Richard Goodall, a 55-year-old school janitor, became the winner of America’s Got Talent season 19 in a true underdog story that culminated with him claiming a $1 million prize.
He beat out a drone light show, and a dog act to win the finale with a belting rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin.'”
He made it to the final with performances of other famous falsetto tracks like “Eye of the Tiger,” and Journey’s “Faithfully.”
But it wasn’t all neon lights and red carpets for Goodall, who had an audition tape turned down by NBC’s The Voice on his way to AGT. Perhaps frustrated by the rejection, Goodall took the opportunity of a 5th-grade graduation ceremony to sing “Don’t Stop Believin'” when the occasion typically calls for a patriotic song by Lee Greenwood instead.
TikTok was sent into a frenzy over “Indiana’s singing janitor,” who was encouraged by commenter after commenter to audition for AGT as well.
Throughout the season, Goodall repeatedly won the audience’s vote, beating out a Zimbabwean comedian, a death-defying Tanzanian acrobat troupe, and others to claim Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer and help win host/judge Howie Mandell a wager he had made from day one that the singing janitor would go all the way.
“You are such an amazing man. You are so humble, you’re so kind. You are also a little bit quiet, but not when you are behind the microphone!” Klum told Goodall during the final round. “Then you are a big rockstar! … I want you to win this so bad, Richard.”
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When he eventually did, Goodall ran it back alongside Journey founder Neal Schon, who had been following his progress, and the rest of the band for a stellar performance.
His employer of West Vigo Middle School did its part to drum up support among the community for Goodall, and since the $1 million is paid as an annuity over decades, he’ll be showing up on Monday to sweep and mop the floors as he’s been doing for years “at least for a while…”
WATCH the finale-winning performance below…
SHARE This Unbelievable Rags To Riches Story With Your Friends’ Who’ve Stopped Believin’…