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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThis AGT Season 19 premiere recap follows Richard Goodall, a Terre Haute, Indiana, school janitor who sang Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” on May 28, 2024. Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer sent him to the live shows, and Goodall later won Season 19 with the reported $1 million prize and a new car.
Goodall’s audition worked because the performance and the backstory reinforced each other. He was introduced as a longtime school custodian who had spent years singing for students and colleagues, then delivered a familiar rock anthem with enough impact to change the room’s expectations.
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Key takeaways
- Richard Goodall, a school janitor from Terre Haute, Indiana, sang Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” in the May 28, 2024 premiere.
- Heidi Klum pressed the Golden Buzzer, sending Goodall directly to the Season 19 live shows.
- Goodall had worked as a janitor for 23 years and had sung in schools for much of his life, according to a 2024 National Education Association interview.
- Goodall later won America’s Got Talent Season 19, taking the reported $1 million prize and a new car.
- The Season 19 finale on September 24, 2024, featured Goodall performing with Neal Schon and members of Journey.
How did Richard Goodall win the Golden Buzzer?
Richard Goodall won Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer by performing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” during the America’s Got Talent Season 19 premiere. The official AGT audition video identifies Goodall as the Indiana school janitor whose cover earned Klum’s immediate decision to advance him to the live shows.
Goodall arrived with a deliberately ordinary introduction. In the audition clip, he described himself by saying, I’m not a fancy person.
He explained that his school job involved taking out trash, wiping tables, and sweeping floors while he sang to make people happy. The contrast between that everyday identity and the scale of the televised reaction became the defining story of the premiere. The official AGT audition video captures the performance and Golden Buzzer moment.
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Goodall’s first-ever plane ride took him to the audition, according to the official clip. The trip marked a national breakthrough for a singer who was already known within his Terre Haute school community, rather than someone with no prior connection to performing.
What did Richard Goodall sing on AGT?
Richard Goodall sang a cover of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” The song was the central musical choice of his audition, and Goodall’s vocal performance—not an original song or an elaborate stage production—drove the Golden Buzzer reaction.
Viewers who want to hear more of the band behind the audition can look for a Journey’s Greatest Hits CD as a music-listening follow-up. That recommendation is for Journey’s catalog, not official AGT merchandise and not a Richard Goodall album; Journey greatest-hits releases include “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Why did Goodall’s backstory resonate with viewers?
Goodall’s backstory supplied context without replacing the performance. According to the National Education Association’s 2024 interview, Goodall said he had been a janitor for 23 years and had sung in schools for much of his life. He also connected the AGT opportunity to a 2022 video of himself singing “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Rank #2
Goodall told the NEA, I’ve been a janitor for 23 years and on Veterans Day, I would sing ‘God Bless the USA.’
That detail helps explain why the audition felt like an extension of his school life as much as a sudden television opportunity. Goodall was not presented as a professional celebrity changing careers; he was a longtime school employee whose singing finally reached a national audience.
What happened after the Golden Buzzer?
Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer advanced Goodall directly to the live shows, but the Golden Buzzer was not the season’s final result. Goodall continued through the competition and eventually won Season 19.
The chronology matters:
| Moment | Date | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Season 19 premiere audition | May 28, 2024 | Goodall performed “Don’t Stop Believin’” and received Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer. |
| Season 19 finale | September 24, 2024 | Goodall won the season, defeating dance duo Roni Sagi & Rhythm for the reported $1 million prize and a new car. |
The Los Angeles Times’ finale report confirmed Goodall’s win and quoted him reflecting on the transformation: Simon [Cowell] says two minutes can change your life. My life has been transformed and I did it.
Rank #3
- Two albums in one: Greatest Hits – Volume 1 & Volume 2.
- 33 iconic tracks: Including hits like "Don’t Stop Believin’" and "Open Arms".
- Classic rock anthems: Essential songs from Journey’s legendary career.
- Perfect for fans: A must-have collection for Journey lovers.
- High-quality sound: Remastered for optimal listening experience.
Did Richard Goodall perform with Journey?
Yes. Richard Goodall performed with Neal Schon and members of Journey during the Season 19 finale, giving the season’s defining audition song a direct connection to the band associated with it. The finale performance added a retrospective payoff to the premiere: Goodall began the competition singing a Journey cover and ended it sharing the stage with Journey musicians.
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Where can viewers watch AGT Season 19?
NBC’s official America’s Got Talent program page catalogs the show and its Season 19 material, with Peacock identified as a viewing destination. Streaming availability and episode access can change by country, subscription status, and date, so viewers should check the current NBC or Peacock listing before planning a viewing.
For the premiere-specific performance, the official AGT video of Richard Goodall’s Golden Buzzer audition is the most direct source for the song, introduction, and Klum’s decision.
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Why the premiere remains memorable
The lasting appeal of the AGT Season 19 premiere is the sequence rather than a single label: a Terre Haute school janitor walked onto the stage, sang a familiar Journey anthem, and received Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer. His later victory makes the audition more significant in hindsight, but the premiere itself remains the moment when Richard Goodall’s local school-community identity became a national television story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who got the Golden Buzzer on AGT Season 19?
Richard Goodall received Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer in the AGT Season 19 premiere after singing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” The Golden Buzzer sent him directly to the live shows.
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Yes. Richard Goodall won America’s Got Talent Season 19 in the September 24, 2024 finale. He received the reported $1 million prize and a new car.
Best Value
- Journey's hit CD Greatest Hits (Remastered)!
What song did the Indiana janitor sing on AGT?
Richard Goodall sang Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” during his Season 19 audition. The performance became the signature moment of the premiere.
The Bottom Line
Richard Goodall received Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer in the May 28, 2024 AGT Season 19 premiere after singing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” He later won the season on September 24, 2024, taking the reported $1 million prize and a new car.
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