NBC Insider Exclusive

Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive show news, updates, and more!

Sign Up For Free to View
NBC Insider America's Got Talent

Susan Boyle's Cover of "Stand by Me" Will Make You Feel Like You're Floating

The Britain's Got Talent Season 3 finalist's rendition of the Ben E. King classic is super touching. 

By Jackie Manno

In 2019, Britain's Got Talent Season 3 runner-up Susan Boyle put a dramatic twist on "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King. And her version will leave you feeling inspired. 

How to Watch

Watch America’s Got Talent on NBC and Peacock

During her cover, she sang in a soft, gentle tone while gorgeous strings played in the background. She then kicked things up a notch with some heavenly backup singers, emphasizing the soulful nature of the classic song. Her voice got more powerful toward the end, wrapping up the song in a super climatic way. 

Watch the lovely performance, below. 

RELATED: Kodi Lee's Cover of "Stand by Me" Might Be His Most Soulful Yet

What to know about "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King

King originally wrote "Stand By Me" when he was a member of the band The Drifters. However, the group chose to pass on the song, so King decided to record it as a solo track. It ended up reaching the number-four position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961. It has since become a standard, being covered by Kodi Lee, John Lennon, Green Day, Otis Redding, Tracy Chapman, Florence + the Machine, Snoop Dogg, and others.  

The song charted at the number-nine position on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986 when it was featured in the popular coming-of-age movie of the same name starring River Phoenix. In 2021, Rolling Stone placed "Stand by Me" on the 131st position on its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list. 

RELATED: Susan Boyle's Cover of "O Holy Night" Is Absolutely Angelic

Susan Boyle performing on stage.