America's Got Talent winner tragically passes away at 42

Publish Date
Wednesday, 13 June 2018, 3:35PM

America's Got Talent winner Neal E Boyd has died at age 42.

The opera singer, who won the show in 2008, was found unresponsive in his mother's Sikeston, Missouri home.

A coroner has announced that the TV star passed away at 6pm after suffering several complications related to his weight including heart and kidney failure.

Scott County Coroner Scott Amick revealed that Boyd had a known a health condition related to his heart and kidney, and also suffered liver disease.  

His body has been cremated at Ponder Funeral home, according to E! News.   

He and his mother were still recovering from a car accident in 2017 where he had passed out while driving, according to TMZ

Speaking on that wreck in February he revealed he was unable to use his legs following the crash.

'It was a very, very, very bad wreck ... It's a very slow progress. I shattered a lot of bones, and shattered my hip, which has left me almost unable to use that leg for now,' he said to the Southeast Missourian.

'It's been difficult, because you can't get up on stage right now, you can't perform for the audiences and you can't really do too much recording or traveling,' he added.

Piers Morgan, who was on the panel of judges on America's Got Talent during Boyd's season, lamented his passing on Twitter. 

'Very sad to hear that Neal Boyd, Season 3 winner of ⁦@AGT⁩, has died at 42 from heart failure. Lovely guy with a wonderful voice. RIP,' he wrote Monday.    

Neal became a favorite on season three of AGT because of his beautiful operatic voice that eventually won him the $1million prize in 2008. 

After fame hit, he recorded the album My American Dream in 2009 and performed at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Florida. 

The singer then switched gears and dabbled into politics. 

He ran unsuccessfully for a Republican Missouri seat in the House of Representatives in the 2012 general election and the 2014 primaries.  

This article was first published on dailymail.co.uk and is reproduced here with permission.

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you