Susan Boyle made headlines a decade ago with her stunning cover of I Dreamed A Dream on Britain’s Got Talent but where is she today?
The groundbreaking singer first was launched into the limelight in 2009 when her audition on the talent show captivated hearts around the world. She would then go on to sell over 19 million records worldwide. This week, she received the golden buzzer on America’s Got Talent: The Champions but up until this point, the singer’s life has been tumultuous.
She Lost Her Sister To Cancer
In the years leading up to her debut — Susan had lost her father in 1999, followed by sister Kathleen in 2000 and then her mother, who she had cared for, in 2007. And then, in 2015, she lost her older sister, Brigid ‘Birdie’ McCaw, who died aged 73 after a battle with cancer.
Susan then stepped away from her career at the time and put a new album on hold to grieve. She later shared: “She was honest and helped me throughout my life and during my career. She wasn’t afraid to tell me I was getting too big for my boots.”
She Had A Falling Out With Her Brother
Susan and her brother Gerry reportedly had a falling out in December of 2013, when other family members claimed he threatened to kill himself if she didn’t give him £50,000 or around $68K.
The siblings did not speak for two years but in 2016, they reunited and patched up their relationship after Susan had a breakdown and left her brother a distressing voicemail. He quickly called her back and Susan popped straight over to his home.
Gerry later said: “Within five minutes, it was like we’d never been apart. It has been great to pick up the pieces.”
She Was Diagnosed With Asperger’s
When Susan grew up, she was constantly told she was “brain damaged” and was given the label ‘Simple Susan’. But after finding fame she went to see a Scottish specialist and told she has Asperger’s Syndrome, while tests confirmed that he IQ was actually above average.
Of the 2013 diagnosis, she told the Guardian: “I think people will treat me better because they will have a much great understanding of who I am and why I do the things I do.”
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She Made A Dramatic Lifestyle Change
After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the star decided to give upon chocolates and sweets. At the time, Susan shared: “I need to stop eating sweeties and cakes. It’s the bane of my life.”
And after her doctors informed her to lose weight for health reasons, by 2013 she had lost 28 pounds. She is now reportedly managing her condition by taking tablets daily.
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She Found Her First Love
Susan found love with her first boyfriend, an American doctor whom she met when they stayed at the same hotel during a tour in 2014. She later described how they enjoyed a romantic dinner together during which he was “the perfect gentleman”.
But their relationship did not make it as “it just wasn’t practical.”
“I don’t want to say any more about who he is right now as that would be unfair on him,” she said. “All I’ll say is we are around the same age and he was a very nice guy.”
We hope things begin to look up and she continues to share her gift!