Watch: ‘America’s Got Talent’ Winner Richard Goodall’s “Pinch Me” Moment Performing “Don’t Stop Believin’” With Journey

As the finale of America’s Got Talent season 19 came to a close, the top 10 finalists dwindled with the elimination of Zimbabwean stand-up comedian Learnmore Jonasi, Tanzanian acrobats Hakuna Matata Acrobats, costume change illusionist Solange Kardinaly, Japanese dance group AIRFOOTWORKS, and more until one man was standing.

Richard Goodall, the singing middle school janitor from Indiana, who first earned a Golden Buzzer during his May 2024 audition with a performance of the 1981 Journey classic “Don’t Stop Believin‘,” was crowned the season 19 AGT winner during the finale on Tuesday, September 24.

Throughout the competition, Goodall won Americans’ votes with performances of Michael Bolton‘s “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You,” Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” and another Journey hit, “Faithfully.”

Before his big win—beating out runner-up, the human and dog dancing duo Roni Sagi and Rhythm—the 55-year-old janitor from Terre Haute, Indiana shared one last AGT performance, joined by guitarist Neal Schon and members of Journey as his backing band.

[RELATED: 3 Outstanding Non-Journey Covers by ‘AGT’ S19 Winner Richard Goodall]

“We’ve been on tour the last six months, and I’ve been watching this phenomenon,” said Schon of Goodall following their performance. “He’s an amazing singer, an amazing man, and I’m proud to be here today for him.”

When AGT host Terry Crews asked Goodall how it felt to perform with his musical heroes, he responded, “Someone just pinch me. Just pinch me.”

Along with Goodall’s Journey surprise, the finale was a star-studded evening of performances, including Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles showing off some of her gymnastics and new The Voice coach Michael Bublé and his rendition of Nat King Cole‘s “L-O-V-E,” along with Steve Aoki joining AIRFOOTWORKS, and a performance by Andra Day and her introduction of S19 finalist DeeDee Simon with the Detroit Youth Choir.

Following Goodall’s S19 finale performance on September 17, he and his fiancée, Angie Vanowen were married in Malibu, California. “As of 3 pm Pacific Standard Time, Angie and I are now Richard and Angela VanGoodall,” shared the AGT champ in a Facebook post, along with a picture of the couple’s wedding bands.

“An amazing night, day, and night last night,” Goodall later added. “Married to my love with my ‘AGT’ family attending and we got the pleasure of eating in Malibu on the beach at Moonshadows. So blessed and eternally grateful.”

Photo: Trae Patton / NBC