Susan Boyle (born June 15, 1961)[1] is a Scottish church volunteer and amateur singer who came to public attention on April 11, 2009 when she appeared as a contestant on the third series of Britain's Got Talent.[4] Boyle leapt to almost immediate global fame when she sang "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables in the competition's first round.[5]

Before she sang, both the audience and the judges appeared to express skepticism based on her ungroomed appearance and awkwardness. In contrast, her vocal performance was so outstanding that she has been dubbed "The Woman Who Shut Up Simon Cowell".[6] She received a standing ovation from the live audience, attracting yes-votes from Cowell and Amanda Holden, and the "biggest yes I have ever given anybody" from Piers Morgan. The audition was recorded in January 2009 at the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow, Scotland.[7]

The juxtaposition of her powerful voice with the audience's first impression of her triggered global interest. Articles about her appeared in newspapers all over the world, while online videos of her performance totalled over 50 million views within a week.[8] Cowell is reported to be setting up a contract with Boyle with his Syco Music company label, a subsidiary of Sony Music.[9]