Susan Boyle -- 2010 New Album Preview

In 2009, Susan Boyle captured the hearts and imaginations of listeners across the world, with her now-legendary performance on 'Britain's Got Talent.' Since then, the Scottish songstress released a smash-hit debut album, and now, she's getting ready to release a brand new follow-up.

News of Boyle's new album first broke back in April, when the artist announced that her sophomore record, titled 'The Gift,' would hit stores on November 29 -- just in time for the holiday season. In the wake of the mind-blowing success of her debut album, 'I Dreamed a Dream,' anticipation for a second Boyle album has reached fever pitch. And, according to Boyle, she's pretty eager to get back in the studio, as well. "The recording studio is your own space, its your bubble, it's you and the music and the producer and engineer," Boyle said during an interview posted on her website. "That's when the real craft comes in and that's how people get to hear what you are really like. It is like my sanctuary."

Once again, Boyle has found herself working in the studio with Steve Mac, the same man who produced her magical debut. This time, however, the duo seem to have taken a slightly different approach to the recording process. In an interview with Hit Quarters, Mac said that he and Boyle would take a more "traditional route of recording by getting a band together and rehearsing songs before" entering the studio, now that the self-made star has become more familiar with the recording process. So far, it's still unclear what artistic direction Mac and Boyle have chosen to take with 'The Gift,' although Boyle has hinted that the new album may exhibit influences from '60s artists, since, as she says, "that was my era."

"With Susan it's very important she connects with the public and the public connect with her," Mac added. "She doesn't want to sing anything that hasn't happened to her or she can't relate to." And, to that effect, Boyle has decided to add a unique, fan-friendly twist to her new album, by inviting one of her lucky fans to record a duet with her. The singer recently held a worldwide competition, in which she asked fans to submit videos of themselves singing 'Silent Night.' Last week, Boyle finally announced the winner of the competition on her Facebook page, with 32-year-old Amber Stassi winning the chance of a lifetime -- a feeling that Susan Boyle clearly knows all too well.