Susan Boyle’s life now as she unveils makeover for 65th birthday

She shot to fame back in 2009 when she delivered a jaw-dropping audition of I Dreamed A Dream on Britain’s Got Talent.

And 17 years later, Susan Boyle looks completely unrecognisable as she unveiled a dazzling new blonde bob.

The Scottish singer, who turned 65 on Wednesday, has shocked fans with her ‘age-reversing’ makeover in recent months.

Susan keeps her 176,000 followers regularly updated on Instagram, sharing snippets of her low-key lifestyle.

Nowadays, the BGT icon enjoys plush lunches with her friends and attends plenty of star-studded events when she isn’t busy singing.

Last summer, Susan looked ethereal in a flowing white dress and dazzling gold accessories as she enjoyed a day out at Wimbledon.

Fans couldn’t believe Susan’s glamorous makeover as they took to the comments in her latest post to gush over her ageless appearance. 

Users penned: ‘Susan, You are looking great. Can’t wait to see your surprises for this year. I love you! Your forever fan from The United States❤️ God BlessXX’; ‘How does she look younger yeah for you Ms. Boyle’

Susan, recently named as one of the ‘greatest living Britons’ by Marty Supreme actor Timothee Chalamet, was showered with compliments: ‘I remember watching you 17 years ago and my God we’re you absolutely AMAZING And here you today. You look FABULOUS’; ‘Wow! You look fabulous. Keep up the good work, and sing. I have always enjoyed your singing. Absolutely beautiful’; ‘Susann you look awesome, your new color is perfect on you, took some years away!’ 

In the same year she starred on BGT, Susan released her album which became the fastest-selling UK at the 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 has two cats in her humble Blackburn home has even told some of her closest friends that she doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about – despite having sold more than 20million records and reportedly having more than £22million in the bank.

A trip to her 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 45 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 as being just like any other customer.

Kim 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 including Marks and Spencer, Iceland and Nisa shops.

It holds a Christmas Grotto for children and regularly put on heavily discounted or free events for those who might need a bit of extra company and great food.

The cafe, which also offers a three-course dinner for just £5 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 Donny 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.’

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. 

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 Blackburn home 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.