Warning: This article contains spoilers about the finale of America’s Got Talent season 19.

After countless impressive performances and millions of votes, America’s Got Talent viewers named singer Richard Goodall the winner of season 19. The school janitor from Terre Haute, Ind., stole hearts, including that of judge Heidi Klum, and inspired with his earnest covers of Journey, Michael Bolton, and Survivor.

All season, Goodall earned raves from Klum and the other judges, Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, and Sofia Vergara, for his obvious passion while he sang ’80s power ballads and rock songs. In fact, Goodall explained that, for 23 years, he had belted out tunes while cleaning, and it was the students who suggested he audition.

Though he went viral during the season and received a Golden Buzzer from Klum early on, Goodall tells Entertainment Weekly he was “completely and totally surprised” that he bested acts including comedian Learnmore Jonasi, quick-change magician Solange Kardinaly, doggy dance act Roni Sagi and Rhythm, and six other finalists.

“It’s been a wild, wonderful roller coaster,” Goodall says, noting that only the show part of it has ended. “But the actual effects afterwards, I really haven’t felt yet. It’s not really sunk into me yet. It really hasn’t.”

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You and Heidi really connected. What is it you appreciate about her?

RICHARD GOODALL: She’s always been my champion. I mean, through all four songs, and she’s just always been so amazing to me. But everybody has, all the staff behind the scenes — [plus] Simon, Howie, and Sophia — all the kids that run me around this AGT campus.

What do you think you’re going to do? Are you planning to still keep your job as a janitor?

I mean, yeah, I plan to for a while still yet, and then invest a little, and then plan smart. [His wife] Angela and I, we think everything out together. We don’t make any plans other than what we talk about together. We’re not fancy people, so it’s not going to be anything fancy or extravagant. We’re just regular people and the money is… we just try to be conservative about it. We have no idea or expectations of what’s coming ahead.

What is it about that era of ’80s era of music that resonates with you? Were there any songs you wanted to cover but ultimately didn’t choose?

I’m not placing any shadow on today’s music whatsoever, but music back then… I mean, we’ve got people that still sample music from our era back then.

I don’t know if it was… I wouldn’t use the word innocence, but it was different. Look at when I did “Don’t Stop Believing.” The kids are singing that stuff now and “Eye of the Tiger.”

Music back in our day, it was just, to me, it feels like it was different than it is today. 

There were plenty of songs that I would’ve wanted to do. The hard part is getting the songwriters to approve them and then actually practicing them and getting them down to where we can make them our own.

And what would you like to do in the future? Will there be albums or tours?

I really don’t have any expectations of what’s up next. This is the first time in mine and Angie’s life where life is pretty much up in the air. Not in a bad way, but in a good way. And we’re open to any and all possibilities, music or otherwise. Whatever comes our way, Ange and I are going to talk it over and see what’s right for us and then move forward. Yeah, I would like to sing music across America or whatever. And I think the most important thing — and we’ve already achieved that in some ways — is to inspire people to not give up on their dreams, move forward, not give up hope, and to look for a brighter day. Because there’s a lot going on in this world right now, and people just need a little bit of hope and kindness and tenderness. I think in today’s age, it’s kind of lost.

Was there another act that you were especially pulling for, and who was that? 

If you look at my Facebook, I’ve connected with a lot of the acts in the show. It’s hard to go through each phase of the show and not get connected with other people. Early on, I had taken pictures with the Los Osos [High School] kids, and they lost one of their members recently, which was… terrible. It broke my heart when they got voted off, and they were [pitting me] against them, but as you’ve seen, if you’ve seen my Facebook, I took pictures with them.

I thought [Solange Kardinaly] was very much a formidable person to come up against in the show, talent wise, but everybody, the talent at the end was enormous… It’s hard to see people go, but that’s the nature of the show. I mean, there can only be one winner. So I ended up on top. I still don’t understand it, but coming from me, who’s just a regular guy singing to the kids for 23 years, and then all of a sudden you’re in the spotlight. It’s strange. It’s fun, but it’s strange.

Is there anything I didn’t ask that you’d like to mention?

I connected more with the people behind the scenes than any others, because I know what they do from day to day. But the whole AGT family has just been absolutely wonderful and supportive to me. Every time I walk by, it’s either shake hands or [bump] knuckles as we’re going past. The cast party at the end of the show was just absolutely amazing.

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

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