America’s Obtained Expertise took a break from the Season 20 competitors on Tuesday evening (August 12) to have fun a milestone second, trying again at 20 seasons of unbelievable expertise with a particular “AGT twentieth Birthday Get together” episode.
After a montage of memorable moments from the present’s historical past, Season 19 winner Richard Goodall kicked issues off correctly with a sensational efficiency of Survivor’s 1982 hit “Eye of the Tiger.” The beloved college janitor received the hearts of America final 12 months along with his highly effective voice, amiable persona, and heartwarming backstory.
In a clip shared on the AGT Instagram web page, Goodall watched his authentic audition, the place he wowed the viewers, in addition to judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara, and Heidi Klum, with a jaw-dropping rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Cease Believing.”
“After I’m completed singing, the group simply screams,” Goodall recalled. “I by no means anticipated that response.”
Goodall’s audition obtained excessive reward from the judges and earned him Klum’s Golden Buzzer, sending him straight via to the reside exhibits. After the golden confetti rained down, Goodall was unable to struggle again the tears and let his feelings spill out on stage.
“Yeah, I couldn’t maintain it collectively after that,” the 56-year-old singer shared within the current day, getting choked up as he rewatched the second. “Earlier than coming to America’s Obtained Expertise, I’d by no means, ever been on a aircraft, by no means been west of Missouri, so all of this was a completely superb time.”
After successful the hit competitors collection, Goodall returned to his residence in Indiana and his day job as a college janitor. “I’m nonetheless on the college,” he instructed NBC in June 2025. “However issues are happening behind the scenes, you already know, some concert events are popping up. Loads of superb issues are simply popping up, so I’ll proceed to work on the college till, you already know, I can’t anymore.”
That very same month, he teased on Instagram that he’d been engaged on music tasks amid a visit to Nashville. “Wow, what an incredible time I had in Nashville! So many issues taking place behind the scenes that I can inform you about quickly!” Goodall captioned a picture from the journey.
Goodall wasn’t the one AGT alum who returned to participate in Tuesday’s festivities. Throughout his efficiency, he was backed by Season 17 percussion group The Pack Drumline and Season 19 dancers of Los Osos Excessive College.
Different performers included Season 17 saxophonist Avery Dixon, Season 17 singer Sara James, Season 12 rollerblade duo Billy and Emily England, and Season 15 aerialist Alan Silva.
Common Season 20 episodes will return subsequent Tuesday (August 19) when the Quarterfinals start. There may even be a outcomes present added to the schedule on Wednesdays, which is able to air for an hour at 8 p.m.
America’s Obtained Expertise, Season 20, Tuesdays and Wednesdays (starting August 20), 8/7c, NBC