Singing Janitor Richard Goodall Shines on AGT Earns Standing Ovations

Richard Goodall, a 55-year-old school janitor from Terre Haute, Indiana, amazed everyone with his strong performance of “Eye Of The Tiger” during the semifinals of America’s Got Talent.

Support and Golden Buzzer Moment for Richard

Richard’s journey started with a Golden Buzzer from judge Heidi Klum, 51, early in the season. After his performance, Heidi was so impressed that she gave him a standing ovation. “I’m not supposed to be here right now. School just started and I’m supposed to be back there taking out the trash and wiping off the tables,” Richard said before his performance.

The support from his students has been a big boost for Richard. He was celebrated with a pep rally at his high school, where the students cheered him on. “Seeing all the kids cheer for me just, wow. That makes me want to fight all that much harder to make it into the finals,” he said.

Following Simon Cowell’s advice to go bold, Richard sang “Eye Of The Tiger” with a guitarist by his side. His vocal range and stage presence earned him applause from the audience. Heidi was thrilled and exclaimed, “Are you kidding me right now? Epic performance. Epic performance. Honestly, I thought that you could not top what you did last time, but you did it. You topped it. America, please, you have to vote for Richard!”

Simon also praised the song choice. “It was the last song in the world I would expect you to sing. It was a mash up. People love you,” Simon said. He added, “It’s something about the fact that you’ve chosen a real underdog song and you’re the underdog in a way. In a really positive way. It was like you got to the top of the steps. I love that.”

Sofia Vergara, 52, was also happy with Richard’s performance. “I love that you picked an iconic song. People love you. I mean, it was amazing. I’m so happy for you. Enjoy this,” Sofia said.

Howie Mandel, another judge, praised Richard’s big heart. “I think I’m as pumped, but not as big as the heart this guy has. You have the biggest heart in the whole competition. We feel the love and we love you,” Howie said.

Host Terry Crews asked Richard how it felt to perform. Richard responded, “I am so blessed. I was ready and willing to fight for the finals!”

Judges’ Praise and Richard’s Emotional Response

The semifinals episode featured 12 acts with only six spots available in the finals. Other notable performances included Pranysqa Mishra, a 10-year-old singer who opened the show with “High Hopes,” and dentist-turned-aerialist Kelsey Jane, who impressed with her graceful moves.

Alex Sampson continued to wow the judges with his original songs. Howie Mandel predicted, “I still predict he’s going to go all the way. He’s going to be the biggest star of the season. I feel like I’m at his album listening party.”

Magician Young-Min from South Korea received mixed reviews from the judges, but country rock trio Ashes & Arrows and 15-year-old singer Reid Wilson also delivered strong performances. Reid sang a slowed-down version of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” and Heidi praised him, saying, “It’s been such a beautiful journey to watch you blossom on our stage.”

Dog act Roni Sagi & Rhythm added a prop to their dance routine, and Simon praised them, saying, “Honestly, this was better than anything I’ve seen before.”

Stand-up comedian Learnmore Jonasi from Zimbabwe had everyone laughing with his set, while the Sky Elements drone show created an emotional tribute to Preston Ward’s late daughter. Simon said, “I mean, who knew that drones could make you so emotional. That was a surprise. That was so beautiful.”

The Brent Street dance crew from Australia earned a standing ovation, and Simon apologized for his earlier criticism, calling their performance “absolutely stunning.”

Finally, quick-change artist and magician Solange Kardinaly closed the episode with a spectacular act. Howie said, “You create all your own stuff. You create the magic.”

Watch the full performance below: