Reflecting on what he describes as the most transformative year of his life, Richard Goodall, the winner of America’s Got Talent 2024, admits that everything still feels a little unreal. “There’s no particular reason why this was my year. I didn’t go in expecting anything. It just turned out to be my time,” he said.
When he first flew out to audition, Goodall expected little more than a short trip and a humbling experience. “It was just going to be a chance to show what I had, then fly home quietly,” he laughed. “I never imagined what actually happened.”
Since his win, life has undoubtedly changed. But at his core, Goodall insists he hasn’t. “Yes, winning the show has changed things, but I’m still the same person. I’m still grounded,” he said. A big part of that, he admits, is thanks to the people around him—those who keep him level and remind him where he came from.
Remarkably, Goodall continues to work at the same school where he’s been employed for over two decades. “I’m still taking out trash, wiping down tables. The kids see me every weekday. I’m just Mr. Richard to them,” he said with a smile.
Though the road ahead is uncertain, Goodall and his wife Ang are ready for what’s to come. “Life is pretty unscripted right now. We’re figuring it out as we go. It’s not going to be a Monday-to-Friday kind of year,” he said.
He recently opened for Howie Mandel and has several concerts lined up, including stops in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and three Indiana cities in April. Beyond that, he’s booking corporate and private gigs and working with both a local and Las Vegas-based band for upcoming tours.
Despite the whirlwind of change, Goodall remains rooted in his small hometown of Terre Haute, although he hints they might one day escape the cold and try out the snowbird lifestyle.
To his fans, Goodall offers heartfelt gratitude. “To those who voted for me—thank you. I don’t take any of this for granted, and I plan to give back,” he said.
As he looks toward 2025, Goodall is energized by the possibilities. “Whether it’s on a local or national stage, I just want to leave something behind that matters. Right now, it feels like the sky’s the limit.”