Katherine Jenkins
Maybe I'm amazed: Last summmer's Live 8 concerts had their share of highlights - Pink Floyd's reunion, McCartney singing with U2. But for 250,000 people converging on the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the sight of a pretty Welsh lass singing an a capella version of Amazing Grace was hard to beat. No, this wasn't Charlotte Church - she's buggered off to be a raunchy pop star. This was Katherine Jenkins, classical music's latest pin-up girl, whose combination of great singing and stunning good looks has already netted her rewards beyond her wildest dreams. Jenkins signed the biggest record deal in British classical music history and became the fastest-selling soprano since Maria Callas. She's sung for Cherie Blair, lunched with the Queen and bagged a Brit award for Classical Album of the Year. Not bad for a girl who grew up on a council estate in Neath, and who seemed destined for little more than a career as a singing teacher.
Million dollar baby: Katherine Jenkins was born on June 29th, 1980, in Neath, West Glamorgan. At seven she found herself drawn to the stars of classical and opera. She took piano lessons and joined the local choir, and by the time she was in her teens she was singing in the Youth Choir of Wales and had won a Welsh Choirgirl of the Year award. At 23, Katherine signed a seven-figure recording deal with Universal Classics; her debut album, Premiere, with its blend of hymns, standards, traditional Welsh airs and interpretations of Bach and Handel, plus its glamorous sleeve, sent out a clear message: Charlotte Church, you are so toast.
Living doll: Premiere and its follow-up, Second Nature, were snapped up by an eager public who, claims Katherine, were getting bored with manufactured pop singers. Her safe blend of light classics and pop standards found a ready audience among the mums and dads, and her obvious assets ensured there was no shortage of hot-blooded male fans. The Welsh rugby team got her to tackle the Welsh national anthem at their international matches. Her new album, Living a Dream, is out later this month, and features her classical version of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You - in Italian.
Airs and graces: Living a Dream also features some tunes normally associated with male singers, including Nessun Dorma, and Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera. "I think it's a bit unfair that men get all the best tunes in opera and classical music," says Katherine. With Living a Dream destined to be a hit, Katherine is careful not to let success go to her head. While she's not exactly planning to "do a Charl" and live at home on her council estate, she will keep close ties with her family. "My mum would go absolutely mad if she thought I was getting above my station."
