The Britain’s Got Talent star joined St Augustine’s students to take part in the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund’s (Sciaf) Lenten charity event.

It raises money each Lent to help tackle poverty in places like Africa.

Boyle said she would be giving up chocolate during the six-week period of Lent when Christians are encouraged to abstain from their favourite treats.

Sciaf’s “wee box” campaign has been supported by other Scottish celebrities, including actor Robert Carlyle, entrepreneur Michelle Mone and Old Firm managers Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist.

Boyle said: “Sciaf and its work with people living in poverty in developing countries is really close to my heart and always has been. I’m happy that I’m now in a position to help them more than I used to be able to.

“It’s going to be really tough giving up chocolate for Lent again, so it was great to tuck into a small feast with the young people today.

“It’s been great fun and I know every penny raised from the Wee Box, Big Change campaign will help people in need.”

(Source: BBC News)

Who lives in a house like this? Superstar singer Susan Boyle, that’s who. The 50-year-old gave a guided tour of the house it’s taken her 20 months to move into.

Susan, who has just scored her third UK No1 album, had been reluctant to move from the council house in Blackburn, West Lothian, she used to share with her mum and dad.

As the money from her first album I Dreamed A Dream began rolling in, she was told to buy the £370,000 five-bedroom home as an investment in March 2010.

But Susan felt out of her comfort zone in the new home she nicknamed The Posh House.

After rehearsing with voice coach Yvie Burnett for her third album, Someone To Watch Over Me, she would go home to her £80,000 former council home.

But after three years at the top, Britain’s Got Talent’s biggest discovery finally feels ready to leave her old life behind.

As you can see, though, The Posh House is a mixture of Susan’s past and present.

After wiping your feet on the doormat, you walk into a corridor with two black and white pictures – one of her dad and one of her parents’ wedding day.

Doormat The house has warm wooden flooring and the living room has a gleaming black grand piano, with a picture of Susan’s mum holding her as a baby on top.

The kitchen is off the living room and it has all the mod-cons, including a juicer and a mixer to prepare food and drinks to keep her throat and voice in tip-top condition.

Two plants look a bit tired but she has been to China and Australia this year, so you can forgive her not watering them as often as she should.

On the microwave, there’s a picture of her with Cardinal Keith O’Brien and there’s also a religious figurine.

Living on her own – her cat Pebbles now stays with a friend – Susan has filled her new home with pictures of loved ones that fight for space with ornaments sent to her by fans.

She may still get the bus but when Susan is out on the decking in her garden, she has other luxuries, such as a hanging basket chair.

Susan has come a long way from the woman in 2009 who Dreamed A Dream and saw it come true.

(Source: Daily Record UK)

No other female solo singer in the 65-year chart history has achieved this in the first week of their albums being released. Record-breaking Susan, 50, has trumped some of the world’s biggest divas, including Celine Dione and Madonna.

SuBo, of Blackburn, West Lothian, whose album Someone To Watch Over Me has also debuted at the top of the Scottish charts, is over the moon.

Last night, the star – who shot to fame on Britain’s Got Talent – said: “I am delighted, excited and overwhelmed. I want to say a very big thank you to all those who helped make this possible. I never thought anything like this would happen when I started in 2009.

“One thing is for sure – I’ll be cracking open the champagne tonight and celebrating.”

Simon Cowell said: “I’m absolutely delighted for Susan. She’s a total superstar and I’m incredibly proud of her.”

(Source: Daily Record UK)

And after it was announced that there will be a stage musical written about her life, it was revealed today that Susan Boyle will be making a cameo appearance for its finale.

The talent show runner-up – who took the world by storm with her audition and then her debut album – will take to the stage to sing in the finale of I Dreamed a Dream.

The 50-year-old will appear in an exclusive 11 week tour of the show across the UK and Ireland next year

She will join the cast on stage – including actress Elaine C Smith, who is playing the Scottish star.

I Dreamed A Dream – written in collaboration with Susan – is based on her life story from childhood to stardom following her appearance on Britain’s Got Talent in 2009.

Susan suddenly found herself worldwide admiration when she appeared on the series – with her I Dreamed A Dream rendition gaining more than 300million views on YouTube.

She said: ‘I am thrilled to be a part of the musical about my life story and very much looking forward to stepping on stage and performing with the cast.

‘It is an honest portrayal of my life and has been a cathartic process to be involved in.’

Elaine C Smith, who takes the lead role, is star of the hit West End stage play Calendar Girls and her portrayal of Mary Doll in Rab C Nesbitt on the BBC.

The musical came about following an interview in which Boyle said if there was a film of her life she would like Smith to play her.

After reading the interview, producer Michael Harrison approached the actress and Susan with the idea for the musical.

Michael Harrison said: ‘Having Susan join the cast to perform the finale of her musical is amazing for both ourselves and the audiences.

‘Susan continues to defy the odds and surprise the world with her record-breaking albums.

‘Now she can add a musical to her list of achievements and I can’t wait to see the reaction when she walks on stage.’

(Source: Daily Mail UK)

Despite admitting to nerves, the Scottish superstar looked confident as she unveiled You Have To Be There on America’s Got Talent.

The tune, which will appear on Susan’s upcoming disc Someone to Watch Over Me, was written by legendary Abba duo Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus. It is from from their popular Swedish musical Kristina.

Susan, who wore a fitted navy velvet dress for the exclusive performance, has achieved incredible success since rocketing to fame on the British version of the show in 2009.

The singer’s first two albums I Dreamed a Dream and The Gift dominated global charts, selling more than 14 million copies in 14 months. The both went to No1 in over 30 countries.

And few would bet againt her latest effort following suit.

If she does get a third No1 in both the US and UK she will be the first person in the history of music to achieve this.

Of her performance Susan said: “I’m so pleased the audience enjoyed the song.

“I really loved performing that big number. I was also a little nervous introducing something new.

“America’s Got Talent — it’s where I started with my first album, so it was wonderful to be back and for the support.”

Someone to Watch Over Me is released on Monday November 1.

(Source: The Sun UK)

Susan shares her life story in her very own book. How exciting!

You will find it hard to put down once you start reading!

The 50-year-old Scottish singer appeared on the stage of the Shanghai Stadium on Sunday night, where she graced the stage for the finals of the 2011 China’s Got Talent series, as a guest performer. She sang two of her signature songs, “Who I Was Born to Be” and “I Dreamed a Dream”.

Boyle was wearing a bright red dress designed with both Scottish and Chinese elements. She said the dress was tailor-made for the occasion.

The singer became an international sensation after impressing judges and audiences while competing in the 2009 Britain’s Got Talent.

She told her Chinese counterparts, “Do your best and enjoy it.”

The 2011 China’s Got Talent champion went to 19-year-old Zhuo Jun, a self-taught body-popping dancer from a small village in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Sunday’s performance was Susan Boyle’s stage debut in China. When asked about her impression of China, she said the people are very friendly.

(Source: China Org)

The singer surprised judges with her rendition of the Les Miserables song I Dreamed A Dream. Her performance went on to become a YouTube hit.

“I never thought my life story would end up on the stage,” Boyle said.

Elaine C Smith will play the 50-year-old from Scotland, who has sold over 14 million albums worldwide.

“A lot has happened in two years and it is a very exciting prospect. I hope everyone enjoys the show and I promise there will be a few surprises along the way,” Boyle said.

The show, which will tour the country next year, will be produced by Michael Harrison.

“She is an inspiring woman and her story is an excellent one to tell – someone with a raw talent, who surprises the world and overturns all the odds to make a new life for herself,” he said.

“It’s got all the qualities of a fairytale, but with the added bonus of being absolutely true.”

Boyle ended up as runner-up in the Britain’s Got Talent final in 2009, losing out in the public vote on the ITV1 show to dance group Diversity.

(Source: BBC News)

The Highland lassie with the big hits and the hairy chassis turns 50 on April 1 and is holding a bash at a flash country mansion near her home in West Lothian.

The diverse guestlist should make for some interesting encounters.

SIMON COWELL will rub shoulders with SuBo’s butcher and ELAINE PAGE, PETER KAY and PIERS MORGAN will mingle with her postie and neighbours.

It’s good to hear that Susan will be letting her hair down – she’s been grafting hard on her third album, set for release this autumn.

Last year she was Britain’s biggest-selling artist overseas, shifting 3.7million copies of her album The Gift.

(Source: The Sun)

Happy Birthday Susan! We are looking forward to your next album.