59 Facts About Katherine Jenkins

Katherine Jenkins is a mezzo-soprano and performs operatic arias, popular songs, musical theatre, and hymns.

Katherine Jenkins came to wide public attention in 2003 when she sang at Westminster Cathedral in honour of Pope John Paul II's silver jubilee.

Katherine Jenkins has been seen widely in concert and has performed for British Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Katherine Jenkins has sung at sporting events, on television shows, and in support of many charities.

Katherine Jenkins was born in Neath on 29 June 1980, the daughter of factory worker Selwyn John Jenkins and Susan, an NHS radiographer.

Katherine Jenkins attended the Church in Wales' Alderman Davies primary school in Neath, Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive School, and Gorseinon College.

Katherine Jenkins received A grades in her GCSEs and A Levels and participated in productions such as Calamity Jane and Guys and Dolls.

Katherine Jenkins studied vocal performance with John Hugh Thomas and passed her Grade 8 examinations with distinction in both singing and piano.

Katherine Jenkins has dedicated each award she has received to him.

Between 1991 and 1996, Katherine 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.

Katherine Jenkins was a member of the National Youth Choir of Wales for three years, won the BBC Radio 2 Welsh Choirgirl of the Year contest, and the BET Welsh Choirgirl of the Year competition.

Katherine Jenkins was awarded the Pelenna Valley Male Voice Choir Scholarship for the most promising young singer.

Katherine Jenkins 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.

Katherine Jenkins repeated the success of Second Nature with her Living a Dream album when she won the classical BRIT award for Album of the Year for a second time.

On 20 October 2008 Katherine Jenkins released Sacred Arias, which is her last album with Universal Music.

Katherine Jenkins released her next album, Believe, on 26 October 2009, the first with Warner Music.

Katherine Jenkins made various TV appearances such as GMTV, Something for the Weekend and Piers Morgan's Life Stories on 24 October 2009 and on The Graham Norton Show on 2 November 2009.

Katherine Jenkins performed the theme from The Godfather, Parla Piu Piano at Children In Need Rock The Albert Hall with cellist Julian Lloyd Webber.

In 2011, Katherine Jenkins released Daydream, with the Christmas album This is Christmas following in 2012.

Katherine Jenkins first came to public attention when she sang at Westminster Cathedral honouring Pope John Paul II's silver jubilee in October 2003 and then supporting Aled Jones on tour.

Katherine Jenkins was the first person to perform the Home Nations anthem "The Power of Four" and began to appear regularly to sing the Welsh national anthem "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" at Welsh international rugby union matches, singing with Bryn Terfel at the 2005 Wales vs England Six Nations match at the Millennium Stadium.

On 22 January 2005, Katherine Jenkins sang in Cardiff at the Tsunami Relief Concert and in April and May of that year supported Irish tenor Ronan Tynan on his first US tour as a solo artist.

At the Berlin stage of Live 8 in 2005, Katherine Jenkins sang the hymn "Amazing Grace", and she later helped to launch The Royal British Legion's poppy appeal at Covent Garden whilst wearing a dress made of 2,500 poppies.

On 27 August 2005, Katherine Jenkins performed "Abide With Me" at the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff which was attended by 74,213 spectators.

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

Katherine Jenkins performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, on 11 December 2005.

In July 2007, Katherine Jenkins gave a concert at Margam Park in south Wales, performing alongside Paul Potts and Juan Diego Florez.

Katherine Jenkins extended a personal invitation to Potts to sing "Nessun dorma" at the concert.

Katherine Jenkins learned to tap dance, spending eight hours a week learning the choreography and running three miles a day to get fit.

Katherine Jenkins 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, Katherine Jenkins performed in South Korea with Placido Domingo.

On 8 July 2009, Katherine Jenkins performed at the opening ceremony of the Ashes Test Series at Sophia Gardens cricket ground in Cardiff.

On 12 November 2009, Katherine Jenkins performed a duet with cellist Julian Lloyd Webber for Children in Need at the Royal Albert Hall.

Katherine Jenkins was scheduled to do her first Arena tour in March 2010.

On 11 June 2010, Katherine Jenkins performed a live comedy routine with Armenian comedy pianist Kev Orkian for a private birthday party at which singer Lionel Richie performed, along with the LSO and comedians Bobby Davro and Jethro.

On 3 July 2010, Katherine Jenkins took the stage at Cheltenham Racecourse, with the National Symphony Orchestra.

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

Katherine Jenkins participated in the 2013 US Memorial Day Concert in Washington, DC, singing a selection from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem and You'll Never Walk Alone from Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel.

In 2017, Katherine 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 23 December 2006, Katherine Jenkins appeared on ITV's Parkinson show, backed by the Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir and a brass band.

Katherine Jenkins appeared in the show on 16 and 17 May 2007, which saw her opening the village pageant.

Katherine Jenkins made an appearance on Saturday Kitchen LIVE in December 2008.

Katherine Jenkins has presented and sung on the BBC television programme Songs of Praise.

Katherine 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.

Katherine Jenkins started 2010 by appearing as one of two mentors on ITV1s prime time Friday night show, Popstar to Operastar.

Katherine Jenkins appeared as the featured singer on 11 April 2011 episode of ABC's show Dancing with the Stars singing "Con te partiro" and "O mio babbino caro".

Katherine Jenkins later sang "The Flower Duet" with DWTS regular Beverley Staunton.

On 23 October 2011, Katherine 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.

On 20 and 21 July 2012, Katherine 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 July 2017, it was announced that Katherine Jenkins would be a main presenter on BBC One's religious and spiritual show Songs of Praise.

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

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

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

Katherine Jenkins finished the course in 5 hours and 26 minutes.

Katherine Jenkins began using drugs during this period of time, which she later said was "the biggest regret of [her] life".

Katherine Jenkins met Welsh television presenter Gethin Jones in 2007, and they became engaged in February 2011.

In October 2013, Katherine Jenkins began dating American painter Andrew Levitas.

Katherine Jenkins gave birth to their first child, a daughter called Aaliyah Reign, in New York City in September 2015.

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