February 14, 2006. Copyright 2006, Graphic News. All rights reserved

From angel to rock chick: Charlotte Church turns 20
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, February 14, Graphic News:  From the moment she was dubbed the Voice of an Angel at age 12, you just knew that Charlotte Church was going to do her share of hellraising. As she approaches the end of her teens on February 21, the Welsh singer shows about as much sign of toning down her party lifestyle as she does of modifying her soaring soprano voice.

And why should she? At least Church, who in 2005 had several chart hits from her first pop album, Tissues and Issues, has talent in abundance. The parties and on-off romances with celebrities, including current beau, Welsh rugby star Gavin Henson, donÕt appear to have got in the way of a musical career that already scaled heights few reach in a lifetime.

Born Charlotte Maria Reed in 1986 in Llandaff, Cardiff, ChurchÕs parents separated soon after she was born. At three and a half she gave fellow guests a taste of things to come when she belted out the Ghostbusters theme at a holiday camp, but it was an impromptu performance after introducing her aunt on Jonathan RossÕs Big Big Talent Show in 1998 that eventually led to her being signed to a five-album deal with Sony.

At 12 Church recorded her first album, Voice of an Angel, featuring arias, sacred songs, and traditional pieces. The album sold millions of copies and went double platinum in Britain and gold in Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. The ÒVoice of an AngelÓ moniker stuck. In 1999 her motherÕs second husband, James Church, adopted Charlotte.

Church released two more classic albums, Just Wave Hello in 1998, and Dream a Dream, an album of Christmas Carols, in 2000. In 2001 came Enchantment, which widened her repertoire and in 2002 Prelude marked a definite shift away from purely classical styles. In 2002 she was also to be heard singing the soundtrack of the film, A Beautiful Mind.

During her career Church has appeared before world leaders including Queen Elizabeth II, Pope John Paul II, and U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. She reportedly called the latter Òa right weirdoÓ after he asked her which U.S. state Wales was in -- demonstrating a candour that has won her more friends and fans than enemies. The diminutive, down-to-earth Church has also been outspoken about media pressure on her to lose weight, and about her occasional drinking binges.

Her outspokenness is one reason why Church -- one of the highest paid singers in British entertainment history -- has made as many headlines off-stage as for her music. In 2003 reports claimed she had sacked her mother as her manager, but the singer said her mother was still involved in her career and denied that a teen rebellion was behind any rift. Like all teenage girls, she has raised eyebrows by appearing in increasingly skimpy outfits.

Despite the occasional negative publicity, Church is unlikley to alienate her most loyal fans -- fellow Welsh of all ages who see the soprano star as a national treasure.
/ENDS