The Woman Who Shut Up Simon Cowell

LONDON, April 14, 2009 — -- Meet Britain's newest pop sensation: She's 48 years old, has frizzy brown hair and bushy eyebrows. But the virtuous Susan Boyle might be the next British singing superstar.

Boyle, a contestant on the show "Britain's Got Talent," which aired in the U.K. last Saturday, told show presenters that she was single and living with her cat Pebbles. "I've never had a boyfriend," she said. "I've never even been kissed."

When she said her wish was to become as famous as British singer-actress Elaine Paige, acerbic judge Simon Cowell smirked mockingly, judging her on her looks. But behind her somewhat unkempt appearance hid a magnificent voice that even stunned the famously critical Cowell.

As soon as Boyle started singing, the audience cheered with amazement as her strong voice took over the theater. After a breathless silence during Boyle's performance, the audience burst into a standing ovation. Piers Morgan, one of the judges, admitted that he was impressed and said, "That was the biggest surprise I have had in three years of the show.

"You said you wanted to be like Elaine Paige and everyone laughed at you. Well no one is laughing now."

Another judge, Amanda Holden, was almost brought to tears by Boyle's performance. "I am just thrilled," she said. "I think we were all guilty of being cynical before. It was a complete privilege to hear you."

The most cynical of judges, Cowell had a harder time admitting he misjudged Boyle before. "I knew the minute you walked out on that stage that we were going to hear something extraordinary, and I was right," he said of the unemployed woman from West Lothian, Scotland.

Later, Boyle said, "I would love to be in musical theater. I have just never had the opportunity."