Terre Haute 'singing janitor' returns to Hollywood, 'America's Got Talent'

TERRE HAUTE — Richard Goodall, Vigo County’s celebrated singing janitor, is back in Hollywood preparing for the semifinals of America’s Got Talent.

He will be up against 11 other performers in a live show that airs at 8 p.m. EST on Wednesday on NBC; results will become known in a live show that airs at 8 p.m. Thursday.

During the live semifinal round, the 12 acts will compete for six open finale spots.

Viewers will be able to vote for their favorite act at NBC.com/AGTVote and via the AGT App.

The final round will feature the six semifinal winners and the four live show Golden Buzzer recipients; it will take place Tuesday, Sept. 17 with results revealed Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Those top 10 acts will compete for the honor of becoming the Season 19 champion and the winner of the $1 million prize.

On Wednesday, the 12 semifinalists include Goodall; band Ashes & Arrows; dog act Roni Sagi & Rhythm; magician Young-Min; singer Alex Sampson; drone act Sky Elements; aerialist Kelsey Jane; comedian Learnmore Jonasi; singer Reid Wilson; Brent Street dance group; singer Pranysqa Mishra; and quick-change magician Solange Kardinaly.

In an interesting local twist, Sky Elements co-founder Tyler Johnson is a 2016 mechanical engineering graduate of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Goodall has a picture of himself and the Sky Elements team on his Facebook page.

In May, Goodall wowed a national television audience and a panel of celebrity judges on “America’s Got Talent” with his rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Judge Heidi Klum hit the talent show’s golden buzzer, which advanced Goodall to the live quarter final round.

During a live quarterfinal round in August, he was one of three acts with the highest vote totals to advance to semifinals.

In that performance, Goodall sang an emotional rendition of Michael Bolton’s song, “How am I Supposed to Live Without You.” He dedicated the song to his fiancée, Angie Vanoven.

There were a total of four quarterfinal rounds over four weeks.

Goodall, who been with the Vigo County School Corp. for more than two decades, has gained national fame and affection since appearing on AGT.

After a welcome back celebration at West Vigo High School Aug. 19, Goodall reflected on what means the most to him.

“It’s everybody coming together for one thing. That’s what music does. At the end of the day, everybody coming together … and having a good time,” he said.

People, and families, are putting down their cell phones and other devices and watching AGT together, Goodall said. “They are bonding together.”

They are stopping and saying, “This is the guy that … I want to see him do good,” Goodall said.

As he prepares for AGT semifinals, it will be no different than his two prior performances, he said. “I have no expectations. I’m going to go in there and do my best, and I’m going to leave it all out on the stage. Just like I did the last two times.”