A Look Back At Susan Boyle's Most Memorable Performances

Many of us remember the first time we watched Susan Boyle stride across our screens, standing confident yet slightly frazzled before a panel of weary judges and hundreds of skeptical audience members. Snickers resounded through the crowd, and the judges appeared unimpressed by her unassuming and unglamorous appearance, but as the music began and her voice rose melodiously through the venue, all doubts of her talent were laid to rest. "I saw people laughing and I knew they were laughing at me," she told The Sunday Times. "But I thought, well, they'll soon shut up when they hear me sing. And they did." 

Coming from the small Scottish village of Blackburn, West Lothian, Boyle's life prior to her ascent to fame in 2009 was quiet and humble. She spent her days caring for her elderly mother and volunteering at her local church as a member of the choir, all while harboring a dream to share her voice with a more expansive audience. She aspired to be a professional singer but never imagined she would attain her current level of worldwide fame. Susan Boyle has exceeded all her professional expectations, having performed before world and religious leaders and sold-out stadiums of doting fans. She serves as a prime example of how talent transcends age and societal beauty standards. 

Susan Boyle assured viewers that her stellar audition was not a fluke as she continued her successful "Britain's Got Talent" run in 2009 with another bombshell performance in the show's semi-final round. She chose the song "Memory" from the musical "Cats," which is a piece that requires immense skill and vocal control to sing well. Though she got off to a timid start, Boyle quickly found her footing and delivered a stunning performance that earned her the position of "fan favorite."

Boyle was praised warmly by the judges after her performance, with Piers Morgan saying, "I think you look absolutely beautiful tonight, and more importantly, I thought you sang beautifully as well." Amanda Holden chimed in as well, telling Boyle, "I'm just so relieved that it went so fantastically well for you ... you nailed that performance. I'm so proud of you." Simon Cowell, who had been vocal about his satisfaction with Boyle's singing on the show since her audition, added, "Susan, you are one special lady ... I'm very happy — very proud of you."

It was revealed at the end of the semi-final episode that Boyle had won the "public vote," in which viewers of the show call in to cast their votes. Her performance was viewed by millions across the world on television and eventually on YouTube, and her favor with fans of the show ultimately led her to the final round of the 2009 season.

The Royal Variety Performance is an event held annually in the United Kingdom to raise funds for the Royal Variety Charity, which is a nonprofit program aimed at assisting people who have been a part of the entertainment industry but are currently suffering from poverty, sickness, or are unable to work due to their advanced age. Groups and individuals from all over the United Kingdom clamor for a spot on the lineup for this event, as it's a chance to perform before the senior members of the British royal family. Since the premiere of "Britain's Got Talent," one of the event's acts has been allocated to the most recent winner of the show. Though Boyle was the runner-up during her season, her cultural impact and widespread fame secured her not just any spot on the list for the 2010 Royal Variety Performance but the opening act.

Susan Boyle started the night off fabulously with a heartfelt and flawless rendition of "A Perfect Day" by Lou Reed and was accompanied by the voices of a children's choir who joined her on the stage in white robes. She captured the eyes of the audience with her glamorous, black, formal-length gown and voluminous coiffure with side-swept bangs.

Her performance was followed by Adele, who sang "Rolling in the Deep" from her album "21." 

Three years after her groundbreaking audition, Susan Boyle was invited back to the "Britain's Got Talent" stage as a guest act to perform Madonna's "You'll See" for the final round of the show's 2012 season. Boyle took the opportunity to remind viewers of the show how she earned her fame as she delivered an iconic performance complete with impeccable vocals and a beautiful string accompaniment. She wore a stunning V-neck gown embellished with rhinestones at the waist to catch the deep blues and purples of the stage lights and a sea of fog at her feet. Boyle's appearance was just as enchanting as her voice, and the crowd was captivated by the expert execution of the performance.

Boyle commanded the song from the very beginning, firmly gripping the attention of her listeners with powerful lyrics and strong delivery. She appeared distinctly more comfortable on stage compared to her first few performances for "Britain's Got Talent," which only goes to show how much experience and confidence she had gained after her initial run as a contestant. 

Boyle was also no stranger to the song. She previously recorded a cover of "You'll See" for her first album, "I Dreamed a Dream," which was the fastest-selling album in the U.K. in 2010.

Over the course of her successful career, Susan Boyle has been featured as a guest singer for multiple televised competitions, including an episode of "Dancing With the Stars" in 2012 when she performed a duet with singer, actor, host, and "Dancing With the Stars" alumni, Donny Osmond, of whom Boyle admits to being a longtime fan. Osmond returned the compliment of Boyle's admiration during a backstage interview before their performance. "I'll never forget the first time I saw you sing on 'Britain's Got Talent.'" he told Boyle, who appeared very shy at his side. "And I had the same reaction that Simon and everybody else had. I watched you come out on stage and think, 'Okay, this is going to be a nice little song,' and you open your mouth, and it was the voice of an angel ... I started crying ... and I watched it probably 20 times."

The pair sang "This Is the Moment" from the musical "Jekyll & Hyde." Boyle appeared timid on stage during the first few moments of the song with Osmond, but with encouragement from her duet partner, Boyle soon regained her confidence and delivered a delightful performance. The pair's song was accompanied by a dance performed by Kym Johnson and Tristan MacManus.

Susan Boyle's career came full circle after 14 years when she returned to the "Britain's Got Talent" stage once again to perform the song that started it all. For the show's final round in 2023, Boyle joined Lucie Jones from the West End cast of "Les Misérables" to sing a duet of "I Dreamed a Dream," a song near and dear to Boyle's heart.

The singer's passionate performance impacted listeners even more after she admitted to suffering from a minor stroke in 2022. The medical complication caused her to lose her ability to speak temporarily, and she worked tirelessly to recover enough to perform on stage again. After the performance, Boyle shared a Facebook post to express her honor for being invited to sing for the 2023 final alongside the "Les Misérables" cast. She also acknowledged her diligent effort to be able to make the performance happen. She wrote, "For the past year I have worked so hard to get my speech and singing back, with the sole aim of being able to sing on stage again & tonight my hard work & perseverance paid off, singing the song that started it all ..." 

Simon Cowell added after her performance, "Susan, we owe you so much, and I knew you weren't well, but if anyone was going to come back, you were going to come back because we wouldn't be the same without you."