In this image released by NBC, opera singer Neal E. Boyd, an insurance salesman from Sikeston, Mo., performs on an episode of the NBC talent competition, "America's Got Talent," on Sept. 24, 2008 in Studio City, Calif. The winner of the competition will determined during the finale on Wednesday, Oct. 1. (AP Photo/NBC, Chris Haston)

Neal E. Boyd's been living in an alternate reality for months. Ask the tenor from Sikeston, Mo., himself, as I did in an interview a few weeks back, and he'll tell you the life he's been living is nothing less than surreal.

Since June, Boyd has become an easily recognizable face to the millions of fans of NBC's "America's Got Talent."

Not too long ago Boyd was the chubby, mixed race kid from small town Southeast Missouri (not insults, this is the way Boyd talks about his past). Now's he's in the middle of what's at least 15 minutes of fame.

Soon Boyd's long strange trip will come to an end, maybe. Tonight the tenor will find out if he's the winner of $1 million and a chance at his own Las Vegas show. There are at least hundreds, if not thousands, of people in Southeast Missouri cheering for the hometown boy, now a man in his 30s with opera training and a job selling insurance.

Boyd could win big, which would obviously be the best outcome. But even if he doesn't win big, the big guy is going to come out a better person for the experience, and might just be able to launch a singing career. And people in Southeast Missouri, even those who didn't know him before, will remember his accomplishment for decades. That's just he way it is around here, the local legend syndrome. I heard about several of them growing up in Stoddard County.

Try to watch Boyd and give him your good will tonight, if you're so inclined. And if you're really juiced, join our live chat on "America's Voice," our website devoted to Boyd's run on the show. Or if you're just curious how Boyd did, you can check "America's Voice" after the show tonight or on Thursday morning. We'll have the complete story there.