Richard had never done anything quite like this before. In fact, before he auditioned, he revealed that he had never even been on an airplane until his trip to California for the show!
The nerves were palpable, but the moment the iconic opening notes of ‘Don’t Stop Believin” filled the air, Richard’s worries seemed to disappear. Both the audience and judges were on the edge of their seats, completely unaware of the extraordinary performance that awaited them.
Richard’s rendition of the classic song was nothing short of spectacular. His voice, rich with emotion and power, perfectly captured the spirit of the song, leaving everyone in awe. Heidi Klum was so moved by his performance that she pressed her Golden Buzzer, catapulting Richard straight to the live shows.
After his performance, Simon Cowell confidently declared: “America is going to love you.” Judging by the overwhelming positive feedback from fans, it seems Simon was absolutely right.
“If you told me this was Steve Perry and I was blindfolded, I would believe you,” one fan wrote on YouTube. “I’ve never been this blown out of my seat since Nightbirde’s audition three years ago. Richard deserves this shot. He didn’t stop believing, and now everyone is going to be on his side. Out of this stratosphere, Richard.”
Another person shared a heartfelt comment: “I can’t express with words how proud I am to be able to say that I am one of the kids who always told him how amazing his voice is. My favorite part of walking through the hallway of elementary school is hearing this phenomenon. Richard, you are indeed a true hero.”
Richard Goodall’s journey from a school janitor to an AGT Golden Buzzer recipient is not only astounding, but it goes to show the true magic of pursuing one’s passion.