Susan Boyle Delivers a Goosebumps-Worthy “Stand by Me” Cover 10 Years After Her AGT Breakthrough

It took 10 years for Susan Boyle to record one of the best covers of her career, but it was worth the wait.

Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me” is one of the most well-known songs ever, and Boyle’s take on the classic deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the original. Released as one of four new studio recordings on her 2019 compilation album Ten, this particular version of “Stand by Me” is bursting with warmth and love. It’s everything we love about the America’s Got Talent superstar wrapped up in one fantastic performance.

Like many of Boyle’s best songs, “Stand by Me” starts with simple musical accompaniment and Boyle’s now-iconic vocals taking center stage before all the instruments come in for a joyous crescendo.

(Seriously, the final chorus will give you goosebumps.)

Boyle’s tone never wavers, and her voice never struggles to hit some of the song’s well-known high notes. It makes you wonder why Boyle never recorded this song until relatively later in her career. It’s that good.