Susan Boyle: 'Britain's Got Talent'

With her less-than-polished appearance—bushy eyebrows, haggard hair and corner-store gold gown—the audience of the U.K.'s "Britain's Got Talent" was quick to laugh off last Saturday's 47-year-old contestant Susan Boyle, who lives alone with her cat as a church charity worker in Bathgate, West Lothian. The show's background almost mimicked a circus side show as she announced, "I'm going to make that audience rock."

Judge Simon Cowell inquired, smirk intact, "What's the dream?" and she responded, "I'm trying to be a professional singer." Simon: "And why hasn't it worked out so far, Susan?" to which she humbly fired back, "I've never been given the chance before, but here's hoping it will change," aspiring to be as big as Brit's beloved Elaine Paige.

As the first notes of "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Miserables" began, eyes were rolling throughout the audience. And then came her first note. The clip of her audition has been viewed 2,485,245 times in 72 hours—and I see why. I sobbed like a child when I watched this lady, who admits she has never been kissed, sing with her heart on her sleeve, confident if not dowdy, with one of the great surprise vocal performances of a lifetime.

Of course, see for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY.

After the performance, Simon pronounced her voice "extraordinary" and fellow judge Amanda Holden, close to tears, offered a standing ovation halfway through. Third judge Piers Morgan said the performance was "without a doubt the biggest surprise I have had in three years of this show."

In a world that is increasingly tough to smile through, the humiity and humanity of this moment in pop culture is worthy of the world's applause. God bless this striking figure and her innate talent. It should make us all feel a little bit better about being alive.