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Katherine Jenkins
Name: Katherine Jenkins
DOB: 29 June 1980
Birth Place: Neath, South Wales, United Kingdom
Claim to fame: International classical music superstar
Star Facts
- After auditioning in front of a terrifying panel of industry experts at Universal Music she came away with the largest recording deal in classical music history.
- Sir Phillip Green AKA Mr Topshop himself brought the dress she wore for her audition for a whopping £10,000!!
- She is the official mascot for the Wales rugby team
- Katherine actually managed to break a chandelier singing O Holy Night once
- The first song she ever sang was called Going Down The Garden To Eat Worms when she was four.
Katherine Jenkins ON VIDEO
Biography
Katherine Jenkins is best known for using her singing talent to push classical music out from hiding behind the cupboards and into the limelight.
The former school teacher turned fastest selling classical singer has brought her music to the masses, inspiring all generations with her beautiful voice and equally beautiful looks.
Her success started young – she achieved all A grades in her GCSEs and A levels exams. Not just a pretty face then?
The songstress then attended singing lessons passing her grade eight examinations with distinctions in both singing and piano. As well as being an all round super talented youngster she also was a member of the Royal School of Church Music passing with the highest ever award for a female chorister. Girl Power!
Katherine won national acclaim as the BBC2 Welsh Choirgirl Of The Year not once but twice and also bagged the BET Welsh Choirgirl Of The Year award too. When she was 17, she gained a scholarship place at the Royal Academy of Music - where she graduated with honours. Bit of a swot eh Katherine?
Katherine’s not just a one trick pony – she bagged numerous modelling jobs before she made it big as a singer. She was even crowned the face of Wales in 2000.
In 2003 she sang at a mass honouring the Pope’s silver jubilee at Westminster Cathedral, and within the same month she supported Aled Jones (the guy who sang the Snowman) on tour and even managed to squeeze in a performance at the Sydney opera house!
In 2004 she was discovered by Universal Classics who offered her a six album deal. Both her 2005 and 2006 albums went straight to Number One, prompting the success of two Classical Brit Awards for Album Of The Year.
In 2007 her fifth album Rejoice entered the UK pop album charts at number three and even beat the Spice Girls and Girls Aloud to the top spot!
Her autobiography Time To Say Hello was released in 2008.
With six out of seven of her albums going to Number One in the classical music charts, Katherine’s high profile status continued to climb and led to various TV appearances.
In 2010 she was a mentor on the ITV show Popstar To Operastar and despite being terrified of him as a child she made her TV acting debut in the Doctor Who Christmas Special. She even had a cameo role in Emmerdale.
The star has also appeared on The Apprentice and sang alongside Rhydian Roberts in The X Factor final. Next she grabbed her dancing shoes for season 14 of US TV series, Dancing With The Stars. Kat and her partner Mark Ballas came in at a not so shabby second place.
Katherine prides herself on keeping her love life very quiet but she admits she has always been in long-term relationships and her first one was with a local Welsh lad called Kevin.
After four years of dating, in early 2011 she got engaged to former Blue Peter presenter Gethin Jones. But later that year Wales’ most glamorous couple shocked the showbiz world and split up.
Since the split, the stunning star has strongly denied claims of an alleged affair with David Beckham, and is currently single.