The latest champion of “America’s Got Talent” has been announced.

Richard Goodall, who proudly calls himself the “singing janitor” from Indiana, won the competition with a heartfelt performance of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” that gained immense popularity. He clinched the top prize during the finale of “AGT” on Tuesday night.

Goodall, a strong vocalist who received Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer, outperformed nine other finalists including the amazing Tanzanian acrobatic group Hakuna Matata Acrobats, Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi, and the Japanese dance troupe AIRFOOTWORKS. In the end, the competition came down to Goodall and the duo of Roni Sagi and Rhythm, a dog act from Israel.

The moment everyone awaited finally took place when Goodall’s fan Neal Schon performed onstage with him and the band Journey, singing the iconic “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

Throughout his journey on “AGT,” Goodall captivated the audience with performances like Michael Bolton’s “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You,” Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” and finally, Journey’s “Faithfully.”

The finale was further highlighted by special appearances from Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and her Gold Over America Tour, as well as entertainers Michael Bublé, Steve Aoki, Gabriel Iglesias, and Andra Day.

Goodall’s victory was a delight to judges Klum, Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofía Vergara, and host Terry Crews, who have all admired him from the start.

“You are truly an amazing person. So humble and kind. You may be a bit quiet, but the moment you grab a microphone, you’re a superstar!” Klum expressed during the finale. “I desperately want you to win this, Richard.”

“You are our hero,” Cowell added, while Mandel confidently stated: “I believe you just won a million dollars with that performance. You’re the winner!”

‘Music Helped Me Heal’ after My Wife’s Passing’

“AGT” was a brand new experience for Goodall, who has devoted 23 years to the same school district in western Indiana and flew on a plane for the first time to audition for the show.

He has fond memories of singing along to his RadioShack stereo in his youth and performing at karaoke nights during the ’90s. He sang with two gospel groups until those activities stopped due to the pandemic. In 2021, he faced a heartbreaking loss when his wife Patty passed away from cancer.

“Losing someone you’ve been with for so long creates a void, and you start to question your identity without them,” he shared with the Indianapolis Star in May. “Music became a lifeline for me again.”

Just before the finale, Goodall married his fiancée, Angie Vanoven, with his “AGT” family present at the celebration. He announced on Facebook that they are now the VanGoodalls.

In 2022, Goodall first gained viral fame with his rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin'” during a graduation ceremony, which even caught the attention of former Journey frontman Steve Perry who praised it.

“Winning was never my goal,” he stated. “I just wanted to give it my best shot and be a worthy competitor.”

He intends to use his $1 million winnings to buy a double-wide trailer so he can settle in a senior living community in Florida and enjoy retirement, occasionally indulging in seafood and pasta dinners. “I’m not one for extravagance,” he noted.

Meet the ‘AGT’ 2024 Finalists

The Top 10 acts for this season were as follows:

• Roni Sagi & Rhythm (dance duo)
• Sky Elements (aerial drone performance)
• Learnmore Jonasi (stand-up comedy)
• Solange Kardinaly (quick-change magician)
• Brent Street (dance troupe)
• Richard Goodall (singer)
• Hakuna Matata Acrobats (acrobatic group)
• AIRFOOTWORKS (dance group)
• Dee Dee Simon (performer)
• Sebastian and Sonia (acrobats)

Contributor: Holly V. Hays, Indianapolis Star