RSS
Entertainment


Home Page > Entertainment > Susan Boyle woman of year, hero Hudson River pilot 'Sully' man of year at NBC

Blogs


comment on article 27 Comments
print this article Print
email this articleE-mail

Susan Boyle woman of year, hero Hudson River pilot 'Sully' man of year at NBC

By
NIALL O'DOWD,
IrishCentral.com Publisher

Published Saturday, November 28, 2009, 8:52 AM
Updated Saturday, November 28, 2009, 11:35 AM

 

Bookmark and Share

Susan gifts surfaced the moment she became a public face
Susan gifts surfaced the moment she became a public face

Niall O'Dowd: Susan Boyle has been named 'Woman of the year' by NBC Today show host Matt Lauer in a wonderful tribute to her extraordinary story.

In a week where the savage tabloid press once again outdid itself in manufacturing yet another Susan Boyle breakdown story, Matt Lauer's choice of Susan Boyle stands out as an act of decency and real journalism.

Lauer also picked airline pilot hero Chesley Sullenberger as his Man of the Year and the two have much in common. Both Susan and Sully are low-key people who were catapulted from anonymity to great fame overnight.

Both possessed extraordinary gifts that surfaced the moment they became public figures. Sully was cool, calm and collected under the greatest possible pressure,

Susan Boyle was magnificent, thrilling and inspirational in her moment under the lights.

Both posses a quiet dignity and class that has eluded all those tabloid hounds who would love nothing more than to drag them down. Susan appeared on U.S. TV's Today Show, where host Matt Lauer dubbed her "Woman of the Year."

Lauer told Susan: "You’re one of the most talked-about, one of the most Googled, one of the most Internet-viewed women on the planet." She said: "That's awesome – thank you. It feels surreal, as if it isn't happening."

Susan admitted that fame has helped her mature but it has been tough at times. "From no pressure to having all this pressure, I found it a bit suffocating. It was such a short space of time, it felt like a demolition ball really. It really came at me like a demolition ball."

That demolition ball crew was out again this week trying to destroy Susan. The fact that they have failed again shows her character and true grit.

print this article Print
email this articleE-mail


Most recent of 27 comments - See all comments

It may take several minutes for your comment to appear.
Report abuse
Posted by Doctorgeri on Dec 02, 2009, 12:46 PM EST
Matt got it right! Susan Boyle has been outstanding since she first stepped on the stage at "Britain's got talent." I have her album and love it! Sure hope she comes to Alabama :)
Report abuse
Posted by FromAsia on Dec 01, 2009, 01:40 PM EST
The reckless and vicious behaviour of the media (tabloid) is dragging this previous great empire down even more.
Report abuse
Posted by winship1716 on Dec 01, 2009, 01:11 AM EST
susan is great she has never done anything wrong so these stupid critics makeup lies instead of wr1ting about all the good things she has done they are such a sorry bunch of slobs
Report abuse
Posted by marciakennon on Nov 29, 2009, 07:12 PM EST
The Matt Lauer show was very special to me because Susan was a part of it. I love to brag about Susan. She deserves this award more than any other woman I can think of. She is genuine, humble, determined, witty, and has great perseverance. We had a wonderful time with her in NYC. Her fans just love her and step up to the plate when she gets bad press. She doesn't deserve it. Ever!!!
Report abuse
Posted by Sarathefriend on Nov 29, 2009, 04:16 PM EST
hAVING BEEN IN nyc AND made history with Susan and got to give her a hand off the stage this gossip waggers fanacy is nonsense1 She did NOT suck her thumb1 That quilt was splendid and she cried like a woman now accepted and endeared.
Report abuse
Posted by lorias1228 on Nov 29, 2009, 02:40 PM EST
Yeah for Susan. It's fabulous! http://fans4susanboyle.ning.com/
Report abuse
Posted by Eloisee on Nov 29, 2009, 01:38 PM EST
Susan sums it up perfectly in her song "You'll See": I have truth on my side, You only have deceit. You’ll see somehow, someday.
Report abuse
Posted by ChrisinPAUSA on Nov 29, 2009, 01:15 PM EST
I was at the brunch in NYC and some fans were laughing with Susan and someone mentioned that she take "baby steps" like Susan has said she would do. Susan then stuck her thumb in her mouth for a split second as a joke in response. She is a delightful person and when she is attacked they are attacking all of us who love her.
Report abuse
Posted by jenntVT on Nov 29, 2009, 12:30 AM EST
FANTASTIC !
Report abuse
Posted by Respectfully on Nov 28, 2009, 07:29 PM EST
Susan has us in the palm of her hands, just right where we want to be! Are there any titles left to win? If so, just go ahead and stick Susan’s name on them.
Report abuse
Posted by patriciasart on Nov 28, 2009, 02:58 PM EST
Thank you Naill ! This week was so much fun! Watching Susan on X-Factor ,then her arrival at JFK,the Today Show,looking at photo's of the brunch with fans,the People Of The Year show,the CBS morning show. News of her record breaking sales! It's been a Susa-Celebration all week! Yeah Susan!
Report abuse
Posted by LouiseA on Nov 28, 2009, 02:56 PM EST
What wonderful news, Niall, thank you once again. You can always be counted on to be supportive and positive -- and most of all truthful. It's so depressing to read those terribly critical articles about Susan. She so deserves 'Woman of the Year' as does Sully "Man of the Year."
Report abuse
Posted by srmaryjo on Nov 28, 2009, 02:55 PM EST
Susan deserves the accolades and her demeanor shows her rea humility and character. It's too bad the tabloids didn't contact you, Mr. O'Dowd about what really happened instad of reading into facts that really had no bearing onthe matter. God save us from people lie that. I know I have ad to live with misinterpretations of things I've said and done as I am sure most of us have. I congratulat Susan for rising above it and going on with her life in her very happy manner. God bless her!
Report abuse
Posted by clams730 on Nov 28, 2009, 01:46 PM EST
Thank you for the "porfessional" and thoughtful article again. Lauer is right, both Susan and "Sully" are the great people of the year.
Report abuse
Posted by carol0911 on Nov 28, 2009, 01:31 PM EST
Woman of the Year and Singer of the Century in my book. Thanks for a yet another great article, Niall.
Report abuse
Posted by Nounours on Nov 28, 2009, 01:08 PM EST
Thanks to Matt Lauer and NBC for this wonderful choice. They both really deserve it.
Report abuse
Posted by LoriMB1 on Nov 28, 2009, 12:48 PM EST
This can be seen on YouTube: Susan Boyle People of the Year. There are 2 other new videos of her: Wings to Fly and Power of Love.
Report abuse
Posted by marydobish on Nov 28, 2009, 10:58 AM EST
I am so glad to hear that Susan Boyle has been named Woman of the Year. She certainly deserves it.
Report abuse
Posted by MalcomAC on Nov 28, 2009, 10:24 AM EST
The captain of the hijacked freighter who offered himself as a hostage should also be in the mix. Congratulations to Sully and Susan.
Report abuse
Posted by jld1226 on Nov 28, 2009, 10:19 AM EST
Thank you Mr. O'Dowd. Wonderful news to hear that Susan is Woman if the Year and so good of you to bring it to us. Susan's best interview to date, is with Mr Lauer. Again, many thanks Niall.
Report abuse
Posted by CanadianBill on Nov 28, 2009, 10:06 AM EST
Woman of the Year! Well, her Fans have known that for some time now. Courage, humor, humility - and a heap of pure glorious talent. That's Susan Boyle. Thanks Niall.
Report abuse
Posted by KaluaWhisky on Nov 28, 2009, 09:55 AM EST
A very well deserved title Niall Thank you for all your support.
Report abuse
Posted by RetInKalifornia on Nov 28, 2009, 09:50 AM EST
Susan is back IN her Blacburn home this holiday to be with family, friends, familiar surroundings she's known all her life. Her first CD album has smashed all daily & weekly sales records and is on track to being the best selling music CD in 2009. She's repordedly fulfilled all her contracural publicity requirements and no additional publicity tours are scheduled because of the CD's phenominal sales success. Susan can now relax and take stock of the tremendous life change sudden fame has brought her; the Tabloids will continue on AND on to "make hay" about her return to reclusiveness and ill founded claims of her "cracking up" so expect this "reporting" to continue ad infinitum. Susan according to press reports is contracturally obligated to produce one more music CD, work on it likely is underway with recording beginning after the first of the new year, beyond releasing the 2nd CD its whatever Susan chooses to do next.
Report abuse
Posted by Mistisea on Nov 28, 2009, 09:39 AM EST
Oh and... I forgot to say... what a wonderful choice to have Sully Sullenburger as Man of the Year. Susan and Sully are the very best combination they could ever have chose for these awards.
Report abuse
Posted by Mistisea on Nov 28, 2009, 09:37 AM EST
Ahhhh Niall, once again you are there to give voice to our love and support of our lovely Lady Susan! Thank you! The trashoid journalists must really think people are stupid... as if we haven't seen the ENTIRE picture (sans cropping) of the thumb sucking incident where all the fans are gathered around laughing as there were jokes about her "baby steps." As if we don't KNOW that her tears were of joy and being overwhelmed with emotion at the love and support she was receiving and being presented with the lovely gift... a very NORMAL reaction which would have been shared by any woman on the planet, ha. Well we are not buying their lies... instead we are out buying SusaCDs by the armloads! We beat the trashoid press before and we will beat them AGAIN. Every time I see or hear more of their trash I just say an extra prayer for Susan. Way to go, Lady Susan! We love you!!
Report abuse
Posted by prettywoman on Nov 28, 2009, 09:22 AM EST
BUT SOME WANT TO DESTROY HER DREAMS, MAKING FUN OF HER, CRITICIZING HER. WHAT CAN YOU SAY NOW CNN YOU ARE ONE OF THE ENEMY OF SUSAN'S FAN. STOP CRITICIZING PEOPLE BUT INSTEAD HELP THEM TO GO UP NO MATTER WHAT LIFE WILL BRING. CNN YOU ARE NOT PERFECT. PERPECT PEOPLE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO CRITICIZE.
Report abuse
Posted by prettywoman on Nov 28, 2009, 09:18 AM EST
REALY SUSAN BOYLE DESERVED THE WOMAN OF THE YEAR. NOT ONLY BECAUSE SHE ATTRACTED THE WORLD OF HER BEAUTIFUL VOICE BUT MOST OF IT ALL HER DIGNITY, PURITY, LOVING, CARING AND GOD FEARING WOMAN. GO AHEAD SUSAN. YOU ARE THE BEST WOMAN OF THE YEAR.
 


Click to learn more from DiscoverIreland.com.


Connect to IrishCentral with your Facebook account

or sign-in directly

Welcome to IrishCentral!
Please provide the following information in order to create your account

Username:
E-Mail Address:
Password:
Confirm Password:
I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy


Welcome to IrishCentral!
All we need is the following information and you will be part of the #1 Irish community in the US

E-Mail Address:
First select a unique username:
Username:
Now choose a password:
Password:
Confirm Password:
I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Thank you!

Just one more step and you will be part of the largest Irish community in America! Tell us a little more about you to start enjoying all the features of IrishCentral.

Additional Information:

First Name:
Last Name:
Date of Birth:
Zip:
Gender: Male  Female 
Country:
Degree of Irishness:
Household Income:
Level of Education:

Subscribe to our newsletters:

The Best of IrishCentral - Daily Newsletter
Special Offers from our sponsors

or
Skip

You can edit your information at any time, just go to "my account" when you're logged in.

Log into IrishCentral with your Facebook account

or sign-in directly

E-Mail:
Password:
 Remember me Forgot my password