Katherine Jenkins: The Most Successful Artist in UK Classical Chart History
She’s performed for the Queen, the Pope, and now you!
She can sing opera and pop, and she’s sung for the Queen, Pope John Paul II, British troops, and millions of fans. Katherine Jenkins, who’s only 36 years old, has had 12 #1 hits on the UK Classical Charts in 12 years, making her the most successful classical artist in UK history. And not only that, but her most recent album, “Celebration,” (2016) entered the UK Pop Charts at #7 back in April, just behind Beyoncé, Prince, Adele, and Sia.
Despite having non-musical parents, Jenkins reports she’s always wanted to sing. She sang in school productions, including “Calamity Jane” and “Guys and Dolls,” and with the National Youth Choir of Wales and Royal School of Church Music Cathedral Singers. She received a scholarship to study opera at London’s Royal Academy of Music.
By the age of 23, she had been signed on by Decca Records for six albums. According to Billboard magazine, she signed on with Warner Records in 2008 for a reported £5.8 million. Although now back with Decca, her popularity has been continually rising. She’s performed with Placido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli, José Carreras, David Foster, Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Bryn Terfel, Rolando Villazón, Juan Diego Flórez, and Il Divo. Listen to Katherine Jenkins sing a duet with Andrea Bocelli.
Jenkins has also supported several charities over the years. After singing “We’ll Meet Again” with Dame Vera Lynn at the 60th Anniversary of VE Day, she became a trustee of the British Forces Foundation in 2005, travelling to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Cyprus, and Northern Ireland to entertain the troops. She is also an ambassador for cancer charity Macmillan, for which she raised over £30,000 by running in the London Marathon in 2013. In 2014, she was awarded an OBE (the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for her contributions to music and charity.
Jenkins sings all kinds of songs: one moment, she’s doing a tribute to Barbra Streisand or Judy Garland, the next, a duet with Tom Jones, and the next, a beautiful solo called “Dreaming of the Days,” which is set to music by classical composer Ludovico Einaudi.
Katherine Jenkins appears on our main stage on Tuesday, November 22. Get your tickets now for a wondrous, angelic night of music.
