Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins has opened up about the intense media scrutiny she faced as a young classical singer, reflecting on how she gradually learned to take control of her career and find her own voice.
Jenkins, 46, from Neath, is preparing to mark 25 years as one of the world’s most successful classical singers with a new tour. During an interview with BBC Radio Wales, she recalled some of the questions and comments she encountered early in her career, particularly those relating to her personal life.
One question that has stayed with her was: “Who’s looking after your children?”
Jenkins described the question as unfair, pointing out that male classical singers were unlikely to face the same line of questioning.
She also remembered an encounter at the Classical Brit Awards where a journalist told her that their newspaper loved her but would eventually have to “trash” her. According to Jenkins, she later encountered numerous stories about herself that she said were completely untrue, including reports about supposed extravagant food orders and unreasonable demands.
“There were loads of fake stories I read about myself ordering crazy meals and bonkers demands, and you just think, ‘wow, I’d never say that’,” she recalled.
For Jenkins, learning to navigate those experiences became part of the process of building a long-lasting career.
“It takes a lot of hard work and practice to be good at what you do in any field,” she said, adding that ambition and hard work can sometimes be viewed negatively when discussing women.
Now, 25 years into her career, Jenkins says she has learned to take greater ownership of her professional life. That independence extends beyond music. She has recently developed a Welsh-made gin brand, which is sold internationally, but said people have sometimes assumed she was simply the celebrity face of the business rather than the entrepreneur behind it.
Despite the changes that have come with decades in the public eye, Jenkins credits her close family and childhood friends with helping her remain grounded.
She also remembers the influence of her late father, who died when she was 15. Jenkins says he gave her a quiet confidence and regularly told her, “I believe in you.”
Her father was a house husband at a time when that was less common, taking care of the family while supporting Jenkins’ early musical ambitions.
“He was picking me up from school, making dinner, taking me to singing lessons or choir practice,” she said.
Jenkins continues to carry that support with her, particularly during significant moments in her career.
“There are certain moments when I think ‘oh my gosh, my dad would love this’. But I do think he’s with me,” she added.
Over the course of her career, Jenkins has experienced a number of memorable milestones, including performing for British troops in Afghanistan. She described the experience as emotional and said it eventually developed into a long-standing relationship with the armed forces.
Another major highlight came through her recording of a classical version of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”
Jenkins wrote directly to Parton to request permission to record her interpretation of the song, which Parton approved.
Jenkins said she believes she was the first person to record the song in a foreign language and later had the opportunity to meet Parton backstage at London’s O2. According to Jenkins, Parton was complimentary about her version and as charming and funny as she had imagined.
With her 25th anniversary approaching, Jenkins is already looking beyond the next stage of her music career. The singer revealed that she has ambitions to explore the film industry, with one particular dream role in mind.
“I think the dream would be to voice an animated character. I think that would be really fun,” she said.
For Jenkins, the next chapter represents an opportunity to continue expanding her creative career while carrying the lessons she has learned through 25 years of performing, recording and navigating life in the public eye.
