As a woman living with Asperger’s, that’s a challenge that most wouldn’t be able to handle. But Boyle juggles it with her fame so gracefully – we’re in awe! But Boyle’s voice is so much more powerful than her singing: she’s accomplished, she’s female, she’s an artist in the UK (which is a notoriously hard market to crack) and is international, Boyle has proven that living with Asperger’s isn’t a death sentence. Oh no, not at all! Sure, Boyle knows her triggers, and battles anxiety and mood swings – but with the support of her team and management she acknowledges her feelings and copes with it best she can. What a star. Literally.
“If I feel like I’m going to take a mood swing, I get up and leave. I’ve learnt that the hard way.” She knows when she’s not in the mood to talk, and so, the best and simplest way: just leave. Tbh more people should do that. Sincerely, the world. But jokes aside, Boyle feels truly on top of the world when she’s performing: “Off stage, it happens lots. It always has. On stage, I’m a different person. I feel accepted,” she told The Telegraph. But one particular someone really gets under Susan’s skin and gets what they want, every time.
Not Even Simon Cowell Can Intimidate Boyle!
Simon Cowell has a bit of a reputation. Well, he has THE reputation as the most intimidating and most cutthroat judge to have ever well, judged! Based on looks alone, you could see from the judges’ facial expressions and body language that they weren’t expecting much when Susan Boyle walked on stage. More of a confident stride than a walk, actually. But Boyle was confident in her abilities and stood tall and strong – and she totally blew their socks off!
Her performance was “the best” that Piers Morgan had seen in his time on the show. Pretty amazing stuff eh? Whilst most singers are nervous and shaking like a leaf on stage in front of the celebrity judges – not to mention the criticism afterward, Susan Boyle certainly is one of a kind. And hey, by the time we’re over 40, we’d hope we’d have the same confidence! When she was asked about how she felt performing in front of Simon Cowell, she told The Sun “He’s not Mr. Nasty at all. He’s a pussycat and I can’t wait to show him the new and improved Susan.” Meow.
A Winner Regardless of BGT’s Outcome
So thinking back to 2009, you may remember that Susan Boyle didn’t actually win Britain’s Got Talent! She lost out to a dance troupe; but never the matter, she still managed to win hearts not just in the UK, but over the world: did you know that her audition video has had over 11 million views?
But despite her success on the show, it wasn’t her first rodeo: after her mother passed away, she began entering talent competitions and shows around Scotland, but to no avail. Who would’ve thought that crossing over to England that she’d find success? Always one to look ahead, Boyle had her eye on winning the America’s Got Talent: The Champions competition: “You know I’ve entered many competitions before I went on Britain’s Got Talent, and never won, I came in second on Britain’s Got Talent, so you never know I might actually win this!” Sadly, however, Boyle did make it to the final, but was ousted once again, this time by Magician Shin Lim!
Gerry Boyle the Opportunist
So you might remember back that Gerry and Susan had their differences, harboring a dislike for one another for a number of years and not talking at all. Fast forward and the pair quashed their feud. But with the openness and more frequent communication, there were other problems.
Surely dialogue and talking wouldn’t cause problems…right? But it seems that Gerry used it to manipulate Susan. Susan’s nephew, Alan Boyle, revealed to Express that Gerry purposefully upsets his sister at the worst moments to get the money he wants. He has expressed how he's proud of all of her achievements. “She is the most generous person I know but Gerry just takes advantage. I’ve never heard of him having a proper job. It’s always been that he’s an 'entrepreneur' which I just think means he’s a lazy [expletive.]
Blood Is Thicker Than Water
Boyle’s nephew Alan, and Boyle’s older sister Bridie McCaw have both spoken out regarding the long-standing feud, and Gerry’s antics. Boyle prefers to keep to herself and likes her privacy when she’s not on-stage entertaining, so it seemed odd that they came out – but the family members insisted that there was air that needed to be cleared, for their family’s sake.
Both Alan and Bridie agreed that “The reason we are going public is because there is no other way to get through to him. He’ll not listen. We just want him to leave Susan alone.” And hey, we’d expect family to be able to talk some sense into a straying member. But on Gerry’s behalf, it’s a pretty low blow. If it were us we’d disown him and let him be sorry on his own! Gerry did it again. Not cool.