Susan Boyle Reveals She Suffered a Stroke That Affected Her Singing

Susan Boyle is opening up about a terrifying moment in her life that impacted her livelihood.

During an appearance on the season finale of Britain's Got Talent Sunday, the Scottish vocalist — who rose to fame in 2009 after her performance of Les Misérables' "I Dreamed a Dream" on the British singing competition show — revealed that she suffered a stroke in 2022.

After performing the iconic song on Sunday, hosts Dec Donnelly and Ant McPartlin asked Boyle what it was like to return to the stage where it all began.

"It feels great," she said. "It is extra special for me actually because last April there, I suffered a minor stroke. I have fought like crazy to get back on stage. And I have done it." 

Judge Simon Cowell reflected on Boyle's impact on the show throughout the years.

"Susan, we owe you so much and I knew you weren't well," he said. "But if anyone was going to come back you were going to come back, because we wouldn't be the same without you."

After the show aired, Boyle took to Instagram to share her truth — and how her "perseverance paid off."

"Tonight I had the privilege of returning to @bgt and performing with the wonderful cast of @lesmizofficial," she wrote alongside a series of photos. "This evening was even more special for me as in April of 2022 I had a stroke. For the past year I have worked so hard to get my speech and singing back, with the sole aim of being able to sing on stage again & tonight my hard work & perseverance paid off, singing the song that started it all, 'I Dreamed A Dream.'"