In 2005 McNeil was a contestant on the CBS reality show Rock Star: INXS, a televised competition to find a new lead singer for the band INXS. McNeil made it to the final four of the competition and was the last female singer to be eliminated.
 

During the course of the competition, McNeil gained a great deal of respect from the INXS band members as well as the fans. She was nicknamed 'Sweet Suzie McNeil' by show host Dave Navarro. The band INXS was impressed by her talent as well as her tenacity. Despite her rave reviews, Suzie faced the Bottom Three a total of six times throughout the competition, prompting her to create a hat which read "Queen of the Bottom Three." In the Bottom Three, contestants sang INXS songs. McNeil excelled at singing INXS songs, likely explaining her survival of so many eliminations. Some standout performances throughout the show (excluding her INXS songs) were the The Rolling Stones', "Start Me Up", R.E.M.'s hit "Losing My Religion" and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." During the competition, McNeil performed an original song called "Soul Life" which she co-wrote with fellow Rock Star: INXS contestant Ty Taylor. Suzie met her elimination in the Final Four, where there was much speculation that INXS had finally agreed upon a male lead singer. On September 24, 2005, McNeil performed a sold-out show at the Revival Club in Toronto.