America's Got Talent Top 5 Chosen

The Top 5 vying for the $1 million prize on America's Got Talent Season 3, and a spot on the Las Vegas Strip are (in alphabetical order, because it could be anyone's game): Neal E. Boyd, Donald Braswell, Eli Mattson, Nuttin But Stringz, and Queen Emily.

If it were up to me, Queen Emily and Nuttin But Stringz knocked everyone else out of the ballpark in every way with this week's performance - Queen Emily for vocal talent, true emotion and stage presence, and Nuttin But Stringz with their entertaining personalities, the uniqueness of their act and original music. Mattson took a strong 3rd; Boyd strayed from opera and almost lost the audience with some low notes that could barely be heard in a contemporary song, but might still own the popularity vote; and Braswell didn't take the judges' advice to step out of his crooner comfort zone, although he did an outstanding job.

Eliminated were the other Top 10 contestants: Paul Salos, Joseph Hill, Jessica Price, and the child acts - The Wright Kids and Kaitlyn Maher.

(For a description of all these Top 10 performers, see my previous America's Got Talent article.)

So finally, the little children got their chance to go home and rest. But they looked so very disappointed. What a let down that must be, and I know how they feel. Having done some modeling and musical theatre as a child and teen, in my young adulthood I found out that all the applause and praise I got from my family and friends far exceeded my actual level of talent! In other words, in auditioning for professional level productions, I got a "don't call us, we'll call you". But I can tell you that those applause and adoration are quite addicting, and when/if it ends, you may hunger and search for other things that allow that kind of limelight for quite a while. I hope this doesn't turn out true for the children that were on America's Got Talent.

Anyway, it's hard to predict the winner, but if Queen Emily and Nuttin But Stringz give performances as good as this past week and Neal E. Boyd's performance doesn't rise above his last, they could overtake him as the final 2 on stage.

The Top 5 will perform one last time Wednesday night, September 24th, with the reveal of the winner on October 1st.