Neal E. Boyd, the Season 3 winner of America’s Got Talent, has died. He was 42 years old.
The opera singer passed away last Sunday (June 10) at his mother’s home in Sikeston. He had been suffering from numerous ongoing medical issues related to his weight.
“He had heart failure, kidney failure and some liver disease,” Scott County Coroner Scott Amick said. “Just a number of things were wrong with him, and ultimately that’s what led to his demise.”
Boyd was involved in a near-fatal wreck last year after blacking out behind the wheel and running into two trees. He sustained serious injuries and told the Southeast Missourian in February that he was still recovering.
“It’s a very slow progress. I shattered a lot of bones, and shattered my hip, which has left me almost unable to use that leg for now,” he said. “We’re talking with an orthopedist about possibly replacing the hip.”
Neal E. Boyd at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla.
Boyd captivated audiences with his booming singing voice and quickly became a fan-favorite while competing on America’s Got Talent back in 2008. He beat out violinist group Nuttin’ But Stringz and singer/pianist Eli Mattson to take home the million-dollar prize.
Boyd released his debut album My American Dream in 2009, followed by My Christmas Wish in 2013. Earlier this year, he revealed that he was working on a new album slated for release in 2019. No word yet on whether he completed that project before his death.
Boyd also dabbled in politics, unsuccessfully running for an open seat in the Missouri House of Representatives in 2011.
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