Her success has broken records worldwide, with Boyle being awarded three Guinness World Records, including Fastest-selling Album by a Female (UK) and the Most Successful First Week UK Debut Album Sales! Pretty amazing.
Considering she was in her 50s when she started getting recognition, and her career finally took off, it’s impressive looking at the success she’s had in such a short time. Age of the Internet/Social Media, right? In less than ten years of her career, Boyle’s achieved a net worth in excess of $30 million. Her first album, I Dreamed A Dream debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 2009. Her hit single was included in a movie, and she even performed for the Pope! Talk about ticking off bucket list items.
A Real-Life Rags to Riches Story
Perhaps one of the best things about Susan Boyle, apart from the way she got famous, is the fact she’s so relatable to the average Joe or Jane! That someone who appeared seemingly ordinary was, in fact, able to achieve something extraordinary. Before she got on stage for that fated Britain’s Got Talent performance, Boyle was struggling with not only losing her mother but being able to pay the bills!
Fast forward and that’s a dim memory, but she often reminds herself that there were hard times and obstacles to overcome first before finding fame. It’s like, check yo' self, type thing. We’re all for it! At the end of the day, Boyle reminds herself that everything’s going to be a-okay! “My goals are simple now,” she told The Sunday Post. “To have good friends and family around me and enjoy some money I have earned within reason and ensure I never have to worry about paying my gas and electric again.”
She Can More than Handle the Challenges of Asperger’s
Asperger’s Syndrome isn’t something to take lightly, and Boyle knows that living with it has its tough times. However, after 50+ years of dealing with it, she’s very self-aware, especially when it comes to her emotional outbursts, admitting that she’s King Kong’s Mother” when she’s having an episode related to Asperger’s.
Boyle is self-aware of her outbursts and says she's "King Kong's Mother" when she's having an episode related to Asperger's. She understands that it potentially makes her hard to work with, as a singer, but she hopes that people are willing to understand and communicate with her. She told The Daily Mail that it's a very difficult subject to talk about..."You always feel that eyes are on you, and people view you as different..." "I like to see myself as someone with a problem, but one I can solve."
Family Values and Down Time
Boyle, who is a fan of doing covers and bringing the greats back to life, has a certain process when she decides which songs she’s going to choose! She looks to cover those which touch the widest range of hearts – songs that people can relate to, that will make them reminisce and even put a smile on their faces! Her 2010 album, titled The Gift (which it certainly was to many listeners who’re tired of whiny popstars), was the first-ever Christmas album to top the UK chart!
And her favorite artist of all time? None other than the queen herself (no, not Beyoncé psh), Madonna! As such, Boyle’s been sure to throw in a few Madonna covers – Like a Prayer, anyone? Boyle notes that she wanted to create an album that families could enjoy together, an album that can be played all year and evoke memories. We can surely get behind that notion!
Retirement? What’s that?
R-e-t-i-r-e-m-e-n-t? What? So for Susan Boyle, who feels like she only just started her life at 47, retirement is certainly not even remotely on the cards! Susan’s fans would be overjoyed of course, but it’s quite clear that the UK singer isn’t planning on hanging up her golden mic anytime soon! She told Daily Mail, “In my book, ‘retirement’ is a dirty word.”
Along with staying afloat in the industry, it means that Boyle has to stay current and relevant and to make the most of the momentum that’s come with her success on BGT and her branding in the public eye. “Like any artist, I worry about people still liking me,” she said. “I worry about going stale. I have a role to play… I don’t want to let them [my fans] down.” And we have a feeling that Susan Boyle won’t let us, herself OR her fans down!