'Singing janitor' Richard Goodall wins 'AGT' Season 19 but fans divided over his victory

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA: The conclusion of America's Got Talent Season 19 has left the fanbase divided after Richard Goodall, a janitor-turned-singer, was crowned the winner, edging out fan-favorites Roni Sagi and her dog, Rhythm, who finished as the runners-up.

While Goodall walked away with the grand prize of $1 million, many viewers were left questioning the decision, believing that Sagi’s unique dog act should have been the one to win.

Did Richard Goodall deserve to win 'AGT' Season 19?

Social media erupted following the announcement of Goodall’s win, with fans sharing their frustration over what they perceived as a mismatch between talent and the final outcome.

On X (formerly known as Twitter) user wrote, "Congrats to Richard... BUT he is an average singer, and that's it, in my opinion. Roni Sagi & Rhythm deserve the win. It's an actual talent, and you can't compare it to an average singer."

Another commenter voiced their dissatisfaction, saying, "No. Disagree! Roni and Rhythm should have won!"

Others echoed similar sentiments, with one user stating, "Should have been Roni Sagi & Rhythm. It takes talent to put on a show with a dog, whereas Richard sounded the same every week."

Several fans speculated that Goodall’s victory was more about his backstory than his actual talent, with one post reading, "This is such a sympathy pick. C'mon."

Another viewer pointed out, "America voted for the story. Sure, he is a good singer, but so many acts were better and Vegas-worthy."

The criticism didn’t stop there. One fan remarked, "If you like karaoke. Sorry, now I know why I stopped watching," while another added, "I swear AGT rarely gets the winner right. Richard Goodall is a good story and he’s a good singer, but there is NO WAY he beats out Roni and Rhythm or the dance group BrentStreet."

Not all the feedback was critical. One fan commented, "Congrats to Richard! I’m so thrilled for him!"

Another added, "So glad he won! His voice reminds me of Steve Perry’s. Honestly, when I think of Journey, I think of Steve Perry. In just one week, he got married, performed with Journey, won AGT, and a million dollars! What a week!"

Another fan shared, "Beautiful! I've followed Richard since his first performance and I’m so happy for him!"

"Absolutely deserved the win this year. Really happy for Richard," someone else wrote.

'AGT' Season 19 winner Richard Goodall reflects on victory

Richard Goodall, a humble janitor from Terre Haute, Indiana, has gone from cleaning school hallways to center stage after winning 'America's Got Talent ' Season 19.

Goodall, who captured the hearts of millions with his emotional performances and inspiring backstory, is now more than just a singing janitor - he's the latest AGT champion. "It feels awesome to me," Goodall shared after his win, as reported by Collider.

Season 19 of 'America's Got Talent' was packed with diverse talent, all competing for the coveted $1 million prize. With Terry Crews returning as host and judges Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Simon Cowell at the helm, the competition was fierce.

The top five finalists for 'AGT' included acts like acrobatic troupe AIRFOOTWORKS, dancer Solange Kardinaly, and the crowd favorite duo, Roni Sagi and her dog, Rhythm. But it was Goodall's powerful voice and genuine personality that earned him the top spot.

Goodall’s journey began in the premiere episode when he performed Journey’s classic anthem 'Don’t Stop Believin’. His rendition moved judge Heidi Klum so much that she hit the Golden Buzzer, fast-tracking him to the live shows.

Goodall returned to Los Angeles for the live quarterfinals in August, where he sang Michael Bolton's "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You?"

Singing 'Eye of the Tiger' by Survivor earned him the spot in the finals.

He then performed 'Faithfully' by Journey for the finals, earning a lot of praise from the judges. 

"You are such an amazing man. You're so humble, you're so kind," Heidi Klum had said during the finals. "I want you to win this so bad, Richard."

"We all need a hero right now, and you are our hero," Simon Cowell said.

"I will make a prediction right now: I think you just sang yourself $1 million," Mandel said predicting Goodall's victory. 

Reflecting on the experience, Goodall said, “This whole journey on AGT has been just amazing. I’ve learned so much from everyone, not just the people in front of the camera.”

Despite his newfound fame, Goodall remains grounded. “I’m not fancy. There’s nothing fancy about me,” he admitted, adding that it’s been an “absolute honor” to have people connect with him and his talent. He shared a humorous story about his brush with fame, recalling how a security guard at Ralph’s recognized him. “I thought, ‘Oh crap, what’d I do?’ But he just said, ‘You’re on that show!’”

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