Susan Boyle's life now - from secret health nightmare to date 'kidnap' fear

Susan Boyle rose to fame following her breathtaking rendition of I Dreamed A Dream on Britain's Got Talent in 2009. With the show returning for a new season, we've looked back at the star's love life and tough health battles

Susan Boyle has experienced many ups and downs since Britain's Got Talent catapulted her to fame 16 years ago, when she was 47. Her talent, which left judges and viewers in awe, took her all the way to the final of series three, where she ended up as the runner-up.

Despite just missing out on the top spot in the 2009 talent showdown, the songstress continued to wow the crowds and has since shifted a whopping 25 million albums globally. The birthday girl, who hits 64 today, certainly left her stamp on the music scene with her first album 'I Dreamed a Dream' smashing records as one of the century's top sellers.

The beloved Scottish singer, fondly dubbed SuBo by fans, tends to steer clear of the spotlight, though she occasionally steps out to dazzle at special gigs. In a heart-to-heart with the Mirror back in 2016, she opened up about having to slim down due to health scares, and just last year, she confided in her followers about experiencing a stroke.

Susan may have raked in an eye-watering fortune with her angelic pipes, but she's stayed true to her roots, shunning the high life for simplicity. Today, as Susan blows out her birthday candles, we delve into what life looks like for her now...

Health woes

In a bombshell revelation to BGT enthusiasts, Susan disclosed that she'd been hit by a minor stroke, casting doubts over her ability to grace the stage again. Reflecting on her comeback for the Britain's Got Talent finale, she shared last year: "It's 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."

Simon Cowell, the show's head honcho, lauded the star for her performance, acknowledging that he was aware of her secret health battles. Fans were quick to express their admiration for the singer as she made a triumphant return to the stage, with one fan tweeting: "Huge huge respect for Susan Boyle. Post-stroke and absolutely smashing it on BGT tonight! Incredible!"

This comes after Susan dropped an impressive two stone following her diagnosis with Type 2 diabetes. In a candid chat with The Mirror back in 2016, she opened up about her weight loss journey, saying: "I needed to stop eating sweeties and cakes. It's the bane of my life. I had to lose the weight for my health."

Kidnap fear

Susan has previously explained the last time she went out with a man, she didn't tell anyone and her team thought she had been kidnapped, she told OK!

Asked about her love life by the publication, she replied: "You mean go with fellas? No, youngsters may be able to do it, but I haven't got the time. It is still nice to be asked though. I had a date in America six years ago, which lasted exactly 45 minutes.

"I went for a massage in the spa of a hotel and met a doctor and then we went out for lunch. I didn't tell anyone and my team thought I'd been kidnapped."

Susan added: "They were really panicking because I had a show that night. The guy was nice, but he wasn't for me. I couldn't be dealing with keeping up with the correspondence."

Is Susan married?

When it comes to matters of the heart, Susan's current relationship status remains a mystery. However, she once confessed to having a romantic connection with an American doctor, though she emphasised that things weren't "serious at the moment".

Susan, who prefers to keep her beau out of the spotlight, hinted at enjoying his company. She quipped to The Mirror: "I will send him a picture of my weight loss – if he's a good boy! I do enjoy male companionship."

She further commented: "I don't want to reveal the doctor's name. It's nothing serious at the moment... I would love to adopt a child too, but my cat might get jealous. I don't want to see a cat and a baby fighting. It's something I might do later."

Reflecting on a past romance, she shared: "I did have a gentleman friend, a doctor. We went for lunch but I didn't tell anyone. But if I had a man friend it would be purely platonic - I've been on my own too long now to get married."

Modest home

Susan maintains a down-to-earth lifestyle despite her fame, choosing to remain in her childhood home in West Lothian, Scotland, rather than opting for luxury digs. A few years back, the songstress splurged £111,000 on the semi-detached ex-council house adjacent to her family home, merging them into her 'dream home'.

Even with the means for lavish living, Susan finds herself unable to leave her treasured upbringing behind, citing its sentimental worth. Speaking to OK! Magazine, she explained, "It's to do with the memories of your house and your upbringing, you need to take stock of things and maybe see where you come from and where your roots lie."

She added, "It's best to be grounded and with your roots. It keeps you grounded and prevents you from saying things maybe you shouldn't say."

How much is she worth?

Since catapulting to stardom, Susan has amassed a fortune estimated at £22 million, largely thanks to her smash hit debut album 'I Dreamed A Dream', which sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Despite her financial success, Susan remains unpretentious and is not the kind to indulge in extravagant spending.

The songstress once confided to Piers Morgan how she manages to live on a modest £300-500 a week, which serves her needs just fine. During the 2010 interview with the TalkTV presenter, she revealed: "I've only just learnt how to go in a taxi. I don't flash the cash."

Curious about her spending habits, Piers quizzed her on whether she'd splash out on a Lamborghini, to which she naively replied, "Is that a drink? No fancy cars, no."

Susan then added: "I'm always careful with money. I'm not saying I'm mean, but I'm always careful. I have an allowance, it's about £300-500 a week because that's plenty for me. It's pocket money."

Opting for budget-friendly breaks

While other celebrities jet off to exotic locations like the Maldives to splurge their wealth, Susan enjoys her downtime much closer to home. The cherished singer was spotted last summer relishing a tranquil break in Ireland, with the BGT star's admirers overjoyed to witness her soaking in the charm of the Emerald Isle.

The vocalist, who also wowed audiences on America's Got Talent in 2019, took some time out at the Knock House Hotel in Mayo, nestled in the west of Ireland. Delighted by her presence, the hotel's official Facebook page posted photos of a beaming Susan cosying up with the locals.

Their message proudly announced: "It was our pleasure to welcome Susan Boyle back to Knock House again recently. Susan is a fabulous Lady and we always love to see her return time and time again to Knock House Hotel. Pictured here with the lovely Des Dugan from the team at Senior Times LIVE."

In response, one upset fan wrote: "OMG, this is literally down the road from me. RAGING that I missed getting a picture with Subo!"

What's Susan up to now?

According to her official website, Susan continues to be active in music, both recording and performing live. However, the site was last refreshed in 2021.

She graced the Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony in 2021 with her presence following her UK Tour in 2020. More recently, she has dazzled audiences at the National Prayer Breakfast for Scotland in Edinburgh.

Reflecting on her Edinburgh performance, she shared: "I am thrilled to be performing at the Scottish Prayer Breakfast. My faith has always been my strength and backbone throughout my career."

Susan serenaded the audience with 'I Dreamed A Dream' and performed a rendition of 'The Prayer' in a duet with Jai McDowall, a fellow Britain's Got Talent star who accompanied her on her tour across the UK.