'It's not a dream anymore': Neal Boyd speaks about his 'America's Got Talent' win

Just a few months ago, Sikeston, Mo., native Neal E. Boyd was just your average working man — albeit an average working man with a powerful singing voice — selling insurance for AFLAC. On Wednesday night, that all changed when the 32-year-old was catapulted to instant stardom after winning NBC's "America's Got Talent" and the $1 million prize that went along with it.

On Thursday, Boyd called in for a phone interview from Los Angeles, where "America's Got Talent" is based. Here are excerpts from that interview:

Matt Sanders: So how's it feel to be the million-dollar man?

Neal Boyd: It's incredible. The one thing about last night that was so surreal to me is that I had watched it start to unfold in front of my eyes when I was standing there in the top five, and you have a hundred different scenarios how it can work out. ... All this back and forth on who the front-runner was and who it isn't, first it was me, then it was Queen Emily, then it was Nuttin But Stringz, back to me, that whole thing. It shook me up to such a point, with every performance, it is reality TV, that's what it does to you, it leaves you with uncertainty, but at the same time, you know you performed well ... you just don't know what to expect.

Once they start beating to death the headline act has to be someone, and they start to categorize it, that's dynamic and spectacular, and you start to question yourself, am I that guy? You know, am I the one who could literally headline that show in Las Vegas? Am I that good, am I good enough, you know, that kind of feeling that you have?

And America said "yes." And on Oct. 17, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, I get to be the headline act of this first show. and if the show goes well and it sells well, which ticket sales are saying that it is, that not only am I a legitimate star, but definitely a headliner, someone who can draw a crowd.

I have so many people to thank for it, and there have been countless articles on the people who've made me who I am. The best part about my story, I feel, is that ... I've documented who the people are, they never have to question whether or not they were an influence on my life. If you were an influence on my life you've probably been written about. ...

That's the kind of loyalty I show to my friends ... That people understand I didn't get here by myself. They also need to understand that I'm not a perfect singer and as good as I sound on TV, there will be better songs, there will be better performances based on the training I can now afford ...

I was just giving interviews with every major media outlet, on every network, with every show you could possibly imagine. ... There's talk of "The Tonight Show" as early as Monday night, there's talk of the albums ... all this that before, was just a dream. And it's not a dream anymore.

MS: Take us to that moment Wednesday night when it was just you and Eli Mattson on stage, and you were waiting to hear which one would be crowned champion.

NB: Eli Mattson and I are best friends: We're as close as they come, we're musical collaborators. ... We like to liken to, hopefully, future legends who get together and are so cool they show up to each other's venues and have big concerts and stuff like that. We were like that with also one of the performers before, Sarah Lenore. ...

That moment was really very surreal for me, because I was sitting there next to my friend, and you're going to be happy either way, but I won't be able to cope as well if I lose. But I look over and I see this face, this familiar face that's been with me since the beginning of the show. And I look over at him and I'm just like, "Oh Lord, what's getting ready to happen?" ... I know it showed on our face, it had to have ... But it was scary.

... The fun thing for me isn't that people are giving me all these accolades and love, the fun thing for me is that people get to see someone that they care about perform well and do good, and they feel proud about where they come from. They feel proud that they hear Sikeston on the television set, and they see my gratitude and they understand that that is exactly who I am. ... I won't ever forget where I came from. How can I? It's not worth doing if the people who live where live and grew up where I grew up and see what I see every single day ... that they feel some connection with me, because of all of this. That they love seeing me do well for myself, and they understand in themselves, you can absolutely dream big, you can dream bigger than life.

I was poor a few days ago. I was poor 10 seconds before they said I won.

... I honed my skills in Southeast Missouri. I taught myself in Missouri. And when people say, "Neal you need to say you're from somewhere else," I'm like, "No, you need to come to Sikeston, you need to come to Cape Girardeau, you need to come to Ste. Genevieve and Perryville. You need to come to Southeast Missouri, I want to show you something."

MS: You're going to be busy. Are you going to have time to come home soon?

NB: Yeah, I would like to think I would, I just don't know. That's the problem, my schedule, and the new people in my life, the handlers, are real, are taking advantage of the moment, and it's important that they do, or it could all go away real quick, as quick as it came. And I understand that, and it pains me a lot that I'm going to let a lot of people down who've known me my entire life, in certain things, in events. And I don't want them to be disappointed, but know that I will make it up to them in time, that what is to come is going to be more spectacular and better than what is right now. And I wish that I could do everything. I remember standing on a bridge and singing for Bill Emerson's bridge dedication, in the middle of a bridge, in the middle of the Mississippi River, singing the national anthem to all these people, and paying dedication to this great man. And I'm afraid there's going to be things come up that keep me from doing it for another great man ... [Rush H. Limbaugh Sr., whose federal courthouse will be dedicated Monday. Boyd hoped to be in attendance but likely won't make it].

If anybody knows me they know I'm doing everything I can to make that a reality, but if I can't, please forgive me.

... The main thing is what's best right now for my career. And I think it would be a big disappointment to the area if I failed at this point. ...

I'm never going to be the same kid that got to do all the weddings and church gigs and all the fun things that people got to know me for, but when I do I hope they feel how special it is for me to come back and do these events, because I love being asked ... but we're on the world stage now, all of us, Southeast Missouri. It's not just me, I take everybody with me, in my mind and in my heart.

MS: About the million dollars, I keep hearing it's an annuity that's spread out. But it's still a really good chunk of money. Any plans for that cash?

NB: Don't ever believe what you read. We'll keep it at that, let's say it's just a 40-year annual annuity.

First and foremost, I'm going to secure Mom, and people in the neighborhood will realize what "secure" means [laughing]. The whole town of Sikeston is behind this, but at the same time, there comes a certain level of celebrity, and the community needs to understand, they need to be respectful and mindful of my mother's space and time, same thing with my brother. It's important to me that they are protected by the community, and that's why she'll remain there, and if there ever comes a situation where she's not safe, then of course, she won't be there.

That's really what's most important to me. I have the means to protect her now, and I will. And I have the means to make sure she doesn't have to work anymore, and I'll do that, too.

... It's important for me to take care of the people who made me, and that's home.

To read the entire interview, check later today on the "America's Voice" web page at semissourian.com/boyd.

$1 million voice

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