America’s Got Talent season 19 crowned its winner on Tuesday night, handing over the $1 million to a well-deserved champion.

America’s Got Talent Season 19 Winner

The singer Richard Goodall, a high school janitor from Terre Haute, Indiana, was named the winner by viewers.

Goodall made headlines early in the competition when he received a Golden Buzzer from the judge Heidi Klum. From there, he quickly won over her fellow judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, and Sofia Vergara with his passionate renditions of ’80s power ballads and rock songs.

Goodall would typically sing during his 23 years working as a high school janitor. It was his students who encouraged him to audition for America’s Got Talent. The rest, as they say, is history!

Goodall ‘Surprised’ By His Win

After his win, Goodall told Entertainment Weekly that he was “completely and totally surprised” by his victory. He managed to beat out acts that included comedian Learnmore Jonasi, magician Solange Kardinaly, doggy dance act Roni Sagi and Rhythm, and six other finalists.

“It’s been a wild, wonderful roller coaster,” Goodall said, adding that only one aspect of the show has ended. “But the actual effects afterwards, I really haven’t felt yet. It’s not really sunk into me yet. It really hasn’t.”

When asked if he plans to continue working as a janitor even after his win, Goodall replied, “I mean, yeah, I plan to for a while still yet, and then invest a little, and then plan smart.”

Related: ‘America’s Got Talent’ Pays Tribute To Cheerleader Contestant Emily Gold After She Passes Away At 17

Goodall’s Plans For The $1 Million

As for what he will do with the money, Goodall is going to figure that out with his beloved wife Angela.

“Angela and I, we think everything out together,” he explained. “We don’t make any plans other than what we talk about together. We’re not fancy people, so it’s not going to be anything fancy or extravagant. We’re just regular people and the money is… we just try to be conservative about it. We have no idea or expectations of what’s coming ahead.”

“I really don’t have any expectations of what’s up next,” he continued. “This is the first time in mine and Angie’s life where life is pretty much up in the air. Not in a bad way, but in a good way. And we’re open to any and all possibilities, music or otherwise. Whatever comes our way, Ange and I are going to talk it over and see what’s right for us and then move forward.”

Related: Perry Kurtz, Fan-Favorite on ‘America’s Got Talent’ Killed In Hit And Run At 73

Goodall Wants ‘To Inspire People’

Now that Goodall has a platform, he is hoping to use it to bring people together in a time where we often feel incredibly divided.

“Yeah, I would like to sing music across America or whatever,” he said. “And I think the most important thing — and we’ve already achieved that in some ways — is to inspire people to not give up on their dreams, move forward, not give up hope, and to look for a brighter day.”

“Because there’s a lot going on in this world right now, and people just need a little bit of hope and kindness and tenderness,” Goodall lamented. “I think in today’s age, it’s kind of lost.”

Many feel that Goodall is the best America’s Got Talent winner in years. We can’t wait to see where his career takes him in the years to come!

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