Got Talent legend Susan Boyle’s been a public music figure for 15 years, and she’s had her fair share of pinch-me moments. There was the time she performed for Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2019. Or when she sang for the late Queen Elizabeth II at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Believe it or not, these instances weren’t even her first brushes with world leaders. In fact, four years before belting her heart out for Queen Elizabeth II, she did the same for King Charles (then Prince of Wales) and Queen Camilla (then Duchess of Cornwall).

Boyle was a featured artist in the annual Royal Variety Performance in 2010. For the occasion, she sang Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day”—something she’s mastered before, but this rendition was particularly special. Backed by a children’s choir, Boyle epitomized grace and divinity with each crystal-clear note. Of course, the performance was met with a rapturous applause from the audience, including King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Watch the performance here. 

Susan Boyle: 15 years of music superstardom

Susan Boyle performs during Season 1 Episode 1 of America’s Got Talent: The Champions. Photo: Trae Patton/NBC

It’s been 15 years since Susan Boyle’s viral Britain’s Got Talent Audition, where she sang “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables and completely stunned the world.

“I’ll never forget this,” BGT creator Simon Cowell (who also was a Judge during Boyle’s Audition) said. “I was having a terrible, terrible day, and I remember saying, ‘I really, really hope she’s not gonna sing,’ because there were so many bad singers that day and I thought, ‘I just can’t take another one.’”

“Our expectations were quite low, but she is the perfect example of never judge a book by its cover,” Cowell continued.  “She is just the most incredible person. This was a lady who lived on her own in Scotland, and she came on the show and everything changed. Because up until that point, there was a perception that you had to look this way, or be this age, and she just changed the rulebook. Full stop.”

Adam Lambert returned to the American Idolstage to perform Queen‘s “Bohemian Rhapsody” alongside Season 18 contestant Dimitrius Graham Sunday.

Though they performed a truncated version of the classic track, Lambert and Graham did not skimp on any of the bombast. The pair traded verses early on while Graham did an excellent job anchoring the famous opera section while receiving an assist from a small choir of back-up singers. With digital fireworks blazing in the background, Lambert and Graham roared through the song’s ending before bringing it to a close with the poignant refrain, “Nothing really matters, nothing really matters to me.”

Lambert famously auditioned for Season Eight of American Idol with “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and on the season finale, he and eventual winner Kris Allen sang “We Are the Champions” alongside Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor. Following a string of solo albums, Lambert reunited with May and Taylor and began touring under the moniker “Queen + Adam Lambert.” The group is set to embark on a North American tour July 10th in Vancouver.

As for Graham, the budding singer made it to the Top 10 of the competition, but was eliminated just before the Queen special, on which Lambert served as a mentor. The finalists for Season 18 of American Idol were Alejandro Aranda and Laine Hardy, with Hardy winning the competition.

Released in 1965, “I Got You Babe” by Sonny and Cher, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and became the anthem of the early hippie movement. Decades later, Adam Lambert and Cyndi Lauper sang this song at an awards ceremony to honor Cher, whose career blossomed glimmeringly.

Adam and Cyndi gave the audience a memorable performance, leaving them in awe. The crowd was instantly captivated, rising to their feet to join in the fun, singing and dancing along. Adam, famous for his soaring high notes, chose to honor the original melody, which made for a beautiful rendition. The enjoyment between the two performers was evident.

It’s interesting to know that Cher was present in the house. Like the audience, she loved this duet so much. The legend was visibly moved, joining the crowd in a standing ovation and cheering enthusiastically for Adam and Cyndi.

This rendition was mesmerizing because it was covered by truly talented singers. At over 60, Cyndi Lauper has been in the entertainment industry for almost as much time as Cher. Her music video for her 1983 song “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” was considered one of the best music videos of that decade.

On the other hand, Adam Lambert, who gained fame as the “American Idol” runner-up in 2009, has rapidly risen to stardom with his dramatic flair and impressive vocal range. He duetted with some pretty big stars like Queen and Rihanna.

Adam Lambert stunned his audience by stepping away from his usual larger-than-life rock star persona, opting for a more intimate and emotional performance. Stripped of the glam and grandeur, he delivered a soulful rendition of his song, “Feel Something,” with a vulnerability.

The contrast between his typical high-energy performances and this more subdued moment caught many by surprise, but it was this raw honesty that captured hearts. With every note, Adam’s voice wove a story that stayed with listeners long after the final chord.

During the performance, Adam’s voice felt personal and real, connecting deeply with the audience. He toned down his usual flashy stage presence and took a more relaxed, soulful approach, letting the emotion of the song stand out.

Fans couldn’t get enough of the performance, and it quickly went viral, gaining millions of views across social media. Adam’s heartfelt delivery struck a chord with listeners, who were impressed by the raw emotion he brought to the song. Many pointed out how this performance revealed a new side of the artist, one that left them excited to see where this fresh musical direction might take him next.

“Feel Something” is a fresh change for Adam, moving away from the high-energy rock anthems he’s known for. This song is a heartfelt ballad that explores themes like emotional vulnerability, longing, and the deep human need for connection. With a simple, stripped-back arrangement, the track gives Adam’s voice room to shine.

Adam Lambert performed the live debut of “Mad About the Boy” on BBC’s celebrity dance competition, Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday (Oct 9). The American Idol alum performed a mesmerizing jazz standard version of the Noel Coward song. Pro dancers Nikita Kuzmin and Carlos Gu performed a steamy Argentine Tango as Adam performed.

Like all legends, John Travolta has absolutely aged like fine wine. The 65-year-old showed that he’s still got the moves when he gave a cheeky dance lesson to James Corden. Corden opened the segment by asking English power couple Aaron and Sam Taylor-Johnson about the time they dressed up as John Travolta and Uma Thurman’s Pulp Fiction characters for Halloween. Sam and Corden then raved about the classic movie, which features an iconic dance scene from Travolta and Thurman.

Corden then asked Travolta to give them a dance lesson. In his heyday, Travolta ruled the dance floor in roles such as Grease and Saturday Night Fever, and he proved to everyone watching that he had not forgotten how to shake a tail feather. Travolta taught the other three several dances, including the twist, the swim, the hip shaker, the mashed potatoes, and last but not least, the Batman. It was such a simple segment, but Travolta’s charisma just totally sold it, making it a real hoot to watch.

Travolta gave his dance class on The Late Late Show with James Corden on an episode that was uploaded on December 5, 2019. The feel-good segment was quite popular on Corden’s YouTube channel and attracted 18.9 million views. Fans loved to see Travolta back on the dance floor and added comments such as “The man’s still got it – you never lose class” and “John Travolta should be declared as a national treasure. Love the guy, so nice, iconic, resilient and positive.”

Travolta and Thurman’s dance scene in the Quentin Tarantino-directed Pulp Fiction is one of the most iconic scenes in all of cinema. In the film, Travolta plays career criminal Vincent Vega, who is given the task of entertaining his boss’s wife Mia Wallace, as played by Thurman. The pair stop by a venue, where Mia insists on joining the dance competition and the pair boogie down to Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell.” The moves Travolta pulls on Corden’s show are featured in the original scene.

The Corden segment revealed some interesting facts about Travolta’s role in creating the dance scene in Pulp Fiction. The leading man explained that “Quentin was dead set on both of us doing the twist, which is a very fun dance, but it’s limited in how long one wants to watch someone doing the twist.”

Travolta continued, saying, “So I said to Quentin, when I was growing up there were novelty dances, like the swim and the Batman. I said ‘maybe we should widen the spectrum on this.’” After seeing Travolta’s novelty dances, the director was convinced and then the classic dance scene was born.

If anyone has ever wondered why Adam Lambert is the vocalist for QUEEN today, the answer lies in performances like his breathtaking rendition of Sleepwalker. This song is a masterclass in vocal control, precision, and power—a testament to why Adam Lambert is not just a worthy successor to Freddie Mercury’s legacy but a once-in-a-generation talent in his own right.

From the very first note, Adam’s performance of Sleepwalker is nothing short of perfection. The song demands an extraordinary level of vocal stamina, with its relentless pace and intricate phrasing. Yet, Adam navigates it with ease, barely pausing for breath except during the brief interlude. His ability to maintain such control, hitting every note with unwavering accuracy and power, is nothing short of astonishing.

What sets Adam apart is not just his technical prowess but his emotional delivery. He doesn’t just sing the song; he embodies it, infusing every lyric with passion and intensity. His voice soars effortlessly, carrying the weight of the melody with a richness and depth that leaves listeners spellbound.

For those who have witnessed this performance, it’s impossible not to be left in awe. Adam’s vocal range, his ability to sustain long, powerful notes, and his impeccable timing are all on full display. It’s a reminder of why he has earned his place as QUEEN’s frontman—a role that requires not just talent but an undeniable star quality.

Adam Lambert is, without question, one of the greatest live singers of our time. His performances are a masterclass in artistry, blending technical brilliance with raw emotion. Whether he’s reimagining QUEEN’s iconic hits or delivering his own original work, Adam consistently proves that he is a vocal powerhouse.

For those who still question his place alongside QUEEN, Sleepwalker is the definitive answer. It’s a performance that showcases not just his ability to honor the band’s legacy but his capacity to elevate it. Adam Lambert isn’t just a singer; he’s a phenomenon—and perhaps the greatest vocalist of our generation.

Every time I watch this performance, I’m reminded of why Adam Lambert is the perfect fit for QUEEN. He’s not just carrying the torch; he’s lighting up the stage with a brilliance that’s all his own.

No one can replace Freddie Mercury. No one. The good news is no one is trying to replace Freddie. That being said, Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor couldn’t have found a better singer than Adam Lambert to take the stage with them on their current North American tour.

Queen + Adam Lambert rolled into Las Vegas for a sold out, two-night stand at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’s The Joint over Fourth of July weekend. Seating just around 3,000 people, The Joint is easily Queen’s most intimate venue on this 24-city tour. Despite the pared down stage (by Queen’s standards), they still left an indelible footprint on The Joint, burning through a two-hour set of obscure gems, greatest hits and re-imagined classics.

The lights dimmed to the familiar chords of Procession, from the Queen II album. The curtain dropped and Queen blasted into their set, opening the show with a raucous rendition of Now I’m Here on the strength of May’s signature Red Special guitar sound and Taylor’s adrenaline-pumping drums. Before the audience had a chance to breathe, they launched into the jolting rocker, Stone Cold Crazy, reminding fans Queen can still put the pedal to the metal.

For the next two hours, Queen, Lambert and their supporting cast (bass player Neil Fairclough, Spike Edney on the keyboards and Roger’s son, Rufus, on drums and percussion) deftly ripped through a set of Queen classics as though they never missed a beat. Whether bouncy sing-alongs like Fat Bottomed Girls, the raw power of Tie Your Mother Down or Lambert’s vocal gymnastics on Somebody To Love, Queen and Lambert were flexing their muscles, daring the audience to not love it. The Vegas audience roared with approval when, mid-show, May coyly asked, “What do you think of the new kid?”

For his part, Lambert—the “new kid”—prowled, strutted and preened across the stage like he owned it. Anyone who’s following Freddie Mercury can’t be a shrinking violet and Lambert certainly made this set his own, putting his own stamp on Queen’s daunting setlist. He was never more at home than with Killer Queen