Under the golden glow of the Vatican’s grand hall, the air shimmered with anticipation as Lionel Richie, Bonnie Tyler, and Susan Boyle took the stage for the Christmas charity concert. Richie’s smooth melodies wrapped the audience in warmth, Tyler’s raspy power electrified the atmosphere, and Boyle’s angelic voice brought a hush of awe. As their voices soared, the crowd—priests, dignitaries, and music lovers alike—watched in rapture, some swaying, others wiping away tears. A standing ovation erupted as the final notes faded, the spirit of Christmas and generosity filling the sacred space with an unforgettable magic.
Susan Boyle joined Lionel Richie and Bonnie Tyler tonight to perform at the star-studded annual Vatican Christmas Concert.
The Scottish star, 58, said she had to ‘pinch’ herself when meeting Pope Francis yesterday and described meeting Lionel Richie, 70, as ‘the icing on the cake’ after being a ‘lifelong fan’.
The devout Catholic, from Blackburn, West Lothian, performed two solo songs tonight before joining Richie and Bonnie Tyler, 68, alongside other stars for an ensemble.
The concert has been held at the Paul VI Audience Hall since 1993 and is raising funds for the Amazon and its indigenous people this year.
Susan Boyle with Lionel Richie, 70, and Bonnie Tyler, 68, met on Friday with Pope Francis ahead of their performance in the Vatican’s annual Christmas Concert
Susan Boyle said: ‘It was a huge honour to meet Pope Francis and at the Vatican’. She added Friday the 13th may be ‘unlucky for some, but for me the luckiest day of my life’
Scottish superstar Susan Boyle sings at the star-studded Christmas Concert in Vatican in the Paul VI Audience Hall in Vatican City tonight
Lionel Richie, 70, performs at the Christmas concert. Richie met Pope Francis yesterday alongside Susan Boyle and Bonnie Tyler
The devout Catholic said she had to ‘pinch’ herself when meeting Pope Francis (left). Bonnie Tyler, 68, performs at the concert with proceeds going towards the Amazon (right)
Boyle said: ‘It was a huge honour to meet Pope Francis and at the Vatican. To be at the Vatican meeting the Pope was such a humbling experience and to be asked to take part in his Christmas concert was a true honour.
‘I have to pinch myself at how lucky I am and ten years on I’m still having the most fantastic time with these incredible opportunities. I don’t and won’t ever take this for granted.
Boyle rose to fame in 2009 after stunning the nation and the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel of Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden, with her audition, in which she sang I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables.
She finished as the runner-up on the show behind dance group Diversity. She has gone on to sell millions of records and earn two Grammy nominations.
Next year she will hit the road for her Ten tour, playing in 15 cities with her first date scheduled for Dundee on March 3.
Italian TV host Federica Panicucci at the Paul VI Hall during Vatican annual Christmas Concert (left). French singer Mireille Mathieu performs at the annual Christmas concert tonight (right)
A young choir performs at the star-studded concert which has been held at the Paul VI Audience Hall since 1993
Italian singer-songwriter Mahmood from Milan performs at the concert (left). Elisa Toffoli, Italian singer-songwriter, wowed in a silver suit at the concert tonight (right)
