The 2009 Britain’s Got Talent audition of Scottish singer Susan Boyle singing “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables made her famous. She has now recorded eight albums, sold 25 million records, and performed for the Queen and celebrities. Susan Boyle is expected to be worth $50 million in 2023.
In this article, we will explore her life story, her career achievements, and how she spends her money.
Early Life and Career
Early Life and Childhood
Susan Boyle was born in Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland, on April 1, 1961. She was the youngest of nine children of Irish immigrants Patrick and Bridget Boyle. Her mother typed shorthand and her father mined and sang. Birth oxygen deficiency caused moderate brain injury and cognitive disabilities in Susan. She was ridiculed at school for her looks and Asperger syndrome, which she subsequently discovered. She joined the church choir at a young age because she loved singing.
Early Musical Training and Career
Susan took singing lessons from vocal coach Fred O’Neil and participated in local talent shows and karaoke nights. She also auditioned for several TV shows, such as My Kind of People and The X Factor, but was rejected. She worked as a trainee cook, a waitress, and a volunteer at a local church. She cared for her elderly mother until she died in 2007 at the age of 91.
Britain’s Got Talent (2008–2009)
In 2008, Susan decided to audition for Britain’s Got Talent as a tribute to her mother. She chose to sing “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables, one of her favorite songs. Her performance stunned the judges and the audience, who initially doubted her abilities based on her appearance and demeanor. She received a standing ovation and three yeses from the judges. Her audition video went viral on YouTube and attracted millions of views and comments from around the world. She became an overnight sensation and received praise from celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Demi Moore, and Elaine Paige.
Susan advanced to the semi-finals and finals of the show, where she sang “Memory” from Cats and “I Dreamed a Dream” again. She lost to dance group Diversity in the final but received a consolation prize of £100,000.
I Dreamed a Dream and Tour (2009–2010)
After Britain’s Got Talent, Susan signed a record deal with Simon Cowell’s label Syco Music and released her debut album I Dreamed a Dream in November 2009. The album broke several records, such as the highest first-week sales by a debut album in the UK, the fastest-selling album in the world in 2009, and the best-selling album of 2009 globally. It also topped the charts in several countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and Japan. It sold over 10 million copies worldwide and earned Susan two Grammy nominations.
In December 2009, Susan starred in a TV special titled I Dreamed a Dream: The Susan Boyle Story, where she performed with Elaine Paige, her idol. She also embarked on her first live tour in 2010, performing in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Japan, and the US.
The Gift and Someone to Watch Over Me (2010–2011)
In November 2010, Susan released her second album The Gift, which featured Christmas songs and pop classics. The album repeated the success of her debut album, topping the charts in both the UK and the US simultaneously for two weeks. She became only the third act ever to achieve this feat twice in the same year after The Beatles and The Monkees. The album sold over 6 million copies worldwide.
In November 2011, Susan released her third album Someone to Watch Over Me, which included covers of songs by artists such as Depeche Mode, Joni Mitchell, and Carole King. The album reached number one in the UK and number four in the US. It sold over 3 million copies worldwide.
Standing Ovation: The Greatest Songs from the Stage (2012)
In November 2012, Susan released her fourth album Standing Ovation: The Greatest Songs from the Stage, which featured songs from musicals such as Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, and Evita. The album reached number seven in the UK and number 12 in the US. It sold over 2 million copies worldwide.
Acting debut and Home for Christmas (2013–2014)
In November 2013, Susan made her acting debut in the film The Christmas Candle, based on a novel by Max Lucado. She played the role of Eleanor Hopewell, a church warden’s wife. She also sang the theme song “Miracle Hymn”, which was included in her fifth album Home for Christmas, released in the same month. The album featured duets with Elvis Presley and Johnny Mathis, as well as traditional Christmas songs. The album reached number nine in the UK and number 14 in the US. It sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide.
In July 2014, Susan performed “Mull of Kintyre” at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, in front of the Queen and other dignitaries.
Hope (2014–2016)
In November 2014, Susan released her sixth album Hope, which featured inspirational songs such as “You Raise Me Up”, “Angel”, and “Imagine”. The album reached number 13 in the UK and number 16 in the US. It sold over 1 million copies worldwide.
In 2015, Susan took a break from music to focus on her health and personal life. She revealed that she had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and had to lose weight and change her diet. She also faced legal issues with her brother Gerry, who allegedly threatened to kill himself if she did not give him money.
In 2016, Susan returned to music and performed at several events, such as the opening of the Fife Flyers ice hockey season, America’s Got Talent Holiday Spectacular, and the Royal Variety Performance.
Return to Music and A Wonderful World (2016–2018)
In November 2016, Susan released her seventh album A Wonderful World, which featured covers of songs by artists such as Madonna, Paul Simon, and Robbie Williams. The album also included a virtual duet with Nat King Cole on “When I Fall in Love”. The album reached number 22 in the UK and number 25 in the US. It sold over 500 thousand copies worldwide.
In 2017, Susan celebrated the 10th anniversary of her Britain’s Got Talent audition by performing “I Dreamed a Dream” again on the show’s finale. She also performed at several charity events, such as the Global Gift Gala and the Live at Chelsea Concert Series.
In 2018, Susan announced that she was working on her eighth album, which would be released in 2019. She also revealed that she had a new boyfriend, whom she met at a hotel in Florida.
America’s Got Talent: The Champions and Ten (2019–present)
In January 2019, Susan participated in America’s Got Talent: The Champions, a spin-off show featuring former winners and finalists of various Got Talent shows from around the world. She performed “Wild Horses” by The Rolling Stones and received the Golden Buzzer from judge Mel B, sending her straight to the final. She finished in second place behind magician Shin Lim.
In May 2019, Susan released her eighth album Ten, which marked her 10th year in the music industry. The album featured four new songs and six of her favorite songs from her previous albums. The album reached number five in the UK and number 22 in the US. It sold over 300 thousand copies worldwide.
In October 2019, Susan embarked on her second live tour, titled Ten Tour, which spanned across the UK and the US. The tour was postponed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in June 2021.
In February 2020, Susan performed at the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Sweden, where she sang “Stand By Me” with a choir of people with intellectual disabilities.
In April 2020, Susan joined other Britain’s Got Talent stars in a rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” to raise money for NHS Charities Together amid the COVID-19 crisis.
In November 2020, Susan released a new single titled “Stand By Me”, which was a cover of Ben E. King’s classic song. The single was part of her upcoming ninth album, which was expected to be released in 2021.
Media Impact and Personal Life
Media Impact
Susan Boyle’s rise to fame has been described as a “fairytale” and a “rags-to-riches” story by many media outlets. She has been praised for her talent, humility, courage, and perseverance. She has also been hailed as an inspiration for people who face challenges and discrimination in life. She has received several awards and honors for her achievements, such as an honorary doctorate from Queen Margaret University, an Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Queen Elizabeth II, and a Guinness World Record for being the oldest person to reach number one on the UK album chart with a debut album.
Susan has also faced some challenges and controversies in her career. She has been subjected to media scrutiny and criticism for her appearance, behavior, and health. She has suffered from anxiety, depression, and panic attacks due to the pressure and fame. She has also been involved in some legal disputes with her family members and former managers over money and contracts.
Philanthropy
Susan Boyle is known for her generosity and charity work. She has supported various causes and organizations, such as Save the Children, Comic Relief, Children in Need, Sport Relief, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF), Autism Speaks, Alzheimer Scotland, and many more. She has donated millions of pounds to these charities and performed at several fundraising events.
Charity Performances
Some of Susan’s notable charity performances include:
- Singing “Do You Hear What I Hear?” with Amber Stassi on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2010 to support Oprah’s Angel Network.
- Singing “Perfect Day” with Lou Reed on America’s Got Talent in 2010 to support Feeding America.
- Singing “O Holy Night” with Johnny Mathis on The View in 2010 to support Toys for Tots.
- Singing “You Have to Be There” with Donny Osmond on Dancing with the Stars in 2011 to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
- Singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” with Michael Ball on Britain’s Got Talent in 2012 to support Together for Short Lives.
- Singing “The Winner Takes It All” with Peter Kay on Comic Relief in 2013 to support Red Nose Day.
- Singing “Wish You Were Here” with Pink Floyd on Children in Need Rocks in 2013 to support BBC Children in Need.
- Singing “What a Wonderful World” with Michael Bolton on The Today Show in 2016 to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
- Singing “Amazing Grace” with Andrea Bocelli on One World: Together at Home in 2020 to support the World Health Organization (WHO) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community and Faith
Susan Boyle is a devout Roman Catholic who attends Mass regularly and prays daily. She has said that her faith is the most important thing in her life and that it helps her cope with the challenges and joys of her career. She has also expressed her gratitude to God for giving her the gift of singing and the opportunity to share it with the world.
Susan is also very close to her community in Blackburn, where she still lives in the same house that she grew up in. She has said that she loves her hometown and that she does not want to move away from it. She has also contributed to the development and improvement of her community by donating money and supporting local projects and events.
Personal life
Susan Boyle is currently single, but she has said that she would like to find love someday. She has also said that she does not want to get married or have children, but she enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephews. She has a pet cat named Tessie, who is her companion and friend.
Susan enjoys reading, knitting, gardening, and watching TV in her spare time. She is a fan of musicals, especially Les Misérables, which is her favorite show. She is also a fan of football, especially Celtic FC, which is her favorite team.
Susan Boyle’s Net Worth and Financial Information
Susan Boyle’s Net Worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Susan Boyle’s net worth as of 2023 is estimated to be $50 million. This is based on her earnings from her record sales, tours, endorsements, and other sources of income.
How Susan Boyle Spends Her Money
Susan Boyle is known for being frugal and modest with her money. She has said that she does not need a lot of money to be happy and that she prefers to live a simple and normal life. She has also said that she does not like to waste money on unnecessary things and that she likes to save money for the future.
Some of the things that Susan spends her money on include:
- Her house: Susan still lives in the same council house that she grew up in Blackburn. She bought the house from the council for £65,000 in 2009 and renovated it for £300,000 in 2013. She also owns another house nearby, which she bought for £300,000 in 2010 and uses as a guest house for her family and friends.
- Her car: Susan drives a modest Peugeot 207, which she bought for £13,000 in 2010. She has said that she does not need a fancy car and that she likes to drive herself around.
- Her clothes: Susan likes to shop at high street stores such as Marks & Spencer, Primark, and Tesco. She has said that she does not care about fashion and that she likes to wear comfortable and practical clothes.
- Her holidays: Susan likes to travel around the world and visit different places. Some of the destinations that she has visited include New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orlando, Paris, Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro, and London. She has said that she likes to see different cultures and learn new things.
- Her family and friends: Susan likes to share her money with her family and friends. She has given them gifts, such as cars, houses, holidays, and cash. She has also helped them with their financial problems and needs. She has said that she loves her family and friends and that they are very important to her.
- Her charities: Susan likes to donate her money to various charities and causes that she supports. She has given millions of pounds to these charities and performed at several fundraising events. She has said that she wants to make a difference in the world and help those who are less fortunate than her.
Susan Boyle’s House
Susan Boyle’s house is a four-bedroom council house in Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland. She bought the house from the council for £65,000 in 2009 and renovated it for £300,000 in 2013. The house features a modern kitchen, a spacious living room, a cozy bedroom, a luxurious bathroom, and a beautiful garden. The house also has a security system, a CCTV camera, and a panic room to protect Susan from intruders and fans.
Susan has decorated her house with personal items, such as photos of her family and friends, awards and certificates, religious icons, and musical memorabilia. She has also filled her house with books, CDs, DVDs, and knitted items that she likes.
Susan loves her house and considers it her sanctuary and refuge. She has said that she does not want to move out of it or sell it. She has also said that she feels happy and comfortable in it.
