So what's next for Neal E. Boyd

I took the opportunity to talk with Neal E. Boyd Thursday. He was still in Los Angeles, where he might be for some time, but we hooked up via telephone and spent about 35 minutes talking about what's happened, and what the future holds.

You can read that interview, and listen to the audio from the interview, on "America's Voice" now.

People in Southeast Missouri have been proud of Boyd for a long time now, since before he even appeared on national television. People around here know he's one of them, and they feel a closeness with him. But now Boyd doesn't just belong to Southeast Missouri anymore — he belongs to the world.

The humble guy that we once knew is now a star, and he's on the verge of becoming a superstar. Of course, that means there are a lot of people out there wanting a piece of what he's got — people with a lot of money and influence. And that means he's got a lot of work to do.

In talking with Boyd, it was clear to me that he's still, for the most part, the same guy who used to live around here. However, his life has now changed, big time, and he has plenty of other obligations.

So we may not see Boyd around here for a big, post-victory event any time soon. However, we can watch his new life from afar, and his fans here can still root for him. He wants to be the next Pavarotti. Wish him luck in his endeavor.