Season 19 of “America’s Got Talent” is only six weeks old, but already we have a clear front-runner on the viral audition front. Singing janitor Richard Goodall appeared on the May 28 season premiere and has since racked up 18 million views on the official “AGT” YouTube channel (plus millions more across social media), more than any other act this year. In fact, no one else even comes close. Re-watch the emotional video above, which ends with Heidi Klum anointing Richard with her Golden Buzzer.
The audition began with the 55-year-old from Indiana telling judges Heidi, Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara and Howie Mandel about his life-long dreams of becoming a singer. In order to make money, he took a janitorial job at an elementary school, seeing himself as “not a fancy person.” When his students heard him singing in the school halls, they encouraged him to try out for NBC’s reality TV show because he’s “got talent.” And the rest is history.
Richard’s song choice was “Don’t Stop Believin’,” the classic 1981 Journey tune that took on new life in recent years thanks to “Glee.” Following the performance, Simon said he was “genuinely special.” Sofia called him a “perfect” contestant because he’s an “amazing surprise.” And Heidi remarked, “You knocked me off my feet … And now, this is what I’m gonna do for you ’cause I love you.” She then slammed her hand down on the golden button, giving Richard his long-awaited confetti shower.
After the cameras stopped rolling, Richard went backstage where he spoke in a private confessional. “I couldn’t help but cry,” he told the “AGT” producers. “I mean … me … you know? I’m just a regular person. I’m the guy that wipes down the tables and takes out the trash and sweeps the floor.” He added later, “I kept on singing to the kids. I kept doing what I do. I mean, ‘Don’t Stop Believin” has kind of been a mantra. I got a Golden Buzzer!”
Besides Richard, here are the other acts that have received Golden Buzzers so far throughout Season 19: comedian Learnmore Jonasi (pushed by Terry Crews), singer Liv Warfield (Simon), drone group Sky Elements (Simon), dance crew Legion (Sofia), dancer Brent Street (Howie) and singer Pranysqa Mishra (Heidi). Do you think any of these contestants has when it takes to go the distance and join the “AGT” winners list?
