Katherine Jenkins

Katherine Maria Jenkins (born 29 June 1980) is a Welsh singer. She is a mezzo-soprano and performs operatic arias, popular songs, musical theatre, and hymns.Profile on Classical Crossover.co.uk
. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
. Retrieved 28 October 2009.

After winning singing competitions in her youth, Jenkins studied at the Royal Academy of Music, modelled, and taught voice lessons. She came to wide public attention in 2003 when she sang at Westminster Cathedral in honour of Pope John Paul II's silver jubilee. Since 2004, she has released numerous albums that have performed well on British and foreign charts. In both 2005 and 2006, her albums received Classic Brit Awards as Album of the Year. She has been seen widely in concert and has performed for British Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. She has sung at sporting events, on television shows, and in support of many charities.

Early life

Katherine Maria Jenkins was born in Neath on 29 June 1980, the daughter of factory worker Selwyn John Jenkins and Susan, an NHS radiographer. She has a sister named Laura. She attended the Church in Wales' Alderman Davies primary school in Neath, Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive School, and Gorseinon College. She received A grades in her GCSEs and A Levels and participated in productions such as ''Calamity Jane'' and ''Guys and Dolls''.Langley, William.
Not just a pretty voice
. ''The Daily Telegraph'', 15 June 2004. Retrieved 5 September 2007. She studied vocal performance with John Hugh Thomas and passed her Grade 8 examinations with distinction in both singing and piano. Her father, Selwyn, who was twenty-three years older than his wife and took early retirement to look after his children when their mother returned to work, died of lung cancer at age 70 when Jenkins was 15. She has dedicated each award she has received to him.

Career

Early career

Between 1991 and 1996, Jenkins was a member of the Royal School of Church Music Cathedral Singers and passed the St Cecilia Award, the highest RSCM award for female choristers. She was also a member of the National Youth Choir of Wales for three years,Foley, Jack.
Katherine Jenkins – more than just a Welsh pretty face
. indielondon.co.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2007. won the BBC Radio 2 Welsh Choirgirl of the Year contest (twice), and the BET Welsh Choirgirl of the Year competition. She was also awarded the Pelenna Valley Male Voice Choir Scholarship for the most promising young singer. At the age of 17 she won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music, graduating with honours and receiving a music teacher's diploma.

After working as a freelance voice coach, a tour guide on the London Eye and as a model,Sweeting, Adam.
A treat for the dads and lads...
. ''The Daily Telegraph'', 3 March 2005. Retrieved 13 February 2008. she entered a modelling competition and became the Face of Wales 2000. She then decided to follow a musical career. Universal Classics and Jazz heard her demo and she was invited to an interview where she sang Rossini's "Una voce poco fa". Universal offered Jenkins a six-album deal, the most lucrative in the United Kingdom's classical recording history, reportedly worth £1 million.Katherine Jenkins Biography
. BBC Online. Retrieved 16 October 2007.Bourton, Tom.
The rise of Katherine Jenkins
. BBC News, 25 May 2005. Retrieved 6 September 2007.

Record success

Six out of seven of Jenkins's studio albums reached number one in the UK classical charts between 2004 and 2008, selling a total of more than 4 million copies. After her first album, '' Premiere'', made her the fastest-selling mezzo-soprano to date she became the first British classical crossover artist to have two number one albums in the same year.Jenkins' festive show for troops
. BBC News, 22 October 2005. Retrieved 3 May 2007. She is the first female artist to win two consecutive Classical BRIT Awards: her second album, '' Second Nature'', reached number 16 in the UK Albums Chart, and was Album of the Year in the 2005 BRIT Awards.

Jenkins's Italian-language version of Dolly Parton's " I Will Always Love You" ("L'Amore Sei Tu"), first performed live at Nostell Priory, West Yorkshire on 28 August 2005, was the first cut on her third album ''Living a Dream cameras captured the moment of a Hull F.C. fan being brought to tears during the song.

In December 2005 and 2006, Jenkins travelled to Iraq to entertain the soldiers for Christmas.

With the Blue Man Group, Jenkins sang "I Feel Love" in front of the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance on 21 November 2005. She performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, on 11 December 2005.

In November 2006 she performed before the Queen at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall and joined fellow Welsh singer James Fox in the final verse of "Anthem" from the musical ''Chess''.

In July 2007, Jenkins gave a concert at Margam Park in south Wales, performing alongside Paul Potts and Juan Diego Flórez. Jenkins extended a personal invitation to Potts to sing "Nessun dorma" at the concert.

In September 2007, Jenkins modeled at Naomi Campbell's Fashion Relief event for charity in a Julien Macdonald dress which was then bought by Sir Philip Green for £10,000.

In November 2007 she sang again at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall and was named classical performer of the year at the Variety Club of Great Britain Awards.

With Darcey Bussell she has appeared in a stage song-and-dance production, entitled '' Viva la Diva'', paying tribute to starsThorpe, Vanessa.
See what they've been keeping under their hats
. ''The Guardian'', 29 April 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2007. including Madonna and the late Judy Garland (who died in 1969). The show opened in Manchester in November 2007. Jenkins learned to tap dance, spending eight hours a week learning the choreography and running three miles a day to get fit. She performed the Welsh National Anthem on 17 May 2008 at the 2008 FA Cup Final between Cardiff City and Portsmouth, becoming the first person to do this at an FA Cup Final.

At the beginning of 2009, Jenkins performed in South Korea with Plácido Domingo. This was Jenkins's third concert with Domingo having performed with him in Hong Kong in 2008 and Athens in 2007. They then performed together in May 2009 at The Classical Brit Awards.

On 8 July 2009, Jenkins performed at the opening ceremony of the Ashes Test Series at Sophia Gardens cricket ground in Cardiff. On 12 September 2009, she performed in Hyde Park for Proms in the Park.

On 21 September 2009, she performed at the memorial service for Sir Bobby Robson, singing "Pie Jesu" at the request of Lady Robson. On 12 November 2009, Jenkins performed a duet with cellist Julian Lloyd Webber for Children in Need at the Royal Albert Hall. The same month, Jenkins performed "I Believe" (from ''Believe'') with Andrea Bocelli on his PBS Christmas Special. The duet appears in his album, ''My Christmas''. Jenkins was scheduled to do her first Arena tour in March 2010.
On 24 May 2010, as part of the Argentina Bicentennial she performed the Canadian Anthem at the Argentina VS. Canada World Cup warm-up football match in the River Plate Stadium for a private birthday party at which singer Lionel Richie performed, along with the LSO (London Symphony Orchestra) and comedians Bobby Davro and Jethro. The comedy sketch was an updated version of an old Victor Borge routine which Orkian had written and developed with Jenkins. In her official blog, Jenkins mentions that she may one day perform the routine in public. On 3 July 2010, Jenkins took the stage at Cheltenham Racecourse, with the National Symphony Orchestra. She was supported by violinist Diana Yukawa.

Jenkins performed at the opening night gala Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in July 2010.

During March and April 2013, Jenkins went on tour with Il Divo for their first and only European and UK tour. She also participated in the 2013 U.S. Memorial Day Concert in Washington, D.C., singing a selection from Andrew Lloyd Webber's ''Requiem'' and ''You'll Never Walk Alone'' from Rodgers and Hammerstein's ''Carousel''.

On 9 May 2015, she performed at VE Day 70: A Party to Remember in Horse Guards Parade, London.

In 2017, Jenkins starred as the romantic lead Julie Jordan in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel in a limited run at the English National Opera directed by Lonny Price, opposite musical theatre star Alfie Boe.

On 1 December 2020, the ''Katherine Jenkins Christmas Spectacular'' at the Royal Albert Hall was released as both a film in cinemas and on DVD.

Filmography

Film

Television

On 23 December 2006, Jenkins appeared on ITV's '' Parkinson'' show, backed by the Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir and a brass band.

She made a cameo appearance in two episodes of ''Emmerdale'' which saw 11.6 million viewers tune in to find out who killed popular character Tom King, who was murdered on Christmas Day. She also appeared in the show on 16 and 17 May 2007, which saw her opening the village pageant. In July 2007, she performed live on ''Saving Planet Earth'' on BBC 1 to raise money for the BBC Wildlife Fund.

On 12 August 2007 she appeared on ITV's ''Britain's Favourite View'', nominating Three Cliffs Bay on the Gower Peninsula as Britain's favourite view. She commented; "I grew up on the edge of the Gower, but it was still a holiday place for our family. We’d go on weekend breaks to Three Cliffs Bay – six miles down the road! That’s how gorgeous it is."

On 21 October 2007 she sang " Time to Say Goodbye" on the '' Strictly Come Dancing'' results show. Jenkins and Darcey Bussell performed a segment of their show ''Viva la Diva'' before the Queen at the 79th Royal Variety Performance, televised on 9 December 2007. On 15 December, Jenkins performed on ''The X Factor'' final with contestant Rhydian Roberts, performing the song "You Raise Me Up". Jenkins made an appearance on ''Saturday Kitchen LIVE'' in December 2008. She has presented and sung on the BBC television programme Songs of Praise.

Jenkins appeared in episode 3 of the fifth series of ''The Apprentice'', performing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" as part of a private recital to winning team Ignite. The programme was aired on BBC One on 8 March 2009.

In 2009, Jenkins performed on a large number of TV shows – ''The Royal Variety Performance'', ''Children In Need Rocks The Albert Hall'', ''The Alan Titchmarsh Show'', '' This Morning'', '' GMTV'', '' Something for the Weekend'', ''The Paul O'Grady Show'', presenting for the BBC the week-long series ''The Week We Went To War'', ''Piers Morgan's Life Stories'' for ITV1, ''Strictly Come Dancing'', ''The Graham Norton Show'' and ''The Andrew Marr Show''.

Jenkins started 2010 by appearing as one of two mentors on ITV1s prime time Friday night show, ''Popstar to Operastar''. Later in the year, she appeared on the ITV1 game show '' Magic Numbers'', acting as magician and show host Stephen Mulhern's assistant in the UK TV premiere of an illusion in which she was sawed in half inside a clear box. She also appeared in the 2010 Christmas Special of '' Doctor Who'', " A Christmas Carol", in which she played Abigail Pettigrew—her first major acting role. Jenkins appeared as the featured singer on 11 April 2011 episode of ABC's show '' Dancing with the Stars'' (DWTS) singing "Con te partirò" (Time to Say Goodbye) and "O mio babbino caro". She later sang "The Flower Duet" with DWTS regular Beverley Staunton.

On 23 October 2011, Jenkins appeared live on US television network, FOX from Wembley Stadium, performing "God Save the Queen" before the NFL game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Chicago Bears.

In 2012, she competed in the American '' Dancing with the Stars''. She was partnered with two-time champion Mark Ballas. Jenkins and Ballas came runners-up in the competition.
On 20 and 21 July 2012, Jenkins sang in concert with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City, Utah at the annual Pioneer Day Concert 2012 broadcast on BYU-TV and various PBS television stations worldwide.

In April 2017, Jenkins appeared on ''Operation: Magic'', a one-off magic show on ITV1, acting as the assistant to magician and ''Britain's Got Talent'' winner Richard Jones. During the show, she took part in a mind-reading trick involving a military band, and also assisted in a number of illusions including being levitated, vanished, guillotined and sawed in half. In July 2017, it was announced that Jenkins would be a main presenter on BBC One's religious and spiritual show Songs of Praise.

In June 2018, Jenkins performed ‘Never Enough’ from the film ‘The Greatest Showman’ at the Classical Brit Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

In 2020, Jenkins competed as "Octopus" on the first British series of ''The Masked Singer'' and finished in third place.

Film

Jenkins made her film debut in the feature film ''Minamata''.

''Dancing with the Stars''

During the 14th season of the show, Jenkins topped the weekly judges' leaderboard six times out of ten. In the semifinals, during her salsa, her partner Mark Ballas accidentally kicked her in the back, leading to a spasm that compromised her final moves, but she advanced to the finals nonetheless, along with Donald Driver and William Levy. In the final, she scored 30 out of 30 for all three of her dances, and finished as a runner-up to Driver. Her average score was 27.9, the third-highest ever in the show's history at the time.

Personal life

Jenkins is a Christian and says that she believes in Heaven: "I believe my dad is somewhere doing something nice." In memory of her father, she raised £25,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support by running the 2013 London Marathon. She finished the course in 5 hours and 26 minutes.

While Jenkins was studying at the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 19, she was attacked, beaten, and robbed by an unknown assailant who attempted to rape her but she fought him off.Simpson, Rin.
Katherine Jenkins says she'll never forget attacker
. '' Western Mail'', 14 January 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2008. She also began using drugs during this period of time, which she later said was "the biggest regret of erlife".

Jenkins's autobiography, '' Time to Say Hello'', was released on 28 January 2008, and was also serialised in ''The Mail on Sunday''.

In 2007, Jenkins made her first appearance in the British young people's '' Sunday Times Rich List'' which ranked her as the 62nd richest young person in Britain with an estimated wealth of £9 million.Katherine Jenkins, Sunday Times richlist
. ''The Times''. Retrieved 3 May 2007. In 2010, the ''Sunday Times Rich List'' placed her at joint 11th in the Top 20 Young Millionaires list alongside Leona Lewis and Charlotte Church with an estimated wealth of £11 million.

Jenkins met Welsh television presenter Gethin Jones in 2007, and they became engaged in February 2011. They announced that they were no longer together on 30 December 2011.

In October 2013, Jenkins began dating American painter Andrew Levitas. They announced their engagement in April 2014. They married at Hampton Court Palace on 27 September 2014, with the vicar from her hometown conducting a religious blessing later. Jenkins gave birth to their first child, a daughter called Aaliyah Reign, in New York City in September 2015. Their son, Xander Robert Selwyn, was born in April 2018.

Jenkins was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours for her services to music and for charitable services.

Discography

Studio albums
* '' Premiere'' (2004)
* '' Second Nature'' (2004)
* ''Living a Dream

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