Most people think winning America’s Got Talent is the finish line. Confetti falls, the trophy is raised, and fame is locked in forever. That story feels good, but it is rarely true.
Terry Fator turned ventriloquism into a Las Vegas empire that still runs today. Shin Lim broke the rules twice and became one of the most in demand magicians in the world. Mat Franco built a residency that outlasted entire seasons of the show.
Others took paths nobody expected. Bianca Ryan won at 11, then lost her voice and disappeared for a decade before quietly fighting her way back. Grace VanderWaal was called the next Taylor Swift, then stepped sideways into acting and fashion instead of chasing pop charts. Brandon Leake won without singing or dancing at all, then turned poetry into a published career.
Some stories are harder to sit with. Kevin Skinner walked away from fame completely. Neal E. Boyd filled arenas, ran for office, and was gone far too soon. Richard Goodall won the million dollars and still showed up to his janitor job while building his next chapter.
The Mayyas danced their way from AGT to performing with Beyoncé. Kodi Lee turned one audition into sold out Vegas shows. A dog act from Italy now headlines the Strip.
WHAT HAPPENED To These AGT Stars?
Richard Goodall is the most recent winner, and his story looks like a real life fairytale at first glance. A school janitor steps on stage, out sings seasoned performers, and suddenly America is chanting his name. It is the moment his win becomes real in front of millions. That is why this next clip matters. It captures the exact finale payoff the article talks about, when Goodall joins Neal Schon and Journey for “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Richard Goodall with Neal Schon and Journey Don’t Stop Believing | Full Performance AGT 2024
Grace VanderWaal was 12, holding a ukulele, and looked like the kind of kid you would cheer for and then never hear from again. Instead, she walked onstage and sang an original song, “I Don’t Know My Name,” with the kind of calm confidence that made the room go quiet. That one performance flipped her life in seconds. Howie Mandel hit the Golden Buzzer, and Simon Cowell called his shot by predicting she could be “the next Taylor Swift.”