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Daily Record
Daily Record
Entertainment
Magdalene Dalziel & Nika Shakhnazarova

Inside Susan Boyle's glammed-up West Lothian council house she's lived in for nearly 60 years

Susan Boyle has come a long way since she rose to fame on Britain's Got Talent in 2009.

But the singer hasn't moved very far when it comes to her personal life, and proudly still lives in the Blackburn council house she grew up in.

Susan, 60, has raked in a vast fortune and could live in some of the world's swankiest locations.

But when she was feeling flush a few years back, she bought the semi detached house next door for £111,000 and put them together to create her dream home.

It was "I Dreamed a Dream" that propelled her to worldwide attention more than a decade ago when she stood in front of the BGT judges.

Previously, the singer talked about how her childhood bedroom was her refuge when she faced bullies at school (OK Magazine)

Her breathtaking performance left everyone in the auditorium - and viewers at home - speechless and started Susan on a whirlwind journey which saw her selling out arenas and rubbing shoulders with A-list stars.

She may have come second place to 2009 BGT winners dance troop Diversity in the final of the telly talent show but the talented Scot went on to sell more than 19million records and earn an estimated £22million

But Susan, who appeared on America’s Got Talent: The Champions in 2019, stays close to her roots and has always said she'd never move from Scotland.

The songstress did splash out a bit on a makeover for her beloved property, and transformed it into a stunning modern living space fit for a worldwide celebrity.

The Britain's Got Talent star enthused she cherished her home as a "wee retreat" for herself (OK Magazine)

She explained her home holds a lot of memories for her which was why she couldn't leave it behind after finding fame, reports the Mirror.

Susan told OK! : "It’s to do with the memories of your house and your upbringing, you need to take stock of things and maybe see where you come from and where your roots lie."

She added: "It’s best to be grounded and with your roots. It keeps you grounded and prevents you from saying things maybe you shouldn't say."

Although the house looks somewhat modest at first glance, inside it boasted of a modern design and each room featured a different colour palette.

And after her major revamp of the house, Susan opted for a large grey and checked sofa to adorn her similar-coloured living room and kitchen area (OK Magazine)

Having a religious background, it's no surprise the house's entryway has a collection of Jesus Christ ornaments in front of Susan's piano room.

The piano room was adorned with many religious artifacts in addition to all of her musical memorabilia which decorated the room.

Her house celebrates memorable moments throughout her career.

These include a framed record from her one million album sales to a picture of her and Peter Kay from their Comic Relief single.

The piano room is adorned with many religious artifacts in addition to all of her musical memorabilia (OK Magazine)

Keeping with the religious theme, Susan displayed photos and paintings of her late parents and a meeting with the Pope.

After her major revamp of the house, the singer opted for a large grey and checked sofa to adorn her similar-coloured living room and kitchen area.

The kitchen was fitted with the latest appliances and a shiny cream-coloured floor which perfectly complemented the grey theme of the room.

The singer also kitted out her house with new wallpaper and even a grey carpet as she completed the transformation.

Keeping with the religious theme, Susan displays photos and paintings of her late parents and a meeting with the Pope (OK Magazine)
The singer also fitted her house with new wallpaper and even a grey carpet (OK Magazine)

The living room also boasts a stunning fireplace which had a number of animal ornaments led out in front of it.

Susan remains incredibly proud of her strong relationship with her family and she says the house holds a lot of happy memories.

Her father passed away in 1999, followed by sister Kathleen in 2000 and then her mother, who she had cared for, in 2007.

In 2015 her older sister, Brigid ‘Birdie’ McCaw, passed way aged 73 from cancer, leaving Susan at a loss, as they were so close.

When showing her dressing room, she recalled: "There’s a bit of history attached to this house there used to be nine of us in it.

"Three sisters used to sleep in what is now my dressing room. Bridie, Cathy and myself. Mary had gotten married and left the nest long ago. So when they all left I was left with this room. This used to be my room."

And after her major revamp of the house, Susan opted for a large grey and checked sofa to adorn her similar-coloured living room and kitchen area. (OK Magazine)

Susan revamped the dressing room with costume jewellery and a wardrobe crammed full of fancy clothes following her rise to fame.

Although she raked in millions, the singer has only splurged on a few major purchases including a fur coat and a bike.

But Susan has yet to take her fur coat out and show it off to the world.

The songstress claimed she gave her home a face lift because she was "beginning to lose things" in an interview with the Edinburgh Evening News.

She told the newspaper: "The house has been needing doing up for some time, I was beginning to lose things in it.

“I’ve had the kitchen done, the living room papered, the floors done and a summerhouse put out the back.”

The living room also boasts a stunning fireplace, which is decorated with many ornament Susan holds dear to her heart (OK Magazine)
Inside Susan Boyle's glammed-up childhood council house where she has lived for 60 years (OK Magazine)

The star enthused she cherished her home as a "wee retreat" for herself.

Susan added: “It will be a wee retreat for me, although I haven’t used it yet, with all the rain. It makes the place look bigger and more homely.”

Previously, the singer talked about how her childhood bedroom was her refuge when she faced bullies at school.

Susan was given the name 'Simple Susan' as she grew up and was heartbreakingly told she was "brain damaged".

In actual fact she has an IQ way beyond average and was diagnosed with Aspergers by experts in 2013, four years after BGT.

She told the Guardian at the time: "I think people will treat me better because they will have a much great understanding of who I am and why I do the things I do."

“I was bullied quite a lot as a child." She added to The Daily Mail.

“Music was very much an escape, because I'd go to my bedroom and nobody could taunt me."

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