Overview
- Cowell, speaking on the Tales from the Celebrity Trenches podcast on Wednesday, called his initial reaction to Susan Boyle “awful” and a “wakeup call.”
- He said the Britain’s Got Talent panel misjudged Boyle when she walked on stage in 2009 before her performance of I Dreamed a Dream stunned the room.
- Cowell recalled running to the stage after the series finale to tell Boyle he would sign her, and she later joined his Syco Music label.
- Boyle finished second to dance group Diversity that year, then released I Dreamed a Dream, which sold more than 10 million copies.
- He emphasized that the moment taught a simple rule for shows like BGT: do not judge performers by their looks, a lesson often linked to Boyle’s lasting legacy.