For many years, Susan looked after her parents, and never really had any time to herself, let alone time to pursue her passion. She never actually told her parents that she wanted to become a singer for a living! On the side, her father knew about her talent, and always encouraged and supported her dream. Sadly, her Dad passed in 1999, and from that point on, Susan cared for her aging mother until 2007, who passed at the ripe old age of 91.
Boyle, who had a lot more free time, and really, nothing to lose, plucked up the courage to audition for Britain’s Got Talent in 2009. Can you believe that was 10 years ago? Scary! She told The Guardian, “I felt a part of me had died with [my mother] …. I so wanted to make her proud, so I found the strength to apply for Britain’s Got Talent and I truly believe that she was the angel on my shoulder that day.” And what an audition it was: sure, you may cringe a little at her confidence considering how frumpy she looked (despite not even being 50 at the time!), but once she opened her mouth, all the judges and fans in the audience were absolutely gobsmacked. Literally. Watching her audition still gives us chills.
High IQ, But Emotional IQ Suffers
Have you ever had a friend, or known someone who was brilliant, but struggled socially? Like the Brainiac kid in your class who aced every quiz but ate their lunch alone? Yeah, so Susan Boyle could relate. Boyle, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, is one of those on the spectrum who is actually high-functioning. In spite of her above-average IQ, Boyle struggles with how others are feeling and has difficulty in conveying her own emotions and feelings. The social anxieties which are commonly associated or caused by Asperger’s can lead to miscommunication and challenges in developing meaningful relationships.
In an interview with The Guardian, Susan admitted to suffering from mood swings, severe depression, and even emotional outbursts. For someone with Asperger’s, these behaviors aren’t at all uncommon. But for Boyle, who lived her life in the dark, and couldn’t explain why she felt (or didn’t feel!) a certain way about things, this is all a positive step. Boyle told The Guardian that being able to even identify these symptoms is a “relief.” For Susan, it seemed that having an emotional breakdown one day helped to end a long-standing family feud.
When You’re Down, Family is There
Being a part of a family of five, there’s bound to be some sibling rivalry, right?! Susan, however, is the youngest of the five, so we’re sure she got a little more attention! But having such a large family can also mean that some disagreements can arise with different personalities. Such is the case with Susan and her older brother, Gerry. The pair had a few disagreements which led to fighting and drawn-out battles, which eventually ended up in them not talking to one another at all. By the time Susan became an overnight sensation, the two had cut each other out of their lives. You know how journalists are! The tabloids had a field day over in the U.K., speculating about their rocky family ties. Once the rumors started circling, there was some grief for Susan, to say the very least.
For two long years, the siblings refused to make contact with one another. But then, sometime in June 2016, Susan reached out to her brother in a time of great need. In the middle of Heathrow Airport, a down and out Susan called her brother after having a mini-meltdown. In an interview, Gerry told Mirror, “I’d never heard her sound so down on the phone. I was really concerned. She didn’t sound like she was in a good place. We hadn’t spoken for two and a half years but when all is said and done, I am her brother. I realized how sad it was that we didn’t speak– and that it shouldn’t be that way.” So, it seems that despite all the fighting and feuding, her brother did the right thing to help his little sister out! Interested in what the big feud was all about? Read on to find out what caused such a rift in the Boyle family!
Boyle’s First Beau…. At 53!
Now, before you go ahead and judge Susan, just take a moment to consider the fact that some people are late bloomers, mmkay? Such is the case for Susan Boyle, who, over the course of 53 years, went without men. Sure, with her undiagnosed Asperger’s and being a full-time carer for her aging mother, it doesn’t seem like Susan would’ve had much time to be swiping on Tinder, let alone going on dates! Also, can we just remind you all that some people just aren’t “ready” for a relationship, or don’t have space in their life for one? This was definitely 100% the case for Boyle. But things did change, albeit a little later in the game.
Whilst on tour, Boyle met her “Prince Charming” in Florida (so we automatically had a mental picture of Prince Charming from Shrek 2, but we’re pretty sure Susan isn’t into cherry-flavored lip-balm...anywho…) – the pair even went on a date while she was in town! “He was the perfect gentleman and even paid the bill,” she said. “Afterwards, we exchanged details. When we said goodbye, he gave me a peck on the cheek.” D’aww! Boyle’s openness to romantic pursuits is owing to the proper diagnosis of her Asperger’s – and it’s made it easier for her to recognize that her struggle in growing close to another person isn’t exactly uncommon! Boyle once told The Daily Mail that people with Asperger’s put a barrier up because they don’t trust people but she tries her best to let people in. And you can definitely teel that with every passing day, her confidence is growing!
Taking to Fame like a Duck to Water!
So most people who get rich quick just start ordering sparkling water at restaurants (heh) and booking private jets – really settling into that life of luxury, you know? That is not the case at all for Susan Boyle! Remaining down to earth (which is no easy task!), Boyle remains living humbly as she had done the past 47 years. So much so that she still lives in her hometown in Scotland and in the house she shared growing up with her siblings.
Not one to be dressed head to toe in Gucci or Burberry or any other brand, Boyle’s wardrobe too, remains modest. She’s pretty happy with the simple life (think Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie, pitchforks and hay bales and all) and doesn’t need much more than she had before Britain’s Got Talent. With her cat, Pebbles, Boyle enjoys her peace and quiet, with privacy and safety her two biggest concerns. Plus, having Asperger’s, it does make sense that she wants to live somewhere that is comfortable and familiar for her. You do you, boo!