Susan Boyle is a 47 year old volunteer church worker who aspires to become a musician. Life has not been easy for Susan and she has encountered her fair share of bumps along the road. At birth, she was starved of oxygen and has learning difficulties as a result. As a child, she was bullied, has never had a boyfriend nor has she ever been kissed. She lived with her mother and father and cared for them due to their failing health. Her father passed away ten years ago and then her mother, just two years ago.
Susan’s mother had encouraged her to sing at the age of 12. And so she began to sing. And did she sing. She would sing in front of her family, friends and at church but never had the opportunity to perform beyond that. Once her mother died, she couldn’t find the courage to sing any more.
That all changed on Saturday.
In front of 12 million TV viewers and a live audience, this shy, somewhat disheveled persona walked onto the stage of Britain’s Got Talent and she was greeted with heckles and smirks. And then she began to sing. And did she sing. She sang the most beautiful rendition of I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables. Within seconds the audience was on their feet cheering, moved to tears and in awe of the beautiful voice that came out of this obscure yet charming woman.
Susan is not only a refreshing reminder of what the human spirit is capable of, but also the quiet embodiment of decency and compassion that this world is so in need of right now.
To view Susan Boyle’s performance on Britain’s Got Talent, click on the video below:
