Richard Goodall talked about what he plans to do with his $1 million prize. He said it will help him and his new wife, Angie, buy a house. But there is something about the America’s Got Talent winner’s job that will surprise everyone that makes his story even more interesting!
The beloved singing janitor from Terre Haute, Indiana, won Season 19 of America’s Got Talent on Tuesday, September 24. He had been in a fierce competition for weeks and put on moving performances. His journey included getting the Golden Buzzer from Heidi Klum, and it ended with a huge win that blew everyone away.
Goodall, who is 55 years old, won the prestigious title and a $1 million prize. He did this right after getting married to Angie. At the end of the show, he happily told everyone that they were getting married, which made the happy moment even better. “Right now my brain is like mush.” “It’s surreal, that’s not even close,” Goodall told PEOPLE in a tearful interview. “This has been a real thrill ride, and now it’s over, leaving behind golden dust everywhere.”
Before the finale of The Voice, Goodall sang “Don’t Stop Believin’” with members of the band Journey. This is the same song that the judges liked when he auditioned. “I never thought I’d be on this stage with them,” he said as he thought back on the event. I thought the audition would be fun, but I had no idea it would lead to this.
As the competition got tougher, tensions rose until host Terry Crews announced Goodall as the winner, which made the crowd cheer. “This is very important to Angie and me,” Goodall said about his wife. “It lets us start over, get a nice house, and help other people.”
Heidi Klum, who was clearly emotional, praised Goodall and said, “I’m beyond thrilled for him.” “I know this will change his life,” she said, mentioning how dedicated he is to his community and his job as a janitor. He plans to go back to that job for a short time before deciding what to do next with Angie.
During the chaos, Goodall shared the funny response Angie gave to his win: “She said, ‘I’m getting my house and a washer and dryer!’” In all seriousness, though, he thanked her for always being there for him on his journey.
