"America's Got Talent's" Neal E. Boyd Dies While Gearing for "Uplifting" Album Release

"America's Got Talent" season three winner Neal E. Boyd has died last Sunday.  Boyd was the winner of America's Got Talent in 2008, and was awarded the $1-million prize and a headline show in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was also known for his faith and he was in the process of recording an "uplifting" album. He was 42 years-old. 

Several diseases were all linked to his weight, including "heart and kidney failure and liver disease," were the cause of his death.  The singer was found unresponsive by his mother at her home in Missouri with the time of death recorded at 6:26 p.m.

"Neal passed away at his mother's house last night at about 6:26 p.m.," Scott County Coroner Scott Amick tells PEOPLE.

"Neal was on a CPAP machine and when EMS got there, they put the monitor on him and confirmed he was deceased," the coroner continued, adding that "Neal had some medical issues."

"He had heart failure, kidney failure and some liver disease. Just a number of things were wrong with him, and ultimately that's what led to his demise," he explained.

"We are very saddened to hear that one of our 'AGT' family members, Neal E. Boyd, has passed away," NBC said in a statement via "America's Got Talent" social media. "Our hearts are with Neal's loved ones during this difficult time."

Just before his death, Boyd was gearing up to release his third album, "In the Middle of it All" in 2019. He pegged the album "uplifting."

"Any time you're in a moment of struggle, God has a way of coming in and uplifting you," he continued. "You have these 'down moments,' whether it be health or physical, like it is now, and it just feels like something great is about to happen once I get back on my feet and back in front of the audience again.

"You never know what's going to happen next. Just be grateful that you survived. When God's given you the time to rebuild your spirit and rebuild your body," Boyd maintained.

 

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