What happened to Susan Boyle, who stunned the world with ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ on Britain’s Got Talent: she sold 25 million albums, wrote a book, went on tour … but still lives in her childhood home

May 23 , 2024

Susan Boyle’s audition at Britain’s Got Talent in 2009 turned her into a household name. Photo: @susanboylemusic/Instagram

Susan Boyle became a worldwide sensation overnight after her performance of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables on Britain’s Got Talent in 2009. She was 47 then, and her powerful audition not only stunned the judges, but also left the audience captivated. And her journey didn’t stop there – she reached the final round of the competition and finished as runner-up to the dance group Diversity.

Hailing from Blackburn, West Lothian in Scotland, she grew up in a musical family, singing from the age of 12, according to The Guardian.

Susan Boyle had her five minutes of fame, and then some. Photo: @susanboylemusic/Instagram

Reflecting on a decade in the spotlight in April 2019, Boyle shared with People that her success in the music industry was unexpected, even to her. “You hear the cliché, ‘five minutes of fame’, and I kept thinking to myself, ‘well, my five minutes must surely be up,’ but 10 years on, and I’m still going,” she said.

So what’s Susan Boyle been up to all these years since that fateful audition?

Susan Boyle has performed in the US

Susan Boyle at a rehearsal before her The Ten Tour, with Britain’s Got Talent alumnus Jai McDowall. Photo: @susanboylemusic/Instagram

In April 2009, Boyle, now 63, made her debut on American television, performing “I Dreamed a Dream” on CBS’ The Early Show. This performance, her first in the US, led to her returning there just a few months later, in November, to promote her first studio album – aptly titled after the Les Misérables song that catapulted her to fame.

She recorded eight albums, selling over 25 million copies

Susan Boyle has appeared on America’s Got Talent as well. Photo: @susanboylemusic/Instagram

Per her official website, Boyle has released eight albums, including a compilation, and topped the charts in more than 40 countries. Her albums, which have sold more than 25 million copies, received 128 platinum and gold album certifications. Boyle also has two Grammy nominations and holds three Guinness World Records.

She did her own tours twice

Susan Boyle’s The Ten Tour took off in March 2020. Photo: @susanboylemusic/Instagram

The Scottish singer took her music on the road, including an initial tour with fellow Britain’s Got Talent finalists in 2009. Later, she headlined her own tour, Susan Boyle in Concert, which ran from 2013 to 2014, and The Ten Tour in March 2020.

She wrote an autobiography

Susan Boyle with Elton John. Photo: @susanboylemusic/Instagram

Beyond her musical achievements, Boyle also ventured into writing. She published her autobiography, The Woman I Was Born To Be: My Story, in 2010, which details her journey from a small village in Scotland to global stardom.

She’s been on America’s Got Talent

After suffering a stroke in 2022, Susan Boyle worked hard to recover, and returned to perform again on Britain’s Got Talent. Photo: @susanboylemusic/Instagram

Over the years, she made several appearances on America’s Got Talent, culminating in her participation in America’s Got Talent: The Champions in 2019.

“It was fantastic to come back to America and compete on America’s Got Talent: The Champions. Britain’s Got Talent changed my life for the better, and I thought it would be fun to come back and try and win a competition,” she told Forbes.

She suffered a stroke

Fame and wealth haven’t changed Susan Boyle, she still lives in her childhood home. Photo: @susanboylemusic/Instagram

Boyle’s health has been a subject of concern in recent years. In April 2022, she suffered a stroke, which she publicly discussed in June 2023 following another appearance on Britain’s Got Talent.

Despite the challenges posed by the stroke – which, according to Today, affected her speech and singing abilities – Boyle took to social media to share her journey of recovery, emphasising her determination to return to the stage.

She still lives in her childhood home

Despite her success and wealth, Boyle continues to live in her childhood home in West Lothian – she even reportedly bought the semi-detached ex-council house next door for £111,000 (US$140,000), with plans to merge it with her original home to create her dream residence.

Fame and celebrity

Boyle had a stroke in 2022, which affected her speech and singing abilities, but she worked hard to get better, and returned to perform on Britain’s Got Talent again last year
Despite her stardom, the singer still lives in her childhood home in Scotland – she reportedly bought the semi-detached ex-council house next door to merge it with her original house