I've lived in Terre Haute my whole life.

I was that kid up in my bedroom with the Radio Shack stereo.

My favorite thing was just to sit up and listen to my music, and I just belted out.

Eventually, I was like, I gotta find me a job.

So I became a janitor at Chauncey Road Middle School, which is only three blocks away from my house.

My first job in LA was sweeping floors, and I used to sing to myself.

That's the thing that helped me.

That's how I keep up my voice, is this.

I'm not a fancy person.

I take out the trash.

I wipe off the tables.

I sweep the floors.

I'm just having fun, and I'm trying to make people happy.

The kids would hear me sing, and they'd tell me that I've got talent.

That's why I'm here.

That's why I got on a plane.

When I took off from Minneapolis,

I felt that front wheel come off the ground, and you have this floating.

You're no longer stable, and that's what this whole experience is like right now.

I mean, it's a good off-balance, but until you actually do something, you don't know if it's right for you or not.

Oh, I'm getting chicken skin talking about it.

It's time to meet the judges.

Thank you, sir.

I'm with you.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Hello.

Very nice to meet you.

And what is your name, please?

I'm Richard Goodall.

I'm from Terre Haute, Indiana.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

And, Richard, how old are you?

I'm 55.

55.

And what do you do for a living?

I've been a janitor for 23 years.

The kids call me Mr Richard.

OK. So tell me what the big dream is, please.

My big dream?

I like to sing. I love to sing.

So...

OK. Does everyone know you've come out today to audition?

Just my close-knit friends and my fiancée, Angie.

Oh!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Is she here with you today?

No.

So she's the one you're going to call after the audition, yeah?

Yes, immediately, yes.

OK. All right.

And the song you've chosen today, tell me why you chose it.

Uh, well...

The song speaks for itself, so...

OK. All right. I'm not going to ask any more questions.

Let's do it. Good luck.

Ooh!

Aw, are you a bit nervous?

Yeah. Uh...

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

It's OK, Richard.

This has been a long time coming, so...

Aw, bless you.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Let's go, Richard!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Shake off those nerves.

We're here, we're rooting for you, Richard.

Good luck.

I hope he's good. I know, I hope so. I really do.

MUSIC PLAYS

MUSIC CONTINUES

Just a small-town girl

Oh, my God!

Living in a lonely world

What?!

She took the midnight train

Going anywhere

Oh, yeah!

Just a city boy

Born and raised in South Detroit

He took the midnight train

Going anywhere

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

A cigarette in a smoky room

So amazing.

Smell of lies and cheap perfume

Oh, a smile that can share the night

It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting

Up and down the boulevard

The shadows searching in the night

CHEERING

Streetlights, people

Living just to find them all

Shining, hiding

Somewhere in the night

Don't stop believing

Hold on to that feeling

Streetlights, people

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Don't stop believing

Hold on to that feeling

Streetlights, people

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Wow! That was amazing!

Richard! Richard! Richard!

My God!

Please open the door

Richard, you are my hero.

Facing these odds

Trying to talk

Cos that was special.

I think America is going to love you.

I mean, that was spectacular. That was fun.

This was an amazing surprise.

I think you were perfect to come to AGT.

Because you made our night.

Thank you, man. You're beautiful.

You, and maybe because you've been doing it for 23 years, but you just cleaned up.

You just...

You know, I would imagine every kid that has ever been in a school with you is just screaming.

I just think you're amazing.

We love you, Richard!

Richard, Richard, Richard, you knocked me off my feet.

I mean, we all had the best time with you up there on that stage.

I really, really feel something when I see you up there and hear you up there.

And now, this is what I'm going to do for you.

Because I love you.

The darkness

Did I wait too long

To turn the lights back on

What was that?

That was amazing.

I can't wait to see what you're going to sing today.

Hell stuck on a hill

Outside was inside the home that we built

The cold settles in

It's been a long win

He deserves it.

And now I think we should go and call your fiancé.

Should we call her?

Go and call her.

Oh my gosh, you guys.

I've never even been on a plane.

This was not on my radar to come to California.

It's just a dream come true.

Happy you came.

Give it up one more time for Richard Goodall.

Yes, I'm here right now

I got the gold buzzer.

She said, I knew it, I knew it, I told you.

As we're laying in the darkness

As we're laying in the darkness

And this is for you, a little keepsake.

Thank you so much.

From your golden buzzer.

Thank you so much.

You