‘America’s Got Talent’ Crowns Richard Goodall Its Winner Following Star-Studded Finale Event

America’s Got Talent came to an end tonight, September 24. The winner received $1 million and an opportunity to perform in Las Vegas. Out of the Top 10 contestants, there were some immediate fan favorites, such as Richard Goodall, the singing janitor from Indiana. There was also Learnmore Jonasi, who was in the running to be the first comedian to win America’s Got Talent.

However, it all came down to this final episode, where the winner was revealed. The judges shared their thoughts about who could win, turning it over to the fans to decide. America’s Got Talent had a star-studded show lined up for fans before revealing the winner.

The Top 5 was narrowed down with anticipatory pauses. SkyElements, Learnmore Jonasi, Richard Goodall, Solange Cardonalie, and Roni & Rhythm made it to the Top 5, and then there was just the winner left to crown. After a tense waiting period, Terry Crews finally got around to revealing the winner—Richard Goodall, who expressed that AGT has changed his life.

The show opened with a rousing performance by the Detroit Youth Choir, who danced onto the stage while singing a rendition of “High Hopes” by Panic! at the Disco. They invited host Terry Crews on stage, who showed off his slick dance moves as well. The opening show also included a drone showcase, and Olympic champion Simone Biles introduced other performances, which included a DJ set from Steve Aoki accompanying the dance troupe Airfootworks.

Richard Goodall Wins America’s Got Talent Following Star-Studded Finale

Richard Goodall took the stage with members of Journey to perform the song that got him on America’s Got Talent in the first place, “Don’t Stop Believin’.” The crowd and the judges were all on their feet for the amazing performance, reveling in Goodall’s rockstar moment.

Among the performances was new coach of The Voice Michael Bublé, who performed a jazzy tune in front of a glittering New York City-scape. Andra Day then took the stage in front of a spacey desert backdrop, showcasing her crystalline vocals to the delight of the crowd. She was joined by contestants Dee Dee Simon and the Detroit Youth Choir, and they performed The Beatles’ “Come Together” for an incredible spectacle.

All of the contestants had their moment to shine on the finale, paired up with spectacular stars. Comedian Learnmore Jonasi flew to Las Vegas to open for Gabriel Iglesias on his comedy tour, and America’s Got Talent followed him there to capture his emotions. At the end of the night, though, it was Richard Goodall who pulled out ahead, being named America’s top talent.

Featured Image by Trae Patton/NBC