Neal E. Boyd Wins America's Got Talent

Neal E. Boyd, the guy with the imposing presence and huge operatic voice, has walked away with the $1 million prize as the winner of America's Got Talent, the third season. He will headline a one-night show in Las Vegas in mid-October with some other AGT cast members.

The America's Got Talent Finale on Wednesday night had some surprises. Before the elimination process toward announcing the winner began, each of the Top 5 contestants received a video greeting from an icon in their musical genre. For example, Boyd received encouragement from none other than his own idol, opera superstar Placido Domingo, and singer Donald Braswell was commended by legendary playwright/composer/director Andrew Lloyd Webber, who said he and Braswell would work together one day.

Another surprise was that Nuttin' but Stringz, the dueling violins of brothers Damien and Tourie Escobar who had been the judges' most recent favorite to win after Boyd faltered in his second to last performance by not doing opera, ended up 3rd behind vocalist/pianist Eli Mattson who took 2nd place.

Braswell ended up 4th, and Queen Emily took the 5th spot but all signs point to her having a solid singing career.

My personal favorite was Nuttin' but Stringz, simply because of the uniqueness of their act, their extraordinary violin finesse along with contemporary creativity, and the fact that along with special effects and dancers they are the closest thing to a Las Vegas stage production. I'm willing to bet that many America's Got Talent voters have never seen a Las Vegas musical production and don't know the vast presentation that surrounds a headliner, with or without the topless dancers. And then again, some performers can stand there on their own with just a band, like Elvis (the real one).

However, Boyd had the heart, determination, gumption and talent to win. Many people say that singers between 17 and 30 shouldn't be allowed on America's Got Talent because American Idol is a singing competition for that age bracket. But consider that most performers audition for numerous shows before they are discovered (if ever!). Besides, Boyd looks young but he is 32. And opera has never sufficiently captured the hearts of AI judges to make it on to the TV show.

Boyd may have already captured the eye of Simon Cowell though; Cowell produces both American Idol and America's Got Talent, and he also put together the 4 handsome guys who make up Il Divo, an opera quartet created specifically to draw younger audiences to opera.

Whether Boyd will be offered a performance contract at a Las Vegas hotel or an invitation to audition for the Metropolitan Opera or another opera company remains to be seen. It could even happen by the time this article is printed. At the very least, Cowell should use him as an opening act for Il Divo.

All of the final contestants should be considered winners for making it past the thousands of others who auditioned.

In case you missed the other significant weeks leading to the final countdown, see my reviews of the Top 10 here and Top 5 here.