Richard Goodall’s story began in the quiet halls of Terre Haute, Indiana, long before America knew his name. He was born in 1968, the son of a working-class family, and grew up with a simple dream: to be heard. For more than two decades, he worked as a janitor in the Vigo County Public School System. Every morning, before the sun rose, Richard unlocked classroom doors, swept floors, and sang. His voice echoed down hallways, sometimes catching the attention of a student or teacher, but mostly it was just for him—a small act of faith in the middle of routine.

He never saw music as a path, just a private joy. “I just want to represent ordinary people, those who never thought they had a chance,” he once told a local reporter. The kids at school called him the Singing Janitor. They knew every song he sang, and sometimes, if the day was slow, they’d ask for their favorites. It was in these moments, surrounded by laughter and the smell of floor wax, that Richard felt most himself.

In 2022, a student filmed Richard singing “Don’t Stop Believin’” in the hallway. The video went viral, and suddenly, he was more than a local legend. The people of Terre Haute rallied behind him, posting notes and sharing stories. But even then, Richard kept his routine. He woke up at dawn, went to work, and came home to his wife, Angie Vanovven. Angie believed in him more than anyone else. She told him, “You have the voice, you have the story, and it’s time to tell it.” She helped him submit an application for America’s Got Talent in early 2024.

Richard had auditioned once before, back in 2009, but nerves got the best of him and his dream ended in the first round. This time, when the producers called, he sat in silence for a few minutes, overwhelmed by fear and excitement. He’d never left Indiana, never flown on a plane. Still, he decided to go. “If I can sing in front of a real audience just once, that’s enough,” he said.

He boarded his first flight with a small bag, a few shirts, an old pair of shoes, and a notebook full of lyrics. Students and colleagues sent him off with hugs and reminders: “Sing like you’re still in this hallway.” The journey from Terre Haute to Los Angeles felt surreal, but Richard carried a simple belief. He wanted to prove that ordinary people could do extraordinary things.

On May 28th, 2024, Richard Goodall stepped onto the stage of America’s Got Talent. He wore a familiar white shirt, holding the microphone with both hands, his face a mix of nerves and calm. When the melody of “Don’t Stop Believin’” began, the auditorium fell silent. By the end, Heidi Klum stood and pressed the golden buzzer. Gold confetti rained down, and Richard stood still, eyes brimming with tears. Simon Cowell smiled and said, “You’re a hero.” Millions watched as the performance spread across social media. The story of the janitor who sang for his students became a symbol of the American dream.

Television channels called for interviews, newspapers wrote about him as the phenomenon of the season. Richard remained humble. In the quarterfinals, he sang “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You,” a song he used to sing after school while mopping the floor. In the semifinals, he performed “Eye of the Tiger,” not technically complex but powerful and deeply emotional. “I just thought about my students thinking they were listening,” he told a reporter.

The finale aired on September 24th, 2024. The stage was designed like a school hallway, evoking the place where Richard first sang. He appeared with the band Journey, performing “Don’t Stop Believin’” once more. The atmosphere erupted, and the audience stood applauding for several minutes. When his name was announced as the winner, Richard bowed his head, covering his face with both hands, tears streaming down his cheeks. “I go into every single section of the show with no expectations,” he said later. “And so when they called my name, I was just flabbergasted.”

The $1 million prize and Las Vegas contract were awarded, but for Richard, the real reward was recognition. Terre Haute held a celebration. Streets were decorated with banners: “From our hallways to Hollywood.” Students and teachers lined up to greet him. He stepped out of the car in his simple outfit, smiling as always. “I just did what I’ve always done—sing to make people happy,” he said.

After the finale, producers invited Richard to perform in Las Vegas. He told them he wasn’t ready for celebrity life, but would try to live up to the opportunity. The cheers faded, the confetti settled, and the cameras turned off. Richard returned to his old pickup truck and his 5 a.m. mornings. The journey after victory would hold even more surprises than the night he was crowned.

Back in Terre Haute, Richard kept his habit of waking up at dawn, driving his truck to school, unlocking doors, and cleaning floors. “I’m just like anybody else. I probably do one of the most humblest jobs there is,” he said. The big win didn’t make him leave his job; he wanted to finish the school year for his students. In the afternoons, he gave interviews. To everyone around him, he was still the same janitor, only now known across the nation.

In August 2024, Richard appeared on the Kelly Clarkson show, performing “Don’t Stop Believin’” with the same calm sincerity. Soon after, he was featured on NBC Today, sharing his audition journey and life after the show. These interviews revealed that his humility hadn’t changed. On September 18th, 2024, Richard married Angie Vanovven in Malibu, California. It was a small ceremony, family and friends gathered as the sun set. Local media described the moment he held Angie’s hand as a symbol of a simple journey through glory.

After the wedding, Richard returned to Indiana. By year’s end, he was invited to perform at a fundraising event for underprivileged students. He sang “You Raise Me Up,” a song he once practiced with his students. The audience gave him a standing ovation. Richard participated in student gatherings, sharing his experience in pursuing dreams. He always said that winning didn’t make him special, just gave him a chance to tell a different story about perseverance.

By December 2024, Richard told Pop Culture Unplugged, “Fame didn’t change me. I still live in the same house, drive the same truck.” He visited his old school every week, sometimes helping out during events. He began working with a team in Nashville to record demo tracks. “Things are moving slow but steady,” he said. The media described this as a transition between labor and art.

The teachers’ lounge at his school displayed a framed photo of Richard covered with golden confetti. Whenever new students arrived, teachers told the story of the janitor who moved the nation. Richard said he didn’t want to be seen as a star. “What makes me proud isn’t the prize, but hearing my students call my name each morning. I still clean the classrooms. I still hear them laugh. I still sing if someone asks,” he said at a community gathering.

It seemed everything would settle down after the spotlight, but Richard was quietly preparing for another turning point. Not to compete, but to prove his voice belonged not only to the past, but to the present—inside a Nashville recording studio.

After 2024 ended with performance invitations, Richard moved to Nashville to begin recording professionally. The first sessions took place quietly. He was still getting used to the studio microphone and soundproof rooms, so different from the echoing halls of his school. Each time he sang, he imagined his students listening. That feeling kept him natural.

His debut single, “Long Time Coming,” was inspired by two years of transformation—from janitor to winner, then to singer. The melody was warm, simple, awakening belief that everything comes at the right time. Critics called it a hymn of hope for those who never gave up. “I just hope the song reaches someone out there,” Richard said.

On August 29th, 2025, “Long Time Coming” was officially released. The song appeared on major streaming platforms, accompanied by an image of Richard in a simple shirt holding a microphone under soft golden light. Listeners sent messages of gratitude, saying they found comfort in his voice. Local media called it a song written with faith, not with market formulas.

On September 24th, 2025, Richard returned to the America’s Got Talent stage during the season 20 finale. He performed “Long Time Coming” live for the first time before a television audience. The entire studio stood and applauded as he finished the final note. “It’s been a long time coming, but I feel like this is just the beginning,” he said softly.

After the broadcast, his personal website, thesingingjanitor.com, was launched. It featured his biography, behind-the-scenes photos, and links to music platforms. The introduction read, “I was a janitor who loved to sing. Now I’m a singer who never forgets where he came from.” His Nashville team confirmed a small tour across the Midwest—St. Louis, Chicago, Columbus. “I want to sing for everyday audiences, people like myself, who once dreamed a simple dream,” he shared.

Richard didn’t want to change his image. He drove himself, carried his own microphone, replied to fan letters at night. “I know someone is listening when they need hope, and that alone is enough for me to keep going,” he told a Nashville reporter. Critics took notice. Several newspapers described Richard as a rare phenomenon who preserved authenticity after the spotlight. He didn’t try to fit into the commercial music scene, but kept his style honest and unadorned.

From the recording studio to the next season’s America’s Got Talent stage, Richard had returned as a true singer. But when the applause faded, one question remained: Where does he now stand between fame, his hometown, and a dream that still hasn’t ended?

By the end of 2025, Richard Goodall was no longer just America’s most famous janitor. He had truly become an artist. He still lived in Terre Haute, keeping his daily rhythm and traveling between Indiana and Nashville for work. “Sky’s the limit for the future,” he told the New York Post. Media reported he was in talks with a major Nashville record label to sign an official contract. He didn’t reveal the company’s name, only saying that everything was moving in the right direction.

He continued to attend community events, never giving up his habit of appearing at school fundraisers. In mid-2025, Richard established a scholarship called the Singing Janitor Award for music-loving students in Indiana. “I want to create opportunities for young people like myself, those without wealth but with dreams,” he said. Three students received support for music lessons in September.

Hollywood showed interest in his story. A production company proposed a biographical film, and Richard expressed his wish for Zac Efron to play the lead role. “I don’t care much about who would act, as long as the film keeps the genuine spirit of this journey,” he said.

From a man who once sang in school hallways, Richard Goodall now had a song echoing across America. As of November 2025, his single, “Long Time Coming,” had surpassed 10 million streams on digital platforms. Spotify and Apple Music listed it among the nominations for Inspirational Song of the Year.

Even as his success grew, Richard remained calm and grounded. “This is home. This is where it all started,” he said in Nashville. He emphasized that he wouldn’t leave Indiana because this place reminds him why he began singing. On weekends, he returned to his old school, meeting former colleagues, singing for students.

His debut album was in its final production stages, featuring songs based on personal experiences. Several were written by Richard, telling stories of quiet days and perseverance, recorded with raw acoustic style and minimal effects. Music publications predicted the album could mark Richard’s transition from television phenomenon to independent artist. “Richard doesn’t chase fame. He builds faith one song at a time,” Rolling Stone wrote.

When asked about his future goals, Richard said, “I want to sing until I run out of breath.” He laughed, adding that he still kept a broom in his truck, a reminder never to forget where he came from. It was a detail that made fans love him even more—an ordinary man beneath the lights.

Richard Goodall’s journey is proof that dreams are not reserved for the famous or the fortunate. They belong to anyone willing to sing, even when no one is listening. And as his story continues, he remains the Singing Janitor—an artist who found his voice, and never forgot his roots.