She has been named as one of the ‘Greatest Living Britons’ by Marty Supreme actor Timothée Chalamet.
But unlike her A-list admirer, Susan Boyle would much rather swap the red carpet for a cup of tea at her local cafe.
Susan is loved as a friend and neighbour in her West Lothian community and they will go to many lengths to stop her being harassed when she’s going about her daily business.
In the past, reporters have been chased from local shops and restaurants for asking too many questions about the star, who loves to be treated like a normal person and still lives in her modest childhood home.
The Scottish singer rose to fame in 2009 after singing I Dreamed A Dream on Britain’s Got Talent (BGT).
The same year, she released her album, which became the fastest selling UK album of all time but has never let the fame go to her head.
She has clung strongly to her roots refusing to leave the council estate neighbourhood where she has lived for many years and despite singing with a plethora of household names, she likes nothing better than a trip to her local charity cafe for some tea, toast and scrambled eggs.
Susan, who now has two cats in her humble Blackburn abode has even told some of her closest friends that she doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about – despite having sold more than 19 million records and reportedly having more than £22million in the bank.
Susan Boyle rose to fame in 2009 after singing I Dreamed A Dream on Britain’s Got Talent
Pictured: The street that Susan lives on in her hometown Blackburn in West Lothian
Pictured: Marty Supreme actor Timothée Chalamet, who is a big fan of Susan
A trip to her local neighbourhood, which has a population of just under 5,900 people, shows just how normal her daily life is in the tiny community of Blackburn, Scotland.
Described by the locals as a deprived area, around forty five minutes from Edinburgh and Glasgow, it boasts just a small high street with a handful of shops, a couple of takeaways and a wee community cafe or two for Susan to relax in.
Her friend Kim, who works at The Larders cafe, serves Susan regularly and sees her just like any other customer.
She said: ‘She’s normal. She’s no superstar here. I think she reminds me of my wee granny. She comes in and she’s happy and she’s aye pleased to see you. She gives you a cuddle.
‘There’s no airs, there’s no graces, and she’s a normal person in Blackburn. She gets her scrambled egg and toast, brown bread and a wee cup of tea sometimes.
‘She’s just an ordinary person who comes in to Blackburn, who doesn’t get treated any different from any other customer in the building. She doesn’t get biscuits, because she’s diabetic.’
The Larder is big in caring for the community and is known as a charity cafe which gets regular food donations from big businesses like Marks and Spencer, Iceland and Nisa shops.
They hold a Christmas Grotto for the local children and regularly put on heavily discounted or free events for locals who might need a bit of extra company and great food.
Pictured: The small high street in Blackburn, featuring Susan’s favourite cafe The Larder
Pictured: Susan’s street – the area has a population of just under 5,900 people
As a home away from home, just last night Susan joined other regulars for a Christmas dinner a week early.
The cafe which also offers a three-course dinner for just five pounds twice a week, has become a real favourite haunt of Susan, who loves its friendliness and homemade food like Scottish favorite Stovies and she’ll often take some away with her.
Kim said: ‘Susan will go to the local co-op here to get her messages. She comes in here and gets her breakfast or her lunch or whatever she has and she’s just normal. The other day she left her handbag here by mistake but she knew it would be safe and it was.’
The singer who has performed at Royal Variety Shows and sung with Donnie Osmond as well as travelled regularly to America has a great sense of humour.
Kim added: ‘We had some people in who got excited when they saw her here and she was asking me what are they so excited about. She joked: “It must be because they want to see you. You’re the star.”‘
Another local who didn’t want to be named added that Susan quietly goes about doing good deeds whenever she can.
They said: ‘Susan never left her roots and is still the same person today as she always was. She has got time for everybody.
‘Nobody really knows this but she does so much for charity, incredible things, but she doesn’t talk about it because she believes it should be done behind closed doors. She has helped so many people.’
In 2009, Susan released her album, which became the fastest selling UK album of all time but has never let the fame go to her head
One of her close friends agreed.
They added: ‘Susan should really be given a Damehood but she’d probably burst out laughing at the thought of it. She doesn’t like the fuss. She just gets on with things and she’s just one of us.’
Susan is preparing for a massive year – with rumours of a documentary and new music coming out.
During what will be a big year for Scotland it is almost a certainty that Susan will be seen as a huge ambassador for the country whether that be for Scotland’s hopes in the World Cup or Glasgow’s involvement in the Commonwealth Games.
Another of her neighbourhood friends said: ‘Susan is a national treasure and is recognised around the world.
‘She appeared on Britain’s Got Talent, the show went global and even people like Piers Morgan gained an audience in America.
‘She introduced a whole generation to Les Miserables too and she kicked down the door for people with neurodiversity. She’s constantly beaten her own challenges including her recent stroke.’
Susan may well be content to stay at her humble home in Blackburn with her two cats for company but it’s clear the love and demand for the Scottish superstar is stronger than ever and that we will be hearing more from her in years to come – and that Damehood, albeit something that might tickle her, may actually become a reality.
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