Charlotte Church facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charlotte Church
Church performing at the FOCUS Wales Festival in 2013
Born	Charlotte Maria Reed (1986-02-21) 21 February 1986 (age 39) Cardiff, Wales
Occupation	Singer-songwriter actress presenter
Years active	1997–present
Spouse(s)	Jonathan Powell ​ (m. 2017)​
Partner(s)	Gavin Henson (2005-2010)
Children	3
Musical career
Genres	Pop alternative rock classical crossover operatic pop Celtic
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Sony Power Amp

Charlotte Maria Church (born Charlotte Maria Reed on February 21, 1986) is a famous singer, songwriter, actress, and TV host from Cardiff, Wales.

She became famous as a child for her amazing classical singing voice. Later, she explored pop music. By 2007, she had sold over ten million records around the world. She also hosted her own popular chat show on Channel 4 called The Charlotte Church Show.

In more recent years, Charlotte has become known for her political activism. She has supported different political parties and causes, including the movement for Welsh independence.

Early Life and Discovery

Charlotte was born in Llandaff, a part of Cardiff, Wales. Her parents separated when she was two, and her mother, Maria, raised her. Maria later married James Church, who adopted Charlotte.

Her big break came when she was just 11 years old. She sang "Pie Jesu" by Andrew Lloyd Webber over the phone on the TV show This Morning. Soon after, she performed on ITV's Big, Big Talent Show. These performances launched her music career.

She received a scholarship to study singing at Howell's School Llandaff in Cardiff. With help from tutors, she balanced her schoolwork with her growing fame. She often said in interviews that she was just like any other girl her age. She left school when she was 16 to focus on her career.

Music Career

1998–2002: A Classical Star

Church in 2000

As a classical singer, Charlotte sang in many languages, including English, Welsh, Latin, Italian, and French. She signed a contract with Sony Music. Her first album, Voice of an Angel (1998), was a huge success. It sold millions of copies and made her the youngest artist to have a number one album on the British classical charts.

Her second album, Charlotte Church (1999), was also very popular. It included the song "Just Wave Hello," which was used in a commercial for the Ford Motor Company. This introduced her to even more fans.

In 2000, she released a Christmas album called Dream a Dream. In 2001, her album Enchantment included pop and Broadway songs. That same year, she was part of the soundtrack for the movie A Beautiful Mind.

At 16, she released a "best of" album called Prelude. This marked the end of her classical music career as she prepared to move into pop music.

2003–2009: Moving into Pop Music

Church performing in 2005

In 2005, Charlotte released her first pop album, Tissues and Issues. It had several hit singles in the UK, including "Crazy Chick" and "Call My Name".

In 2006, she performed sold-out concerts in London and Cardiff. She sang songs from her pop album and covers of other famous songs. Later that year, she and Sony Music decided to part ways, as her six-album contract was finished.

During this time, Charlotte also became a Patron for The Topsy Foundation UK. This charity helps communities in South Africa affected by HIV and AIDS.

2010–2014: New Albums and EPs

After taking a break to start her family, Charlotte returned to music in 2010. She released the album Back to Scratch. The title song was inspired by challenges a family member was facing, but she said it also related to her own life.

Between 2012 and 2014, she released a series of four EPs (shorter albums) called ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR. These EPs showed a more experimental and alternative rock sound. She toured in North America for the first time in almost ten years to promote this new music.

Church performing at the Victorious festival in 2013

Television and Acting Career

Charlotte has appeared on many TV shows. She had guest roles in the series Touched by an Angel and Heartbeat. She was also a guest and a host on the comedy panel show Have I Got News for You.

From 2006 to 2008, she hosted her own successful TV program, The Charlotte Church Show. She won a British Comedy Award for "Best Female Comedy Newcomer" for her work on the show.

In 2022, she was a contestant on the popular show The Masked Singer. She dressed as "Mushroom" and finished in second place. The same year, she appeared in the show Welcome to Wrexham, where she sang the Welsh National Anthem.

Political and Charity Work

Charlotte has used her fame to speak out on political issues and support causes she believes in.

Activism and Protests

In 2013, she gave a speech criticising the music industry for pressuring female artists to have a certain image. She is also a member of the group Hacked Off, which campaigns for a free and accountable press.

She has supported political leaders like Jeremy Corbyn and parties like Plaid Cymru. She is also a strong supporter of Welsh independence. In 2015, she performed at a Greenpeace protest against oil drilling in the Arctic. In 2024, she led a choir in a song to show support for Palestine.

The Awen Project

In 2019, Charlotte started a charity called The Awen Project. It aims to create free schools for children set in nature. The project gives kids a chance to learn in a different way, focusing on their own interests and the outdoors.

Personal Life

Charlotte's private life has often been in the news. When she was 15, comments she made were printed in a newspaper and taken out of context. She later apologized and explained the situation.

Phone Hacking Lawsuit

In 2011, Charlotte testified at the Leveson Inquiry, an investigation into the culture and practices of the British press. She spoke about how newspapers had intruded on her privacy.

The next year, she won a lawsuit against a newspaper company for illegally hacking into her family's voicemail. After the settlement, she made a powerful statement, saying she was glad she could expose their behavior.

Family

From 2005 to 2010, Charlotte was in a relationship with Welsh rugby player Gavin Henson. They have two children together: a daughter, Ruby, born in 2007, and a son, Dexter, born in 2009. The couple separated in 2010.

Later that year, she began dating musician Jonathan Powell. They got married in a private ceremony in 2017. The couple had a daughter, Frida, in 2020.

Discography

Studio albums

• Voice of an Angel (1998)
• Charlotte Church (1999)
• Dream a Dream (2000)
• Enchantment (2001)
• Tissues and Issues (2005)
• Back to Scratch (2010)

Television and Film

Awards and nominations

See also

• List of Welsh musicians