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 Passionate Cover of Tina Turner's "Proud Mary" Will Shock You

The Britain's Got Talent Season 3 finalist did the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll justice.

By Jackie Manno

Susan Boyle has got soul!

How to Watch

Watch AGT Tuesdays at 8/7c and Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC and next day on Peacock

In 2020, the Britain's Got Talent Season 3 finalist performed a rendition of the 70s R&B and soul classic "Proud Mary" by Ike & Tina Turner while on tour. Accompanied by the Sould Nation Choir during her performance, she wore a red gown while swaying to the music, and the crowd eagerly clapped along to the beat. 

When the track picked up tempo, Boyle began to riff energetically. She and the chorus then teased that the performance was over before promptly picking things up again, and then they all hit a triumphant finishing note. 

RELATED: Susan Boyle's Cover of ABBA's "The Winner Takes It All" Is Jaw-Dropping

What to know about "Proud Mary" by Tina Turner

Originally by the blues-rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, Turner's 1970 version of the song, which heavily revamped the original tempo and structure, remains one of her biggest hits to date. It reached the number 4 position on the Billboard Hot 100, and won a Grammy Award for best R&B vocal performance by a Group. 

RELATED: What Happened to Legendary Britain's Got Talent Singer Susan Boyle? Where She Is Now

The lyrics to "Proud Mary" by Tina Turner

You know
Every now and then I think you might like to hear something from us
(Left a good job down in the city)
Nice and easy
But there's just one thing, you see (workin' for the man every night and day)
We never ever do nothin'
(But I never lost one minute of sleepin') nice and easy
We always do it nice and rough
(Worryin' 'bout the way that things might've been)
And we're gonna take the beginning of this song and do it easy
(Big wheel keep on turnin')
But then we're gonna do the finish rough
(Proud Mary keep on burnin') this is the way we do "Proud Mary"

And we rollin', rollin'
Rollin' on the river
Listen to the story now

Left a good job down in the city
Workin' for the man every night and day
And I never lost one minute of sleepin'
I was worryin' 'bout the way that things might've been

Big wheel keep on turnin'
Ooh, the Proud Mary keep on burnin'
And we're rollin' (rollin'), rollin', yeah (rollin')
Rollin' on the river (rollin' on the river)

Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis
And I pumped a lot of 'tane down in New Orleans
But I never saw the good side of the city
Until I hitched a ride on the riverboat queen

You know the big wheel keep on turnin'
Proud Mary keep on burnin'
And we're rollin' (rollin'), rollin', yeah (rollin')
Rollin' on the river (rollin' on the river)
Say we're rollin' (rollin'), rollin' (rollin')
Rollin' on the river (rollin' on the river)

An inset of Tina Turner performing overlayed on an image of Susan Boyle on the red carpet.

Oh, I left a good job in the city
Workin' for the man every night and day
And I never lost one minute of sleepin'
Worryin' 'bout the way things might have been

Big wheel keep on turnin' (turnin')
Proud Mary keep on burnin' (burnin')
Rollin' (yeah), rollin' (alright)
Rollin' on the river (go 'head now)
Rollin' (oh), say we're rollin' (yeah)
Rollin' on the river

We're up, do do do do do do do do do do do
Alright

Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis, y'all
Pumped a lot of 'tane down in New Orleans
But I never saw the good side of the city
'Til I hitched a ride on the riverboat queen

Big wheel keep on turnin' (turnin')
Proud Mary keep on burnin' (burnin')
Rollin' (oh), rollin' (yeah)
Rollin' on the river (go 'head now)
Say we're rollin', rollin'
Rollin' on the river

We're up, do do do do do do do do do do do
Alright
Yeah
Ooh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Alright, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh yeah, yeah

If you come down to the river
Now, I bet you gonna find some people who live
You don't have to worry if you got no money
The people on the river are happy to give

Big wheel keep on turnin' (turnin')
Proud Mary keep on burnin' (burnin')
Rollin' (yeah), say we rollin' (yeah)
Rollin' on the river (alright now)
Rollin', rollin'
Rollin' on the river

We're up, do do do do do do do do do do do
Woo
Alright
Woo, alright, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Rollin', alright
Alright now, yeah

Rollin' (yeah), rollin' (uh-huh)
Rollin' on the river (give me one more time)
Rollin' (yeah), rollin' (woo-wee)
Rollin' on the river
Rollin' (ow), rollin' (yeah)
Rollin' on the river
Rollin' (yeah), rollin'