tears welling up in his eyes. With a smile, Sofia Vergara said to him, “You made our night.” With a clever joke, Howie Mandel said to the janitor in Indiana, “Maybe it’s because you’ve been doing it for 20 years, but you just cleaned up.” After stating, “You knocked me off my feet,” Heidi Klum startled everyone in the room by pressing the Golden Buzzer. In just one week, the heartbreaking video has amassed an astounding 8 MILLION views on YouTube!

Heidi walked backstage to see Richard ring his fiancée, Angie, to break the good news, and Richard was clearly overjoyed when she joined him on stage to congratulate him. “Oh my God!” she cried into the speakerphone. I was aware of it! I informed you!

Richard admitted that he has loved music since he was a little child, turning up his RadioShack stereo to such a high volume that his mother would rap on the ceiling with a broom in an attempt to get him to stop talking. He declared to Yahoo that “I adore all genres of music.” I adore songs that start out slow and build in intensity before you just start belting it out at the finish. His selection of music for AGT was ideal.

Richard rehearsed his singing in the school halls where he worked, at different karaoke events, and during stints on local radio contests prior to his AGT audition. However, music took on a new significance after his wife Patty passed away from cancer in June 2021: “When you’re married for a long time and they pass away, you’ve got that void there, and your biggest concern is figuring out who you are without them […]” Once more, music served as the bridge.

Richard has already gone viral twice online, the first time being in 2022 when he appeared in a talent contest at an elementary school. That video has had over 3 million views on TikTok and half a million likes! This time, Richard is participating in America’s Got Talent! Richard Goodall is on Instagram. Follow his adventure and get more updates there. What an unbelievable ability.