Hollywood week on American Idol is only half over, but at this point the Show Me State still has two contenders in the running. India Morrison showed her stuff on Wednesday night’s group performance episode. This 22-year-old Kansas City native rapped her way into my heart and those of her three male group mates I would imagine. Plus, she’s cute as a button.

Our other hopeful is Von Smith of Greenwood. This guy had a mini-meltdown on Tuesday night’s episode but only because he wants this sooo bad. If you recall, his is the performance Simon called “indulgent rubbish” I believe, then went on to compare him to a 10 year old. But the judges still love him, and this home state does too. I just hope he can get a little more self confidence going and not over think himself into breakdownville.

And so the torture will continue for these two next week. The competition will be broken down to 36 contestants. Then we get to watch as the judges bring them into a room one by one and tell them their fate. It sure would be nice to see these guys on the live performance stage. They’ve both got great potential.

NBC owes Sikeston’s Neal E. Boyd a million dollars and a show in Vegas. The Opera singer, who moonlights as an insurance salesman, (or something like that) won America’s Got Talent Wednesday night.  After the win, Boyd first cried, of course.  I loved it that host Jerry Springer called him a cry baby.  Takes one to know one Jerry…I love you   Then he shouted, “I love you Sikeston, I love you Missouri!”  How nice.  We love you too Neal.  Could you send me some tickets to your Vegas show?

Besides the congratulations from the crowd and judges, Boyd received special messages from opera quartet Il Divo and Placido Domingo. No doubt they’ll all be working the same circles within a couple years.  Your first chance to see Boyd will be October 17th at the MGM Grand.

He’s mighty talented but for goodness sakes, he’s turning me into a bawl bag. Neal E. Boyd sang the mother, of all his songs so far, with such conviction and ease you would never guess he’s not already contracted. And in addition, we get to hear about the town of Sikeston pulling together to get his mother an airline ticket…vote people vote. When I called to vote, the line was busy busy busy. I got through on around the 10th call. I also voted for The Cadence (of course) and the dance troup. Got through on the first call with both of them. Hmmm, I think the Boyd man is worry free for this round.

In case you didn’t check out the latest season of Nashville Star, you missed out on a trio of guitar playing sisters, formerly known as Me Too. The girls, Amy, Angela and Courtney Krechel grew up in Florissant. Their parents decided they’d be better off trying to make it in the music business by moving to Tennessee. Not an unwise decision when country music is involved. Pearl Heart is a group of accomplished musicians that you’ll likely hear from again. They write and perform their own original music whenever they can. Check out their MySpace page.

The latest American Idol winner will appear on The Oprah Winfrey show Monday, September 8. It is the talk show’s season premier. Besides the singer, the stage will be filled with Olympians. Cook will sing “Time of My Life” to the athletes. The singer’s new album is due out in November.

The two Missouri acts remaining on America’s Got Talent will hit the stage again this week. It will either be Tuesday or Wednesday, 7p.m. NBC.  Neil E. Boyd and The Cadence will need your votes to keep them on the show, since it’s down to 20 acts now.  Opera and percussion, perhaps they could combine their talents and do a show in Branson if AGT doesn’t work out.  I wonder if they’ve thought of that?