Born July 23, 1960 in Roswell New Mexico, Susan Graham was raised in Midland, Texas. She is a graduate of Texas Tech University and the Manhattan School of Music. Graham made her international début at Covent Garden in 1994, playing Massenet's Chérubin. She has also premièred several roles in contemporary operas, including John Harbison's The Great Gatsby (Jordan Baker), Jake Heggie's Dead Man Walking (Sister Helen Prejean), and Tobias Picker's An American Tragedy (Sondra Finchley).

Graham sang "Bless This House" at George W. Bush's second inauguration on January 20, 2005,and Schubert's "Ave Maria" at the nationally televised funeral mass for Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts on August 29, 2009.

In March, 2017 it was announced Graham will serve as Artistic Advisor to LA Opera's Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program, beginning in the 2017/18 season.