Foley was born in Ottawa, ON, and spent her early childhood in Canada. She learned to play guitar at age 13, became interested in blues music from listening to the Rolling Stones and played her first gig at age 16. After high school graduation, she relocated to Vancouver where she formed The Sue Foley Band and toured Canada.
By age twenty-one, Foley was living in Austin, Texas and recording for Antone’s, the blues label and historic nightclub. Her first release was Young Girl Blues. Foley has toured steadily with her band, toting her signature pink paisley Fender Telecaster. In 2001, Sue won a JUNO Award for her CD, Love Coming Down. Foley has also earned 17 Maple Blues Awards and three Trophees de Blues de France. She has also garnered several nominations at the International Blues Music Awards in Memphis, Tennessee. 2018 marks Foley's return as a solo artist with her long anticipated CD, The Ice Queen, which features guest appearances by Billy Gibbons of ZZTop and Texas blues legend, Jimmie Vaughan.