‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 19 Winner Talks Finale Performance and What’s Next

Both the jury and the audience America’s Got Talent warmly embraced singer Richard Goodall from the moment he took his first step AGT performed on stage and won the Golden Buzzer Heidi Klum.

Even before becoming a homeowner Terry Teams Goodall announced AGT The winner of Season 19, the former “singing janitor” was already a champion. Not only was she the sentimental favorite throughout the season, but Goodall married her girlfriend Angie Vanoven the week before the finale taping.

“You’ve got your (to-do) list on one side and then you’ve got your ‘top shelf to-do lists’ on the other side. You can never imagine something like that happening,” Goodall told TV Insider when it came time to take the stage with rock band Journey in tonight’s finale.

Throughout the season, Goodall never lost her humility or sense of gratitude as she delivered soulful performances of “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You,” “Eye of the Tiger” and “Faithfully.” “I had no expectations (of winning),” she says. “That’s how I went into every round.”

Goodall certainly wants her victory to herald the start of a new life. Understandably, she says specific plans are up in the air. “We’ll just see what opportunities come our way,” she says. “(Angie and I) will sit down and figure out what’s the best route for us. The sky’s the limit.”

For a long time AGT judge Howie Mandel says there was a wealth of talent throughout the season, but he thinks America was on the right track by voting for Goodall. “We saw the best of everything this season,” Mandell says. “We saw the best dancing, the best magic… but Richard had that added value. He made your heart explode.”

Goodall’s story is like something out of a movie – an underdog who hits it big in Hollywood and becomes a big success. “(But) this is not a movie,” Klum says. “This is real.”

Just like she did at the auditions, Klum ran up to the stage and congratulated Goodall after she was announced as the winner. “I told her I loved her and she deserved it,” Klum said, explaining what she told the winner.

“When Heidi gave me the Golden Buzzer (at my audition), I was so happy,” Goodall recalls. “I was just going to fly here, sing a song and fly home. I never imagined all this would happen.”

Vanowen didn’t see anything wrong with the groom and Klum embracing, even though they were still on their honeymoon. “If it wasn’t for her… he could have hugged Heidi Klum,” Vanowen says with a smile.I I hugged Heidi!”

Not only will Vanowen be changing her last name, she says her husband will too. “We’ve combined our last names,” she says. “Our new legal name will be ‘VanGoodall.’ We’ll be ‘Richard and Angela VanGoodall.'”

Goodall says she had the chance to chat with Rhythm and Roni, who finished second after the show. The unique group of dogs includes Roni Sagi and her black and white border collie, Rhythm. “I gave her a hug and said, ‘Remember how amazing you are,’” Goodall says. “And she’s amazing. The training it takes for a dog to do things like that is really amazing.”

Goodall has advice for people who believe they have talent and something to offer the world. “Don’t underestimate yourself,” she says. “If you’re going after a dream, go for it, you know? Don’t stop believing.”