From cleaning classrooms to the silver screen, a former custodian’s journey is set to become a feature film.
Richard Goodall, an Indiana janitor, is known by staff, students, and America as the “singing janitor.” For more than 20 years, Goodall served West Vigo Middle School, Terre Haute, Indiana. Although creating and maintaining safe environments was rewarding, nothing could have prepared the 56-year-old for what would become of an audition for America’s Got Talent.
Captivating audiences nationwide, Goodall’s rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” earned him a lauded Golden Buzzer. This momentum propelled him to the finale, and in 2024, he secured the Season 19 win. Following his success, Goodall returned to his community to continue cleaning and singing. However, his talents were no longer confined to Indiana.
Now a national figure, he released his first single in September 2024, and his social media accounts contain over 200,000 followers. Yet, Goodall’s stardom was best celebrated by the students who recognized his talent in the first place. In an article covering his return to the middle school, he shared that he was asked to autograph tennis shoes, cell phone cases, and more.
Recently, Goodall announced his retirement. After two decades of service, he is devoting his time to his other passion, music. He leaves behind a lasting legacy, with West Vigo Middle School retaining his winning song as the school’s hymn. Moreover, this impact will now be recognized through a new film project.
Everard Entertainment and Mad Chance signed a deal with Goodall to follow his path from custodian to celebrity. Produced by Ben Everard and Andrew Lazar, Goodall’s life journey illustrates the importance of following dreams and staying true to oneself.
“When you’re a janitor, a lot of people, not necessarily take you for granted, but you’re the person that’s there behind the scenes that makes sure everything gets done that needs to be done,” Goodall shares in an interview. “I’m just like anybody else.”
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