ENTERTAINMENT

She dreamed a dream: Susan Boyle ready for U.S. tour

Jennifer Sangalang
FLORIDA TODAY
  • In %22Britain%27s Got Talent%2C%22 Boyle sang %22I Dreamed a Dream%22 and visibly wowed judges Simon Cowell%2C Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden.
  • Her 21-date city tour starts in San Diego on Oct. 8 with stops in Texas%2C Arizona%2C Georgia and Florida.
  • She%27s a Grammy-nominated singer who had a brief part in the holiday film%2C %22The Christmas Candle.%22
  • She has a pet cat.

Five years after "Britain's Got Talent" introduced the world to Susan Boyle, the Scottish singer shows she's still got talent.

Boyle's audition on Simon Cowell's reality TV show went viral in 2009, garnering millions of views on YouTube within hours. She performed "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Miserables" and visibly wowed the judges: Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden. Though she didn't win the grand prize, Boyle has enjoyed tremendous success with her follow-up concerts and albums.

The 53-year-old singer, who was overwhelmed by her overnight celebrity status, says she's much more confident and definitely ready for her first U.S. tour.

FLORIDA TODAY talked with her recently as she prepares for the 21-date city tour that kicks off in San Diego on Oct. 8. Boyle has stops in Texas, Arizona and Florida. In November, she'll perform at the King Center in Melbourne. Full lineup: Arts in Brevard.

QUESTION: Years ago, you "dreamed a dream" and became an Internet sensation. What has life been like since then?

ANSWER: In the very beginning, it was a whirlwind. It's slowed down to a gentle breeze. In the beginning you had everyone coming to your house. All the attention was there. To begin with, it was a bit daunting. But you learn as you go along. I've learned quite a bit, and I've become more confident.

Q: Your first U.S. tour — this is really exciting. How are you feeling?

A: I'm very excited about the U.S. tour. I'm looking forward to doing it, and I know I'll give back the love that (the fans) gave me.

I've been to the U.S. many times but never actually toured the U.S. This is a bit of a challenge. I've been in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas. But I've never been to Florida. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm very excited about it.

Q: What kind of feedback do you get from the fans?

A: A lot of the fans are very welcoming. They're very nice to speak to. They try to be friendly. I'd like to say thank you to them.

A lot of people say that they cry when they hear me. I think (my music) is kind of emotional.

Q: Do you still think about your time on "Britain's Got Talent"?

A: No one really knows how these things will go. I just went there to audition to have fun. And, wait for it, to have a good time and to meet Piers Morgan.

Q: You made your acting debut last year in "The Christmas Candle." What did you think?

A: "The Christmas Candle" was a very enjoyable experience. It was my very first time in acting. I learned a lot from the cast. First time having a husband (laughing). And very first onscreen kiss, which was really good. It was a whole lot of fun to make.

Q: Anymore movies in your future?

A: One never knows the future because you can't plan the future, but you never know.

Q: What can we expect from your show at the King Center?

A: Expect to be entertained. Expect to hear a variety of songs, some you may know, some you may not know. There's always an element of surprise.

Q: What's next for Susan Boyle?

A: The tour. There's an album coming out sometime in the fall. It's full of surprises. It's album No. 6. I've had a lot of fun making the album. I hope people have a lot of fun hearing the album almost as much as I've enjoyed making it.

Q: Do you prefer performing live or recording in the studio?

A: Recording in the studio, you tend to be in a bubble. When you're live, you've got a live audience. Any mistakes you make are out there. But you're most human when you're live. I enjoy live.

Q: What was your most embarrassing moment on stage?

A: That's a tough one. I think probably when one of the mics didn't work properly. I couldn't hear anybody. I panicked for a second, but then somebody came out to fix it. I thought, am I going deaf or what?

Q: What do you eat or drink before you perform?

A: I love (drinking) hot cocoa and (eating) cheese on toast. I'll probably have one after the show.

Q: Will there be a chance for fans to meet you at the King Center concert?

A: There may be.

Q: Any memorable fan meetings?

A: One time in New York I met a lady called Angel and she had a disability, and that was a really moving experience for me when I met her. She was a fantastic person. I found out that she'd been trying to be a professional singer herself. I hope everything goes well for her. She was lovely.

------

Contact Sangalang at 321-242-3630

or jsangalang@floridatoday.com.

Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @byjensangalang

The details

Who: Susan Boyle

When: 7 p.m. Nov. 2

Where: King Center, 3865 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne

Cost: Tickets start at $47.50.

Info: Call 321-242-2219 or visit kingcenter.com. For more on Boyle, visit susanboylemusic.com. Send a Tweet to @kingcenterpa or @susanboylehq

On the web: http://www.susanboylemusic.com/uk/