Susan Boyle returns to the stage emotionally after suffering a stroke

She dreamed a dream – again! After enduring a health crisis last year, Susan Boyle returned to the stage that launched her career.

“It feels great,” said the Scottish singer, 62, as he appeared in the season 16 finale of Britain has talent on Sunday, June 4. “It’s actually extra special for me because last April I had a mild stroke there and I fought like crazy to get back on the podium and I did it.”

Boyle originally competed on the British show in 2009 and stunned the judges – and the world – with her emotional rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables. On Sunday’s finale, the opera singer was joined by the West End cast of the iconic musical to perform the song that charted her career.

The judges and audience were in awe of Boyle’s performance and shocking health update. Right Simon Cowell was in awe of the “incredible” moment he witnessed.

“Susan we owe you so much and I knew you weren’t well but if someone came back you would come back because we wouldn’t be the same without you,” the BGT creator said. “You are great.”

After the heartbreaking reunion, Boyle spoke about the special moment and how much it meant to her to return despite the challenges of her condition.

“Tonight I had the privilege of returning to @bgt and performing with the amazing cast of @lesmizofficial,” she wrote via Instagram on Monday, June 5. “This evening was even more special for me because I suffered a stroke in April 2022. For the past year I have worked so hard to regain my speech and singing with the sole purpose of being able to sing on stage again & tonight my hard work and perseverance has paid off and sung the song that started it all: ‘I Dreamed a dream.’”

Despite her success on her show, the “Wild Horses” singer was not crowned the winner of her season. Ranked second, she released her debut album, I dreamed a dreamthe best-selling debut album in UK chart history at the time.

After the success, her second album, The gift, peaked on both the UK and US charts. In 2019, Boyle took part in the first season of America’s Got Talent: The Champions and made it to the final, but finished in the top five.