^Certain award groups do not simply award one winner. They acknowledge several different recipients, have runners-up, and have third place. Since this is a specific recognition and is different from losing an award, runner-up mentions are considered wins in this award tally. For simplification and to avoid errors, each award in this list has been presumed to have had a prior nomination.
In September 2010 Boyle was presented with three Guinness World Records which were featured in the Guinness World Records 2011 edition published 16 September 2010. The three records were for Fastest-selling Album by a Female (UK), Most Successful First Week UK Debut Album Sales, as well as Oldest Artist to Reach No. 1 with a Debut Album (US & UK).[3] On 20 November 2010 Boyle achieved another World Record for Oldest Female at No. 1 on UK Albums Chart with her second album The Gift.[4] On 20 November 2010 Boyle received two other Guinness World Records due to the success of The Gift, one record being "Only British female artist to top both the US and UK album charts with two releases"[5] and the other being "Most successful Christmas album in the UK" – "On 20 November 2010, Susan Boyle's (UK) album The Gift became the first Christmas album to ever top the UK chart."[6]
In 2012 Boyle was awarded an honorary doctorate for her contribution to the creative industries from Edinburgh's Queen Margaret University, where she obtained a Certificate of Higher Education in caring.[7][8] In 2015 Boyle was awarded an honorary doctorate in the field of music from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow.[9]
Accolades
Boyle was victorious in a polling vote by readers of Parade Magazine in the United States in the category Favourite New Face where she beat the likes of Adam Lambert and Lady Gaga. Boyle won the Scot of the Year Award at the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards in December, 2009, which was voted for by the people of Scotland. Additionally, she won the Scotscare Scot of the Year Award in 2010 in a poll with voting worldwide, with 95% of the vote – the largest win in Scotscare's history.[10]
She was nominated for a People's Choice award in the category of Best Breakout Artist in the United States, and was also nominated for a Juno Award for Best International Album in Canada. She won a Gold Disc Award in the category of Top International Artist in Japan. Elsewhere in Asia, she won the Golden Chinese Music Award for Most Influential International Artist in China, as well as the World Music Award for the Best Selling Artist in the United Kingdom. She has been nominated for an ARIA Award in Australia in the category of Most Popular International Artist, as well as receiving nominations for two Grammy Awards. She was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Scottish Variety Awards on March 19, 2011, and has also received two nominations for two Billboard Magazine Awards – Top Billboard 200 Artist and Top Billboard 200 Album.[10]
Susan Boyle was named seventh most influential person in the world in 2010 in a Time Magazine poll. Her position in the ranking saw her being placed 14 places above US President Barack Obama. In the same poll in 2011, Susan placed third, and was the highest placed woman that year.[10]