Britain's Got Talent Singing Sensation Gives First Performance in U.S.

After wowing the judges (including the ever-cranky Simon Cowell) on Britain's Got Talent, Scottish singer Susan Boyle has become a YouTube Internet sensation and garnered international praise overnight.  

The 47-year-old appeared on the CBS's Early Show Thursday to reprise her Talent performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical Les Miserables. Boyle's gorgeous a capella delivery earned praise from Broadway's Patti LuPone, who first introduced the song in 1985.

"Susan," said LuPone as she called into the Early Show, "you've got pluck, girl."

As of Thursday morning, the online video clip of Boyle's performance had been viewed more than 11 million times.

Boyle, a native of Blackburn, Scotland, first walked onto the Britain's Got Talent Stage looking somewhat frumpy and told the judges, "I'm nearly 48, currently unemployed, but still looking." Many in the audience giggled, and there was a whiff of condescension from the judges when Boyle said she wanted to be the next Elaine Paige — a petite, blonde British stage musical star.
But the reaction changed as soon as she began to sing.

During her Early Show appearance, Boyle said her inspiration came from her mother, for whom she cared up until her recent death. "I wanted to make this a tribute to my mother. I knew this was something I had to do."

Watch her clip from the morning show below: