Stories of Hope: A Talent for Perseverance
In 2009, a 47-year-old woman named Susan Boyle took the stage as a contestant on “Britain’s Got Talent.” Her awkwardly fun answers to questions from lead judge Simon Cowell received both eye rolls and rude laughter. Then Susan started to sing. And everything changed. The audience couldn’t believe their ears. Their skepticism turned to cheering, so loud it drowned out her singing at times. When she was done and after a standing ovation, another judge on the panel rightly said, “No one is laughing now.”
Susan isn’t a stranger to being laughed out and even bullied. She was diagnosed early in her life with mild brain damage due to lack of oxygen at birth. It wasn’t until she was 52 that she would find out it wasn’t brain damage after all, but Asperger Syndrome, a type of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that affects social and communication skills. She told reporters at the time of the diagnosis that it wouldn’t make a difference in her life except for the relief it gave her. She finally had a clear understanding of what she had experienced all of her life.
“Asperger’s doesn’t define me. It’s just a condition that I have to live with and work through.” – Susan Boyle, to the Associated Press, December 2013
And boy has she worked through it. After coming in second place on “Britain’s Got Talent,” she went on to record her debut album that sold millions of copies worldwide. She followed that success with several more albums, a musical about her life, an autobiography, movie roles, and legions of loyal fans.
From Bullying to "Bravo!"
Susan was born the youngest of nine children, growing up in a small Scottish industrial town where her family lived in a modest council house, a form of British public housing. Her school diagnosed her with learning disabilities, leading classmates to tease and bully her.
She told the Associated Press in an interview after her Asperger Syndrome diagnosis that it also revealed she had an above-average IQ. The difficulty she experienced in school likely stemmed from a lack of relationship and communication skills, two frustrating aspects she has experienced due being on the autism spectrum.
Despite the challenges she faced at a young age, her love of music and singing was a bright spot that only continued to grow in her life, especially when teachers recognized her talent and encouraged her. By the age of 12, she was participating in school musicals, and she would go on to graduate from high school. Eventually, she attended the Edinburgh Acting School where she continued to develop her innate talents. At the same time, she was also singing in her church’s choir, at local karaoke bars, and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest arts festival. She was determined!
In 1995, Susan auditioned for a TV talent show called “My Kind of People,” but she didn’t make the cut. A few years later, she spent all of her savings on a professional demo tape that she mailed to record companies, radio and TV networks, and a slew of talent competitions. However, she suffered the loss of her sister in 2000, and subsequently put her dreams of a singing career on hold. She would restart her efforts a few years later, only to achieve success on the local level.
Susan experienced another setback with the death of her mother in 2007. But it was that time in her life that inspired her to try out for the life-changing “Britain’s Got Talent.” According to a biography of Susan on Britannica.com, she tried out for the show to honor the memory of the mother, who had been a fan of the show and had encouraged Susan to become a contestant.
Humility and Faith
Success came fast after her amazing appearances on “Britain’s Got Talent.” Her first studio album, I Dreamed a Dream, debuted the same year at number one on the Billboard charts and was the second best-selling album of 2009, with more than 3.1 million copies sold.
More albums followed, including the holiday-themed, The Gift in 2010, Someone to Watch Over Me in 2011, Standing Ovation: The Greatest Songs from the Stage in 2012, Hope in 2014, and A Wonderful World in 2016. She also released a compilation album in 2019.
In addition to making music, Susan made special appearances in the stage musical based on her life that toured the UK in 2012. She also won small acting parts in two movies: The Christmas Candle and Zoolander 2.
Most recently, she returned to where it all started on “Britain’s Got Talent” in 2023. Again, she received a standing ovation for her special appearance, only this time with the cast of Les Miserables as her back-up singers. But what really surprised everyone was when she revealed she had suffered a stroke the year before.
“It was extra special for me actually, last April there, I suffered a minor stroke and I thought it’d be crazy to be back on stage, and I have done it.” – Susan Boyle, to the Mirror, June 2023
It’s estimated that Susan’s net worth could be as high as $40 million, but you’d never know it. She still lives in the modest council house she grew up in, with the addition of the semi-detached house next door. Both of which she now owns. She says that it helps to keep her grounded and connected to her roots, and credits her faith for being her strength and backbone throughout her career.
Now, at 64 years of age, Susan isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. She’s hinted on social media that thrilling new ventures are in the works. And guess what? We can’t wait.
Susan wasn’t able to experience the benefits of early intervention for her autism, because she wasn’t diagnosed until later in life. But your kiddo can! Contact our experts today to learn how ABA therapy – the gold standard in autism care – can help your child and family reach their full potential.
Remember, children as young as two can be assessed for autism. If you see signs of autism in your kiddo or suspect something isn’t quite right, don’t wait to get expert help. Get started now for a brighter future.