Neal E. Boyd's performance draws rave reviews from judges

Neal E. Boyd made his top 20 appearance tonight on "America's Got Talent" tonight -- and the judges said he killed it.

The Sikeston, Mo., native sang "Mama" by the group Il Divo and drew some of the best reviews from judges Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne and David Hasselhoff that's he's gotten since his first performance in June.

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After the performance, judge Piers Morgan singled Boyd's mother Esther out of the audience and told her she should be proud of her son's performance before saying "He's got a brilliant chance to win 'America's Got Talent.'"

Judge Sharon Osbourne told Boyd he looked and sang "like a superstar."

Judge David Hasselhoff told Boyd he had wondered before the performance if Las Vegas could sustain an opera tenor like him, but the performance destroyed any doubts.

"You blew me away tonight," Hasselhoff said.

The night was a special one for Boyd, who was visibly emotional before and after the performance. Tonight was the first time his mother, Esther, who raised Neal and his brother Michael on her own, was in the audience to see her son perform. People in Boyd's home town put up the money to pay for his mother's plane ticket to see him perform.

Neal Boyd was one of 10 performers to take the stage in Los Angeles tonight. Ten more will compete Wednesday night, and 10 of the field of 20 will be eliminated on Thursday in a show that begins at 7:30 p.m. on NBC.

The winner will take home $1 million and get a shot at his or her own Las Vegas show.