Susan Boyle Hospitalized

(CBS/AP)  Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle was taken to a London clinic for treatment following her second-place finish in a nationwide talent competition.

Boyle, 48, was admitted to the Priory Clinic on Sunday, a day after she finished behind a male dance group in the "Britain's Got Talent" television show, reports CBS News correspondent Richard Roth, who says officials at the clinic won't comment on the situation.

Boyle was the heavy favorite to win the finals -- watched by over 19 million people -- after becoming a YouTube sensation following her first appearance on the show in April. By Friday, the pressure appeared to be building relentlessly on the shy singer, who reportedly went into seclusion after exploding at journalists from Britain's notoriously aggressive tabloids.

The television company talkbackThames said Boyle was "exhausted and emotionally drained" and was taking a few days off.

"She has been seen by her private GP, who supports her decision to take a few days out for rest and recovery," the company said. "We offer her our ongoing support and wish her a speedy recovery."

Roth says the clinic specializes in addiction recovery -- and mental health care.

Britain's Sun newspaper adds that, after tears and a tantrum from Boyle, her handlers had to help her into an ambulance to get her to the clinic.

"BGT" judge Amanda Holden said on The Early Show Monday she thinks "it's kind of what everybody's saying, really. I think it's taken its toll on her. She's gone from a woman nobody knew to worldwide fame, and I think, for anybody in the business to handle that kind of stress is an enormous amount of pressure, and I think she probably has just crumbled under it. ... She will just need some time to recuperate and rest. And actually, it's probably a blessing she didn't win, because now the spotlight is not so heavily on her. So, perhaps now she can just relax and enjoy what's happening to her, rather than feel the pressure."

Another "BGT" judge says Boyle had been seeing doctors all week, but she's fine. "She needs to get away from everyone," observed Piers Morgan, "get away from the show, from the media, from the public, and just have a bit of downtime to herself to sleep."

"Like her sudden rise to fame," Roth points out, "Boyle's surprising upset helped fuel a ratings bonanza for the TV talent show -- whose critics now are asking if a vulnerable woman was exploited in the process."

Boyle's first voice coach, Fred O'Neil, recalled on The Early Show Monday that, "When (Boyle) told me she was going in to "Britian's Got Talent," it seemed like a great, great thing for Susan to do. She'd been in lots of talent competitions before. And her dream is to sing, and to be heard by a larger audience. So, that all seemed wonderful. It was just, when it kicked off into this massive YouTube, global attention that I was starting to worry. You know, around her house, it was like an absolute media circus. You really couldn't even drive down her street."

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[BC Kelly]

Get a copy of the lyrics to I Dreamed a Dream

And then get both of Ms Boyle's performances on youtube to watch and listen


Now - pay close attention to "how" Susan sang those words the first time

And compare that to this past weekend

Same song, same words - VERY different inflections, facial expressions, etc

And VERY different meaning behind those words



As many have said - her initial impact says more about us than her

And the "way" she sang that song the 2nd time says a LOT about our Media Circus


Hopefully we'll all wake up to "what" Susan represents

And stop this canary, and her song, from dying in the mine



Here's to all the Susan Boyles out there in the World

And to the Susan Boyle in each of us

[troglobyte]

Just feel better, then get out there and blow us away again. Your talent transcends the petty crap the world is trying to throw at you.

[dragyn30]

The media and lately CBS treats people as disposable commodities in their quest for ratings!!!

Susan Boyle did a great job and showed her talent - then the media attacked like a pack of wild dogs on a wound animal - CONGRATULATIONS MEDIA PIGS YOU BROKE ANOTHER ONE!!!

None of you, not a one could do what she did! Shame on you for exploiting her!

[oshea43]

Without a doubt Susan Boyle was the winner the first moment she stepped on stage and sang that first note. To say she lost is ridiculous considering the "winner" was determined by how many phone calls made it through. That was a crap shoot. Susan Boyle has a God-given talent that can not be taught. She will be back; stronger than ever and doing what she wanted to do in the first place-Sing-and sing she can. What a winner-a real winner!

[heidi611]

Susan is the greatest! I wonder who was voting maybe the ages 16 or 17 years of age to haved voted in a dance like Diversity. Susan is a much better choice to perform for the queen. Susan is a strong woman and she will be back bigger and better than every. I wish her the best! I will buy your first CD

[sandi umble]

susan boyle should have won by a landslide! she is wonderful..i just wish i knew her address so i could write to her and give her encouragement that she needs! those dancers have NO TALENT what so ever!go susan, i,m routing for you all the way! sandi umble holden ,maine

[saxe14]

Shame on the nightly news hosts for making comments about a shining star going out as quickly as it started. Not an exact quote...but you get the point. Susan Boyle has a wonderful voice and is a charming person. Star gone out...Oh Susan, please don't stop your singing. Please record an album. You have only begun to keep your promise to your mother. Do it on your conditions. Stay has warm as you are.

[saturn05]

I'm sorry but that dance act wasn't even that great and that type of dancing went out in the 80's and early 90's. Susan has more talent than some stupid dance group that will not go anywhere. It is a shame that the Queen will have to endure their horrible lack of talent. Susan has a right to privacy in her need to rest after the spotlight and and quite frankly after to losing to DIversity, I would have had a full-blown nervous breakdown.

[VictoryM]

I'm very sorry to read about the breakdown, or nervous exhaustion of Susan Boyle. I dislike most "reality" shows, but I have enjoyed some of the amateur talent displayed recently. The abusive treatment seen on these shows is not new. I'm old enough to remember Major Bowes' Amateur Hour on radio, and that had its meanness, too. People don't change, and the media just hypes whatever will bet as much attention as possible. The so-called reality shows aren't the worst of TV. I find very little on TV worth watching, as most of the programs deal with violence and murder. I think if there were public hangings, that people would still enjoy watching them with sick pleasure. I guess humanity is still evolving, and I hope it eventually will actually become "humane". Susan Boyle has been the victim of TV comedians, and they ought to be ashamed to make fun of her for the sake of a cheap laugh. She hasn't done anything to cause her shame. She has tremendous talent, and I hope she recovers and will find a way to use her ability for her sake and for the pleasure her voice gives the public.

[erasmus111]

You Americans are really slow.

Posted by delboy01-2009 at 1:54 PM : Jun 1, 2009

I'm not an American. And I'm not slow. I don't believe anything that I read.