The Room Erupted In Cheers For The 54-Year-Old Janitor’s Breathtaking Cover Of “Don’t Stop Believin’”
Throughout 18 seasons, “America’s Got Talent” has delivered countless surprises. Just when we thought we’d seen it all, a 54-year-old man named Richard Goodall took the stage in the premiere episode of the next season and left everyone in awe with his jaw-dropping audition.
Richard introduced himself to Simon Cowell and the panel of star judges, sharing his story. He revealed that he had been a school janitor for 23 years, living and working in Terre Haute, Indiana, his entire life.
Despite his humble background, Richard had a dream that took him beyond the confines of his small town.
Before his audition, Richard had never traveled west of Missouri. He took his first-ever plane flight to make it to Los Angeles for this moment. His courage and determination to step out of his comfort zone and pursue his passion touched the hearts of everyone in the audience.
The janitor was clearly racked with nerves when he stepped out on the AGT stage. His eyes were tearing up with anxiety as he told the judges this audition had been “a long time coming.”
Empathizing with Richard, Richard said, “We’re rooting for you, Richard!” Richard’s performance struck a chord with both the judges and the audience.
Check it out in the video below, which has hit 11.5 million views within 10 days:
Richard’s first verse of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” brought the crowd to its feet. His nerves vanished, replaced by the unexpected strength of his vocals. Richard hit his high notes with an outstanding tone like a pro that some viewers say is better than Steve Perry’s original vocal.
Even Simon Cowell couldn’t resist joining in, raising a finger in a small dance move. He declared, “Richard, you are my hero.”
Overwhelmed by the audience’s reaction, Richard burst into tears. Sofia, smiling, told him, “You made our night.” Howie Mandel joked, “Maybe it’s because you’ve been doing it for 20 years, but you just cleaned up!”
Heidi Klum admitted, “You knocked me off my feet,” before surprising everyone by hitting the Golden Buzzer.
