“America’s Got Talent” winner Richard Goodall talks about his career and more

Six months ago, 55-year-old Richard Goodall was a janitor in Terre Haute, Indiana, whose soulful singing talent caught the attention of fans on TikTok. On Tuesday (September 24), Goodall was officially named the winner America’s Got Talent Season 19.

“I am who I am, a janitor for 23 years, now I sing songs on TV and sing with Journey. I mean, you can’t make this stuff up,” he says Billboard his reaction to the finale, where he performed on stage with the legendary rock band’s guitarist Neal Schon. He won the trophy ahead of his talented peers, including Roni Sagi & Rhythm, a dog-human dance duo; Solange Kardinaly, a magician; Sky Elements, a drone light show and more. “This is beyond surreal. I couldn’t make up everything that happened to me. I mean, there’s a bucket list and then there’s a bucket list you didn’t even know existed.”

From his audition, Goodall won the hearts of Americans with his everyday demeanor and down-to-earth attitude to life. In addition to his lovable personality, judge Heidi Klum was so blown away by Goodall’s effortless voice that she gave him the coveted Golden Buzzer, sending him straight to the live shows. “She just loved to hug me and tell me every time I saw her, ‘Well, what a wonderful job you’re doing.’ She’s an incredible woman,” Goodall said of the model.

However, AGT is just the icing on the cake of an exciting week for Goodall, who also married his long-time love Angie just before the finale. “It was long overdue. I proposed to her a very long time ago and she had the ring and everything. We’re a little older and didn’t really need a piece of paper to prove we were married,” he explains. “The thought came to both of us at the same time that it was just time to do it. We didn’t videotape it or anything, just a photographer. So as far as the show goes, it wasn’t about getting votes or anything like that. It was because we both decided it was time to really do it.”

While Goodall is open to future musical opportunities, he says he’s focused on being “smart” with the $1 million prize and letting his incredible performance guide him. “(Angie and I) are already talking to a financial advisor to make sure we’re being smart about all of this,” he reveals. “We’re not just two kids just acting on instinct. This popularity, this fame is new, but we want to be smart about it, and whatever happens in the near future, we can decide together as adults and as husband and wife and figure out what path we want to take.”

For now, Goodall remains an inspiration to people around the world who have a dream. “When you see me, I just scream normal human being. You might see me standing at the bus stop or you might see me on the way to Ralph’s to pick up your groceries and pick out my groceries. I don’t look like anything, you know, that’s extraordinary or supermodel-esque,” he says, before concluding with these wise words: “Nothing in this world is unattainable, but you have to work at it. You have to put in the time if you really want it. The sky’s the limit.”