Susan Boyle Wows Viewers, Reaches Show Finals

LONDON, May 25, 2009 — -- Singing sensation Susan Boyle wowed Britain in her latest appearance Sunday on the U.K. reality TV show "Britain's Got Talent."

The 47-year-old church volunteer performed a version of the number "Memory" from the hit musical "Cats" to a rapt audience during the semi-finals of the show.

A confident Boyle was voted the viewers' favorite in a telephone poll, allowing her to sing in the show's final next Saturday.

After an initially inauspicious start last month when she gave her first performance on the show, Boyle overcame jibes about her somewhat frumpy appearance to astonish the show's judges and audience members with her soaring voice. She has since become a sensation around the world.

Nearly 60 million people watched her first performance on YouTube, Demi Moore tweeted about her, and even her favorite cartoon, "The Simpsons," took notice of her burgeoning fame.

A smiling Boyle danced with glee after Sunday's performance, telling judge Piers Morgan, "This is for you Piersy baby." Morgan responded, "You look absolutely beautiful and you sang well. When the world was going through a tough time you provided a bit of happiness."

Fellow judge Amanda Holden expressed her relief that it all "went well. I was biting all my plastic nails off. It was fantastic."

Even the usually cutting Simon Cowell could find no fault with the woman once dubbed the "hairy angel" by the British tabloid press. Cowell told Boyle that she was "one special lady," adding, "I want to apologize for the way we treated you the first time you sang. You made me and everyone else look stupid."

Amid mounting speculation over how far Boyle would change her appearance to meet the demands of her growing fame, the singing star turned up to Sunday's performance in a dark plum-colored, beaded dress, wearing more make-up than last time, but with the same unruly bob that made her famous.

In an interview that aired on the TV show "Extra" Boyle said she had no intention of transforming her appearance. "I wouldn't like to change anything," she said. "I'm perfect the way I am."