By America’s Got Talent returned with a bang for its 19th season, showcasing an array of talented contestants, including dancers, comedians, magicians, and even a 2-year-old mathematician. However, it was the emotional Golden Buzzer moments that truly stole the show during the May 28 premiere.
The most touching moment of the night came when Richard Goodall, a 55-year-old janitor from Terre Haute, Indiana, took the stage and delivered a powerful rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Goodall’s voice, reminiscent of former Journey frontman Steve Perry, left the judges and audience in awe.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Goodall expressed his disbelief at receiving the Golden Buzzer from judge Heidi Klum. “Golden Buzzer [winners] are an elite group of people. I never in a million years expected to be in that class,” he said. “And I still can’t believe Heidi did that!”
Goodall, affectionately known as “Mr. Richard” by the students at Chauncey Rose Middle School, where he has worked for 23 years, shared his lifelong passion for singing. Despite his humble occupation, Goodall’s talent shone through, prompting Klum to declare, “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,” before pressing her Golden Buzzer.
The janitor’s emotional journey to AGT was not without its challenges. Goodall revealed that he had tried out for the show in 2009 but didn’t make it past the first round in Chicago. However, he never gave up on his dream, embodying the message of the song he performed. “The songs I love to sing are timeless, and they give everyone hope. That’s what I really want to do, just give people hope [and encourage them to] never give up,” he told PEOPLE.
Another Golden Buzzer moment came courtesy of host Terry Crews, who awarded it to Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi. Crews was moved by Jonasi’s dedication to his craft, which involved taking 14-hour bus trips to perform for just five minutes before making the long journey back home.
Speaking to PEOPLE at the AGT season 19 premiere, Crews expressed his pride in changing someone’s life instantly. “It’s literally better than money because if you give someone that endorsement — the thing that they need to continue their dreams, not only continue it, but actually put it in front of billions of people — it’s fantastic!” he said.
As the season progresses, both Goodall and Jonasi will undoubtedly be acts to watch, having already captured the hearts of the judges and audience alike. With their Golden Buzzer wins, they have secured their spots in the live shows and are one step closer to achieving their dreams on the biggest stage in the world.
