He Was Just a School Janitor... Then He Cleaned Up the AGT Stage and Shocked America!

Hello Very nice to meet you And what is your name, please? I'm Richard good all I'm from Terre Haute, Indiana And Richard, how 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, okay, so tell me what the big dream is, please My big dream I Like to sing I love to sing so Okay, does everyone know you you've come out today to audition? Just just my close-knit friends and my fiance Angie. Oh Is she here with you today no, so she's the one you're gonna call Yeah after the audition. Yeah. Yes immediately. Yes. Okay. All right, and the song you've chosen today Tell me why you chose it Well The song speaks for itself, so okay. All right. I'm not gonna ask any more questions. Let's do it. Good luck whoo, ah You bit nervous. Yeah This has been a long time coming. Oh bless you Shake off those nerves We're here we're rooting for you Richard good luck Living just to find Richard you are my hero Because that was special genuinely special I think America is gonna love you I Mean that was spectacular. That was fun. This was an amazing surprise I think you were perfect to come to a YouTube because you made our night. Thank you, man 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 Richard Richard Richard you knocked me off my feet 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 gonna do for you because I love you I Stuck on a hill It's been a Call your fiancee 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 I Got the gold And this is for you little keepsake from your golden banana You do what you do every day, you know and not everybody gets to do Great wonderful things so you do great and wonderful things where you're at sweeping up Doritos off the floor and singing in the halls I'm just a working-class person. I Never dreamed all of this would happen. I seen Heidi talking to Howie, but I had no idea what she was saying I thought that Heidi did not like me. This is what I'm gonna do for you This is where it all happened amazing the night that it aired my fiancee Angie just had a heart surgery I had a major heart attack. I almost died So rich supported me helped me get through that She didn't stop believing she kept fighting, but I never dreamed that All of this would happen I know I Knew all along that you could do it You're gonna knock this out of the ballpark, too. I'm gonna do my best I have no idea how I would live without her tonight. This song is for her I can hardly believe it When I heard the news today, I had to come and get it straight You Said you were leaving someone swept your heart away From that look upon your face. I see it's true So tell me all about it tell me about the plans you make it Tell me one thing Tell me Now Tell me How am I supposed to live without you Now that I've been loving you so hard How am I supposed to live All that I've been living for Yes But I just have when you sing with every syllable that you sing I'm so happy also that your fiancee is doing well, and I'm so happy to see you on the stage you guys Simon Richard, do you now start believing in yourself? Yes, sir, yes, sir, I really do I think you're one of the most memorable contestants we've had for a long long time I'm gonna be honest with you Richard. I Wouldn't have chosen that song I think it was too old-fashioned for you because that was what made your first audition special however, the good news is you nailed it and there's still somewhere to go and If you make it through you you really do have a shot winning this whole competition That was so beautiful, I mean if this was for your fiance that was I mean she must be feeling so special and so happy I mean, it doesn't feel like karaoke song. This feels like something that you made your own congratulations tonight. Thank you Yeah, vote. We love you. You're adorable vote only three are going through Listen Richard, how does this feel? How does this whole experience feel for you right now? Oh my Simon your people behind the stage are just as amazing as you folks out front I'm not supposed to be here right now school just started and I'm supposed to be back there taking out the trash or wiping off the table Going into the semi-final I Never dreamed this is this is real We did great Richard Goodall. The singing janitor is back home His voice was like so pure and now he's like a superstar my first day back to work They certainly a big pep rally at the high school seeing all the kids cheer for me. Just wow That makes me want to fight all that much harder to make it into the finals You're gonna find a song. No one is gonna expect you to sing like no one Simon really did challenge me in this next round and every song that I sing it means something in my life I've been singing in the halls for 23 years. I know how lucky I am to be here and it's not wasted on me Mr. Richard you represent so much of all of us Hopefully the song connects with people Why did you choose that song I'm fighting for Plain simple. I got I got this shot. I'm like Rocky. I gotta go for it With the distance now I'm back just a man So many times happens too fast you treat your passion for glory Don't lose your grip It was the last song in the world I would expect you to sing Because People love you about the fact that you've chosen a real Underdog song and you are like the underdog in a way, but in a really positive way And it was like you just got to the top of the steps. I love that Sophia I love that you pick such an iconic song that people love you buddy. Is that it said everything? I'm very pumped and speaking of I think I'm as pumped but not as big as the heart this guy Have you have the biggest heart in this whole competition an exciting day? Yeah, where are we heading? How about I've been a janitor for 23 years Before a GT my life was very normal I mean, I would never have thought any of this up never. Oh my gosh, you're just doing what you do You don't think you're all that special This is something you see in movies And here I am. You really do have a shot winning this whole competition Wild That you are an inspiration to our students staff and the entire community West Vigo loves you and you're amazing and don't give up. I'm hoping I'm not looking for a for a new janitor But Richard if I am it means you want it all So many people believing in me rooting for you. We're cheering for you straight in a person Shoot for your dreams and make it happen I love your audition man, and I have a surprise for you. I'm coming to perform with you on the finale I will see you really soon Not ready for it to end at all We'll go round Restless heart sleep alone Say that Honestly from the minute you came on the show You know what We all need a hero right now and you are our hero In right now, I think you just sang yourself 1 million dollars Richard has watched you evolve from a janitor into a rock star How has this AGT journey changed your life? Thank You America, thank you, Tarahoe, Indiana Midwest America Just a small town girl She took the midnight train Just a city boy He took the midnight train It goes on We've been on tour for the last six months I've been watching this phenomenon He's an amazing singer an amazing man, and I'm proud to be here today for him When you first sang that song at the auditions, did you ever imagine you would be on stage with your heroes? No clue, I mean so I just pinched me just pinch me You just had one dream come true and this week another came true for you You got me is the love of my life. I love her so much Congratulations to the two of you. I mean we always see the big hearts in your eyes I'm so so happy to do this you so much guys. That was a real AGT moment Did you know did you know if you if you breastfeed you could strengthen the child's immune system And it works. I haven't been sick since he was born full gray No before the unveiling happens I'm ready So he knows from the belly button down. I'm working Freeman You want to see a movie Shawshank seven my hearing has gotten awful I'm talking to this woman the other day, and she tells me she has a peanut allergy Right, I misheard the word I said what happens she said I start choking and gagging Normally if you're in a position of political power no matter what goes down You're supposed to remain calm and cool when not 11 went down Bush was calm and cool when Monica Lewinsky went down First got here and saw the line of people waiting to audition my father said to me wow This is so much longer than I expected it to be the last time I heard those words I was at my doctor getting a physical