America’s Got Talent winner Richard Goodall sings the National Anthem before the start of the Indiana State men’s basketball game Nov. 7 at Hulman Center.

He’ll be flying to California twice over the holidays for some performances — including one in which he’ll open for Howie Mandel, a comedian and judge on “America’s Got Talent.” He also has a concert in Pennsylvania in January; it will be with a Las Vegas tribute band.

Goodall works with a manager and booking agent. “I’m learning the business side of all this,” he said.

And, he anticipates more bookings next year, particularly as the weather gets warmer.

But success hasn’t changed him, he said. “I’m basically the exact same guy.”

And, the 55-year-old wants it to stay that way; he doesn’t ever want to come across as snooty or self important.

“I’m just Richard. I got lucky enough to be on a TV show and sing a few songs and win the grand prize,” he said in an interview.

As he sees it, “You don’t choose TV; TV chooses you. It’s the absolute truth. There is an element of talent, an element of luck and an element you have to have a good story,” he said.

In day to day life, he’s still a custodian at West Vigo Middle School for the foreseeable future. He and wife Angie have purchased a home and will soon start moving in. He’s dealt with some health issues, including surgery for a hernia as well as major dental work.

While he’s benefiting financially from his AGT success, “We’re not at a place where we are making really good headway financially,” he said. But Goodall anticipates bigger things in store next year.

Among some of his appearances:

• He sang the national anthem and gave a half-time performance at the Indiana State University men’s basketball game Nov. 7. The crowd loved it.

• On Sunday, he’ll sing the national anthem at an Indiana Pacers game in which the Pacers play the Miami Heat.

• The weekend of Nov. 23, he’s headed to Riverside, Calif., where he’ll be a guest performer as part of the Festival of Lights at the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa.

• On Dec. 28, he will open for Howie Mandel at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif., near Palm Desert.

Richard Goodall at ISU basketball hamftime

America’s Got Talent winner Richard Goodall sings “Don’t Stop Believin’” during halftime at the Indiana State men’s basketball game Nov. 7 at Hulman Center.

In Vigo County, he’s been visiting several schools. He’s also done some free or “next to free” performances, but his manager has advised him to be careful and set limits, since there are many requests to try and keep up with.

Life post-AGT and the opportunities ahead “are very exciting,” Goodall said.

There was really no letdown after he won the top award, but he does admit he was disappointed he never got to meet Steve Perry, the former lead singer of Journey.

“I thought he might come by and say hi,” Goodall said.

It was the Journey song “Don’t Stop Believin” that first made Goodall a social media sensation in 2022, after he was recorded singing the song during a year-end program at Davis Park Elementary; a TikTok video received millions of views.

Goodall, who sounds like Perry, even got a social media shout-out from Perry.

On Monday, Goodall said he and Angie watched some of the America’s Got Talent videos that morning and reminisced.

“Sometimes, I just have to pinch myself,” he said.

He knows his fame and celebrity won’t last forever. “I’m smart enough to know it won’t always be this way,” he said.

And, he’s thinking about what that longer-term future might look like, including the possibility of a book and potentially motivational speaking.