Neal E. Boyd to perform at Three Rivers commencement ceremonies | Events

POPLAR BLUFF, MO (KFVS) - Singer Neal E. Boyd will perform at the 2012 Commencement ceremonies for Three Rivers College on May 20.

Boyd, a native of Sikeston, Mo., and the winner of season 1 of “America’s Got Talent,” will perform two songs, including “God Bless the U.S.A.”

Boyd earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Missouri, a bachelor’s degree in speech communications from Southeast Missouri State, and a master’s degree in management from the University of Phoenix. He sang competitively nationwide, and won the Music Teachers National Association Vocal Collegiate Championship in 2000. This led to his solo debut at New York City's famed Carnegie Hall in March 2001.

Boyd had begun a more practical business career as an insurance salesman when he decided to audition for NBC's “America's Got Talent” in 2008. Despite competing against over 200,000 other hopefuls, Boyd’s expressive tenor voice and compelling personal story won over both the judges and the audience. He won the competition, earning thousands of fans in the process, and went on to headline his own concerts in Las Vegas and numerous other performances nationwide. Nicknamed "The Voice of Missouri," Boyd released his debut album, “My American Dream,” in 2009 on Decca Records.

The featured speaker at Three Rivers’ Commencement will be author and longtime ESPN SportsCenter anchor Linda Cohn.

Commencement will be held in the Black River Coliseum at 4 p.m. May 20, and is free to the public.