She wasn't even a competitor on the show, but Susan Boyle arguably stole the finale of 'America's Got Talent' Wednesday night. Making her U.S. television singing debut, Boyle sang a version of the Rolling Stones' song 'Wild Horses' and even spoke briefly about her hospitalization following her loss on 'Britain's Got Talent.'
"I've never felt so tired. I look back at it now and it was a necessity because I was tired... I used to be a spectator looking out at the world, but now I'm part of that world,"Boyle said. Watch her U.S. debut:
The Scottish singer became a YouTube sensation after an appearance earlier this year on 'Britain's Got Talent,' on which she sang "I Dreamed a Dream. Her album is in stores November 24.
Boyle's American debut aside, contender Kevin Skinner flew the coop with the grand prize on "America's Got Talent."
The singing chicken farmer from Mayfield, Ky., was awarded the NBC talent competition's $1 million grand prize and a headlining spot at a Las Vegas show. Skinner received the most viewer votes on Wednesday's season finale, overcoming runner-up Barbara Padilla, an opera singer from Houston, and eight other finalists. The win brought Skinner to tears.
"I've always loved to perform," he said. "I want to go out there, and give 'em the best show I can."
The humble country singer will headline an "America's Got Talent" show at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino hosted by Jerry Springer in October. Skinner beat out music quartet Recycled Percussion from Goffstown, N.H.; crooning trio the Texas Tenors from Houston; and singing sibling act Voices of Glory from Highland, N.Y., to win the show's fourth season.
Earlier in the evening, half the finalists were dismissed from the talent competition: breakdancer Hairo Torres from Grants Pass, Ore.; crooner Lawrence Beamen from Walnut Creek, Calif.; power tap-dancing sisters the Fab Five from Morgan, Utah; singer-guitarist Drew Stevyns from Sykesville, Md.; and 75-year-old comedian Grandma Lee from Jacksonville, Fla.
The top 10 finalists kicked off the finale by joining Thelma Houston on "Don't Leave Me This Way." Later, a cavalcade of audition-round rejects returned to the stage to perform "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now." The finale also included performances by Leona Lewis, Shakira, Rascal Flatts and the cast of the new Cirque du Soliel production "Banana Shpeel."
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Susan Boyle was fabulous. I can't help but think that this show was fixed in some way. The percussion group had it all over the guy who won as did the Texas Tenors. And the Opera singer was over the top good (and she has a Masters Degree in music). Please....There is NO WAY this winner will last more than a few minutes on a Vegas stage.
OH, I FORGOT ONE MORE THING. I LOVE SUSAN BOYLE BUT I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED IN HER CHOICE OF SONG. HER FIRST US APPEARANCE AND SHE PICKED SUCH AN AWFUL SONG THAT DIDN'T SHOWCASE HER GREAT VOICE. I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HEAR I HAD A DREAM, ONE MORE TIME.
Let's see. Susan Boyle finished second in BGT and is an international star. Anybody heard from "Diversity" lately? Barbara Padilla finishes second in AGT to a chicken plucker who can't sing. Guess who will become an international star!
If you all will remember Susan Boyle did not win the UK version of AGT. Barbara is meant for the Met in NY not Las Vegas. I am sure she will be unindated with offers from many opera companys. So while her not winning is a disappointment. Things happen for a reason. Barbara is not free to pursue her love of opera and not Las Vegas. Congrats to Kevin Skinner. LOVED Susan Boyle. Good luck to all the finalist.
I agree that Skinner didn't have the best voice on the show but he did have a great story & its not like he can't sing. Anyone who says he cant sing & that he is flat on every song obviously doesn't haven't a clue about singing. He does have a great voice & with some singing lessons & someone to help him with his stage appearence I think he will go far. My biggest disappointment of the night was the performance by Shakira! I had to turn the channel. My kids were watching & this performance was sooo unappropriate! My kids were like what is she doing & what kind of outfit was that? This is suppose to be a family show.
Jody. You should be much more concerned about your spelling and grammar abilities. The media and your right wing christian censor buddies will raise your kids for you!
I think that Drew Stevyns should have won the competition. He has grown the most of the competitors. He just didn't have a hard luck story to go along with his talent. I didn't have Kevin Skinner in the top 5.
Susan has a beautiful voice. There is nothng wrong with her teeth for goodness sake. No one is perfect and that includes you ronn. Yes! I will buy her album.
From the time you uttered those infamous words: "I'm going to rock that crowed." you have probably won over 5,000,000,000 of us, and I never get emotional when someone sings. If I like the person, I just root for them or buy their CD but something was different that night. You opened your mouth and I closed my eyes as tears were unable to be contained. I Hope you'll be able to attain all of your Dreams (U have my Vote)!!!
Susan Boyle's performance was great!! I am not sure who won the Britian's got talent but Susan should have won, just like Barbara should have won last night on AGT!!! Look I understand the significance of a rags to riches story that Kevin Skinner has but he clearly did not have the best talent on that show this year. I hope Barbara will be treated like Susan is now and embraced by those who matter in the industry to make her a big star as I know she would have become had she won AGT.. She will do well I know but I guess it is just the point of Talent being in the title of the show and Kevin has it but she had much, much, more!!!
I was so disappointed that Kevin Skinner won, I was hoping for Recycle Percussion ( they were so talented) or Barbra Padillo even the three cowboy tenors. What ever happened to the crybaby opera singer from last year. Anybody ever see him again
I for one am a little tired of all the hype about Susan Boyle. She has a good voice, but certainly not great. I think all the attention on her is taking away from the winner. It was his night, not hers.
5---Items: {1} Kate Gosselin's Chic Edgy Hair Do Looks Better STRAIGHT !!!!! {2} Susan Boyle sang GREAT on AGT !!!! {3} Barbara Padilla SHOULD have won AGT, not that BORING Hillbillie !!!! {4} Jay Leno's Show is a JOKE---just a cheap rip off of his LATE nite show !!!! {5} Kate is MUCH Better off with out that "HIMBO"---John !!!!!
I am looking forward to purchasing Ms. Boyles first album and was nice to see her perform again. I do have to say that was NOT a song that moved me and I think Simon Cowell would have said it was a poor music selection. I just couldnt believe that was chosen as her first american debut. I really was disappointed. I expected something with range and power to come from her voice. The millions of songs in this world, who the heck told her to do that one?
I have been a faithful viewer of "Talent" for 4 years ,now Iam convinced the show is rigged ,Skinner was the worst act out of all the finalists ,he can't carry a note ,he just sounds BAD!!! Barbara Padilla was clearly the better choice, I WILL NOT TUNE IN TO TALENT ANY MORE !!!!
I'm not convinced that AGT is rigged or anything but I am so disappointed in last night's outcome. Kevin Skinner should have NOT won...let alone place in the top 10. He will not make it there. He needs a smaller venue to work in. I think he bit off a little more than he can chew. Kevin got the sympathy vote. Drew Stevyns made a good run for it on his last performance. I agree Barbara Padilla belongs at the Met in N.Y. Such a beautiful voice. At our home, we were hoping that the Texas Tenors would be singing in Las Vegas. We would definitely pay to see them. Now they can sing! You have not heard of the last from them. But all in all, good luck to Kevin Skinner.
I was dissappointed at AGT results. I agree with you. Kevin Skinner didnt deserve to win. I thought Barbara should've won (since Lawrence was voted off) However, what I need to know is, why a sympathy vote for Skinner? What for? I think the voters forgot this was a "TALENT" contest.
I will buy Susan's CD. Susan is one person that "had a/the dream" and she had the opportunity to go for it and made it work even at her age. This should be a lesson to all that if you work hard enough anything can happen. They are all winners and it was the American vote not the judges. (If the judges would have voted you would be complaining of that).
I really like Drew Stevyns before Skinner and I personally like Padilla but knew she wouldn't win. She has a career though, they should be lining up at her door if she hasn't had offers already. And for anyone to say that for a 75 year old woman "Grandma Lee" wasn't a hoot, give me a break?
Don't worry, they will fix Skinner up, dress him up, and he will be a real act in Vegas. You have to wish him the best!
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Agree with you - I was absolutely amazed that all the real talent was passed over.
It really turned out to be the Susan Boyle show - and what a comparison between the two countries.
Barbara Padilla was just over the top in talent and performance as was Susan Boyle during the British version. Both were runners-up.
Difference: Diversity also had talent and performing skills - Skinner shouldn't have made it out of the chute - IMHO
Susan Boyle was fabulous. I can't help but think that this show was fixed in some way. The percussion group had it all over the guy who won as did the Texas Tenors. And the Opera singer was over the top good (and she has a Masters Degree in music). Please....There is NO WAY this winner will last more than a few minutes on a Vegas stage.
Reply
OH, I FORGOT ONE MORE THING. I LOVE SUSAN BOYLE BUT I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED IN HER CHOICE OF SONG. HER FIRST US APPEARANCE AND SHE PICKED SUCH AN AWFUL SONG THAT DIDN'T SHOWCASE HER GREAT VOICE. I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HEAR I HAD A DREAM, ONE MORE TIME.
Reply
Let's see. Susan Boyle finished second in BGT and is an international star. Anybody heard from "Diversity" lately? Barbara Padilla finishes second in AGT to a chicken plucker who can't sing. Guess who will become an international star!
Reply
If you all will remember Susan Boyle did not win the UK version of AGT. Barbara is meant for the Met in NY not Las Vegas. I am sure she will be unindated with offers from many opera companys. So while her not winning is a disappointment. Things happen for a reason. Barbara is not free to pursue her love of opera and not Las Vegas. Congrats to Kevin Skinner. LOVED Susan Boyle. Good luck to all the finalist.
Reply
I agree that Skinner didn't have the best voice on the show but he did have a great story & its not like he can't sing. Anyone who says he cant sing & that he is flat on every song obviously doesn't haven't a clue about singing. He does have a great voice & with some singing lessons & someone to help him with his stage appearence I think he will go far. My biggest disappointment of the night was the performance by Shakira! I had to turn the channel. My kids were watching & this performance was sooo unappropriate! My kids were like what is she doing & what kind of outfit was that? This is suppose to be a family show.
Reply
Jody.
You should be much more concerned about your spelling and grammar abilities.
The media and your right wing christian censor buddies will raise your kids for you!
I think that Drew Stevyns should have won the competition. He has grown the most of the competitors. He just didn't have a hard luck story to go along with his talent. I didn't have Kevin Skinner in the top 5.
Reply
Susan has a beautiful voice. There is nothng wrong with her teeth for goodness sake. No one is perfect and that includes you ronn. Yes! I will buy her album.
Reply
From the time you uttered those infamous words: "I'm going to rock that crowed." you have probably won over 5,000,000,000 of us, and I never get emotional when someone sings. If I like the person, I just root for them or buy their CD but something was different that night. You opened your mouth and I closed my eyes as tears were unable to be contained. I Hope you'll be able to attain all of your Dreams (U have my Vote)!!!
Reply
Susan Boyle's performance was great!! I am not sure who won the Britian's got talent but Susan should have won, just like Barbara should have won last night on AGT!!! Look I understand the significance of a rags to riches story that Kevin Skinner has but he clearly did not have the best talent on that show this year. I hope Barbara will be treated like Susan is now and embraced by those who matter in the industry to make her a big star as I know she would have become had she won AGT.. She will do well I know but I guess it is just the point of Talent being in the title of the show and Kevin has it but she had much, much, more!!!
Reply
I was so disappointed that Kevin Skinner won, I was
hoping for Recycle Percussion ( they were so talented) or Barbra Padillo even the three cowboy tenors. What ever happened to the crybaby opera
singer from last year. Anybody ever see him again
Reply
Are yu referring to Paul Potts. I believe if you Google him youwill find he is performing all over the world.
I for one am a little tired of all the hype about Susan Boyle. She has a good voice, but certainly not great. I think all the attention on her is taking away from the winner. It was his night, not hers.
Reply
5---Items:
{1} Kate Gosselin's Chic Edgy Hair Do Looks Better STRAIGHT !!!!!
{2} Susan Boyle sang GREAT on AGT !!!!
{3} Barbara Padilla SHOULD have won AGT, not that BORING Hillbillie !!!!
{4} Jay Leno's Show is a JOKE---just a cheap rip off of his LATE nite show !!!!
{5} Kate is MUCH Better off with out that "HIMBO"---John !!!!!
Reply
I am looking forward to purchasing Ms. Boyles first album and was nice to see her perform again. I do have to say that was NOT a song that moved me and I think Simon Cowell would have said it was a poor music selection. I just couldnt believe that was chosen as her first american debut. I really was disappointed. I expected something with range and power to come from her voice. The millions of songs in this world, who the heck told her to do that one?
Reply
I have been a faithful viewer of "Talent" for 4 years ,now Iam convinced the show is rigged ,Skinner was the worst act out of all the finalists ,he can't carry a note ,he just sounds BAD!!!
Barbara Padilla was clearly the better choice, I WILL NOT TUNE IN TO TALENT ANY MORE !!!!
Reply
I'm not convinced that AGT is rigged or anything but I am so disappointed in last night's outcome. Kevin Skinner should have NOT won...let alone place in the top 10. He will not make it there. He needs a smaller venue to work in. I think he bit off a little more than he can chew. Kevin got the sympathy vote. Drew Stevyns made a good run for it on his last performance. I agree Barbara Padilla belongs at the Met in N.Y. Such a beautiful voice. At our home, we were hoping that the Texas Tenors would be singing in Las Vegas. We would definitely pay to see them. Now they can sing! You have not heard of the last from them. But all in all, good luck to Kevin Skinner.
Reply
I was dissappointed at AGT results. I agree with you. Kevin Skinner didnt deserve to win. I thought Barbara should've won (since Lawrence was voted off) However, what I need to know is, why a sympathy vote for Skinner? What for? I think the voters forgot this was a "TALENT" contest.
I will buy Susan's CD. Susan is one person that "had a/the dream" and she had the opportunity to go for it and made it work even at her age. This should be a lesson to all that if you work hard enough anything can happen. They are all winners and it was the American vote not the judges. (If the judges would have voted you would be complaining of that).
I really like Drew Stevyns before Skinner and I personally like Padilla but knew she wouldn't win. She has a career though, they should be lining up at her door if she hasn't had offers already. And for anyone to say that for a 75 year old woman "Grandma Lee" wasn't a hoot, give me a break?
Don't worry, they will fix Skinner up, dress him up, and he will be a real act in Vegas. You have to wish him the best!
Reply