Amateur vocalist Susan Boyle became an overnight sensation after appearing on the first round of 2009's popular U.K. reality show Britain's got talent. Boyle, who was born in Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland in 1961, caught the judges (and the world) off guard with her masterful rendition of 'i dreamed a dream' from the musical les Misérables, due in part to the unemployed and undeniably plain church volunteer's 'salt of the earth' demeanor and country spinster back story. Boyle attempted a singing career in 1999, recording a handful of demos that showcased her rich and expressive voice, but chose to look after her aging mother instead of pursue the dream full-time. Within hours of her appearance on Britain's got talent, Boyle was not only an internet sensation, she was a world-wide phenomenon. This is the musical story of the year!