Biography of Charlotte ChurchCharlotte Church (born Charlotte Maria Reed on February 21, 1986) is a Welsh singer and television presenter who rose to international fame in childhood as a popular classical singer with a precociously mature dramatic operatic voice, in particular in its tonal qualities. Since 2000, she has branched out into pop music.
As of 2007, she has sold over 10 million albums worldwide, although her first three classical albums account for the majority of her sales.
Church was born in Llandaf, a district of Cardiff, Wales. She was raised a Roman Catholic by her mother, Maria, who was separated from Church's biological father. Church was legally adopted by her mother's second husband, James Church. She had her first taste of stardom when she performed "Ghostbusters" at a holiday camp in Caernarfon at the age of 3, and it was rumoured that she had to be dragged from the stage when she refused to leave (she denied that part in her autobiography). Her big break came at the age of 11 when she sang "Pie Jesu" on the television show Talking Telephone Numbers in 1997, closely followed by her performance on ITV's Big, Big Talent Show in 1998. This led to concerts at Cardiff Arms Park, Royal Albert Hall and the opening spot for Shirley Bassey in Antwerp.
Church made her first venture out of classical music in February 2003 providing vocals for Jurgen Vries (aka DJ and producer Darren Tate's) single "The Opera Song". She was credited on the sleeve as CMC - CMC being Charlotte's initials, Charlotte Maria Church. The track reached number 3 in the UK charts.
In 2005, she issued her first pop album Tissues and Issues and the first four singles have all been at least moderately successful in the UK with "Crazy Chick" reaching no. 2, "Call My Name" number 10, "Even God Can't Change the Past" number 17, and "Moodswings (to Come at Me like That)" number 14. Although these were released in Australia as well, they failed to reach the same level of success there, and in March 2006 it was announced that there would be no US releases of Church's pop work until she had achieved a number 1 hit in the UK.
In April 2006, she performed three concerts in Glasgow, London, and Cardiff, in venues holding between 2,000 and 3,000 people; the dates at London and Cardiff were sold out. Supported by Irish band the New Druids, Church performed a mix of tracks from her debut pop album and a number of pop covers including Prince's "Kiss" and Gloria Estefan's "Rhythm is Gonna Get You". Though Church hinted at the possibility of a full tour in the future, no dates are yet scheduled.
In November 2006, it was announced that she and Sony had parted ways. According to her publicist, this was a mutual decision reached after a series of meetings, ostensibly since her five and later six album deal had come to an end. There was some speculation that Church had decided to take a break (temporarily or permanently) from her singing career, in order to focus on her more successful television show (see below). Others suggested that the performance of her pop releases in the charts also contributed to the decision.
Church's personal life has often been portrayed in the sensationalist tabloid newspapers in the UK (inspiring the song "Let's Be Alone" on her album Tissues and Issues).
Church released an autobiography titled Voice of an Angel (My Life So Far), at the age of 14 (before the release of "Enchantment" and just after she had wrapped up her "Dream a Dream" Christmas CD). Her eventual change of music direction is foreshadowed in the final chapter, entitled "Turning Corners."
Revisited with particular frequency is her love life. In 2002, aged 16, she moved out of the family home to live with her boyfriend, Steven Johnson (inspiring the song "Casualty of Love", also from Tissues and Issues); the couple split at the end of 2003. The tabloid press documented her subsequent relationship with Kyle Johnson (no relation), which ended in February 2005. The couple stated at the time that they remained friends, though shortly afterwards Johnson revealed graphic details about the couple's sex life to the press, leading to a slap from Church.
Other aspects of her personal life have been criticized in the press. In 2002, she was photographed smoking, and it gradually emerged that she had developed a smoking habit (another fact alluded to on her album Tissues and Issues, in the song "Confessional Song"). She has also been criticized for what the press have seen as excessive partying[citation needed], with photos of the singer drunk or misbehaving adorning tabloid newspapers - including one in which she gave the photographer the finger. In recent interviews, Church has stated that she has stopped smoking and that her behaviour is now much more low-key.
The press has recently devoted much attention to Church's relationship with current boyfriend Gavin Henson, a Welsh International Rugby Union player: they have reportedly bought a manor in Glamorgan. At the end of 2005, she purchased a property in her native Llandaff, Cardiff, for a reported £500,000, although Henson has said that he is not part owner of the property. The couple have mentioned the possibility of marriage on talk shows and in the press, but put off any talk of marriage whilst Church was expecting.
On Thursday, 20 September 2007 at 10.35PM GMT Charlotte gave birth to a baby girl named Ruby Megan Henson. On Monday September 24th, the couple announced their daughter's name through their website. In Wednesday 3rd October issue of OK! Magazine the couple present baby Ruby in an exclusive at home shoot.
The couple have been nicknamed the "Welsh Victoria and David Beckham". In 2007, Church made another appearance on a British young people's rich list with Henson. They were ranked as the 49th richest young people in Britain with an estimated joint wealth of £10 million.
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