Susan Boyle

Susan Boyle
Boyle in November 2009
Background information
Birth nameSusan Magdalane Boyle[1][2][3]
Born (1961-04-01) 1 April 1961[1]
Dechmont, Scotland[4]
OriginBlackburn, Scotland
GenresOperatic pop
OccupationsSinger
Years active1998–present
Labels
Websitesusanboylemusic.com

Susan Magdalane Boyle (born 1 April 1961)[1][5] is a Scottish singer who rose to fame in 2009 after appearing as a contestant on the third series of Britain's Got Talent, singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables. As of 2021, Boyle has sold 25 million records.[6] Her debut album, I Dreamed a Dream (2009), is one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century, having sold over 10 million copies worldwide, and was the best-selling album internationally in 2009.[7] In 2011, Boyle made UK music history by becoming the first female artist to achieve three successive albums debut at No.1 in less than two years.[8] As of May 2025, her estimated net worth was £22 million ($29.5 million).[9]

Boyle's debut studio album, I Dreamed a Dream, was released in November 2009; it became the UK's best-selling debut album of all time, beating the previous record held by Spirit by Leona Lewis,[10] and set a record for first-week sales by a debut album, according to the Official Charts Company.[10] In her first year of fame, Boyle made £5 million (£8.5 million today) with the release of I Dreamed a Dream and its lead-off singles, "I Dreamed a Dream" and "Wild Horses".[11] The success continued with her second studio album, The Gift (2010), where she became only the third act ever (and the first woman artist) to top both the UK and US album charts with two different albums in the same year.[12] It was followed by Boyle's third studio album, Someone to Watch Over Me (2011).[12][13] The same year, she recorded and released a cover version of "I Know Him So Well" with Geraldine McQueen to commercial success.

In 2012, she released a version of "The Winner Takes It All" as the lead single from her fourth studio album, Standing Ovation: The Greatest Songs from the Stage (2012). Her life and success was the subject to the musical theatre production I Dreamed a Dream: The Musical (2012) in which Boyle was portrayed by actress Elaine C. Smith, and in July 2013 she embarked on her first solo concert tour across Europe and North America. On 13 May 2012, she performed at Windsor Castle for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant singing "Mull of Kintyre",[14] and performed it at the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games on 23 July in front of the Queen.[15] In 2012, she also recorded a posthumous duet with Elvis Presley, "O Come, All Ye Faithful" for her Christmas themed album, Home for Christmas (2013). Her sixth album, Hope was released in October 2014, and was followed by her seventh album, A Wonderful World (2016) before beginning a hiatus.

In 2019, Boyle celebrated a career spanning ten years with a compilation album titled Ten together with a tour. During this period, Boyle continued to keep a low profile amongst health concerns and complications, including suffering a stroke in 2022.[16] In May 2025, Boyle announced her comeback despite concerns regarding her health, and indicated she would be recording new music in the near future.[17] Considered a "significant figure in the music industry" and one of the most successful recording artists of the 21st century,[18] her accolades include two Grammy Award and Billboard Music Award nominations, a World Music Award, a Japan Gold Disc Award a Scottish Music Award, and the recipient of three Guinness World Records.[19]

  1. ^ a b c "Interview with Susan's brother Gerry Boyle on RadioLive NZ". Radio Live. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  2. ^ Susan Boyle: Albums, Songs, Bios, Photos Archived 23 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine from Amazon.com with middle name spelling 'Magdalane'.
  3. ^ The Correct Spelling of Susan's Middle Name email from Gerry Boyle on forum.susan-boyle.com Archived 17 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Susan Boyle | Biography, Songs, & Facts". Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  5. ^ Scottish genealogist Caroline Gerard found her official birth entry at New Register House in Edinburgh Susan Boyle's Astrology Horoscope Archived 9 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Susan Boyle 12 years on – incredible weight loss, home and hidden disability". 19 February 2021. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  7. ^ Kisiel, Ryan (2 May 2016). "Tragedies, feuds and public tantrums: Is the dream finally over for Susan Boyle?". news.com.au.
  8. ^ "Susan Boyle rewrites UK chart history with third consecutive no.1 album". Music-News.com. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Britain's Got Talent star Susan Boyle makes emotional announcement after six year absence was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b "Susan Boyle beats Leona Lewis, Arctic Monkeys to 'biggest first week sales for UK debut album' title | News". NME. UK. 29 November 2009. Archived from the original on 2 December 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  11. ^ "Singer Boyle made £5m in first year of her fame". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 23 August 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  12. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference transatlantic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "'Someone To Watch Over Me' Will Be Released November 1". digtriad.com. 3 September 2011. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  14. ^ "Celebrity Interview – Susan Boyle". Country Images Magazine. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Rod Stewart and Susan Boyle perform at Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony". NME. 23 July 2014. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  16. ^ "Susan Boyle Says She Suffered a Stroke in 2022". NBC. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  17. ^ "Susan Boyle Details "Emotional" Return to Music After Her Stroke: "Here We Are"". NBC. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  18. ^ "Why the Brits snubbed Susan Boyle". BBC News. 18 January 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  19. ^ "Susan Boyle Triple-world-record-breaker in new Guinness World Records 2011 Book". PR Newswire. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
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