Skip to main content

WHERE ARE CHARLOTTE CHURCH AND JACKIE EVANCHO NOW?

Before Jackie Evancho, there was Charlotte Church, a Welsh singer who was born in 1986 and had a musical breakthrough at the age of 11 singing Pie Jesu over the telephone on a television show.  (Watch her singing this song shortly thereafter.)  Two years later in 1999 she sang at Rupert Murdoch's third wedding, to Wendi Deng, when he was 68 and she 30.  I digress here, for the  following is kind of interesting.

  • They were married for 14 years.
  • His fourth was model Jerry hall when he was 85 and she 59.  Stayed together for six years.
  • In 2023, at the age of 92, he got engaged to Ann Lesley Smith who was 56, but two weeks later called it off because of her infatuation to Fox News host Tucker Carlson.  Three weeks later, he fired Carlson.
  • His fifth marriage occurred on June 2024, to retired Russian molecular biologist Elena Zhukova, whose daughter Dasha is the ex-wife of Roman Abramovich.  Who is he?  Worth  $14.5 billion, with Russian, Israel and Portuguese citizenship, and a pal of  Vladimir Putin.
But back to Charlotte Church, she was persuaded to waive the $100,000 payment for singing at Murdoch's wedding in return for "good press."
  • She did at the age of 12 receive a vocal scholarship to Howell's Schooll of Llandaff, and while there gained a manager who negotiated a contract with Sony Music.
  • Her first album in 1998 was Voice of an Angel, selling millions worldwide and becoming the youngest artist (12) with a #1 album on the British classical crossover chart.
  • Over the next few years she released a number of albums and transitioned from classical to pop.
  • By 2006, she had parted ways with Sony, her albums were not particularly successsful and she had a daughter.
  • In 2007 she turned to charity to raise awareness for South Africa and HIV/AIDS.
  • She then:
    • Went back into pure entertainment with additional albums, appearances in film/TV and the like.
    • 2012, accepted about a million dollars in damages against Rupert Murdoch.
  • Now 38, still living in Wales, she shared the dark side of her child fame.  
    • She has made up with her parents.
    • Said she never had cosmetic surgery.
    • Now married to musician Jonathan Powell, and they have a daughter, plus two more with others.
    • Says, we have to live in the world and it's everybody's responsibility to make it better.

  • Jacqueline Marie Evancho was born in 2000.
  • From the age of 8 entered talent competitions.
  • Caught the attention of David Foster in 2009, already released a debut album that year, entering into the Billboard charts.
  • Had failed earlier auditions of America's Got Talent, finally being noticed in 2010, and placing second in that fifth season of AGT  Sang that evening with Sarah Brightman Time to Say Goodbye.
    • Champion Michael Grimm, he recently almost died from an illness, but is recovering.
    • Jackie and Michael are talking about touring later this year.
    • Sort of reminds me of how Susan Boyle in Britain's Got Talent's third season came in second to Diversity, dance troupe that went into touring, but has not accomplished much.  Surely you've seen Boyle's BGT audition?  Here it is.  
  • Both Evancho and Boyle went on to successful careers.  They are mirror-opposites.  They would make a grand team for the touring the world.  From all idol and got talent programs, these two are my favorites.
  • Sang the Star-Spangled Banner at the Pittsburg Pirates home opener in 2010
  • Evancho graduated from high school in 2018
  • Has issued nine albums, a platinum EP and debuted three songs on the Billboard 200.
  • In the meantime, like Charlotte Church, there were some growing pains.
    • She developed anorexia at the age of 15.
    • Remember Karen Carpenter?  She also suffered from this disease, finally passing away at the age of 32 at 77 pounds.
  • But Evancho snapped out of this condition in 2020 at the age of 20.
  • However, at 22 she found she has osteoporosis, a condition you see in 80-year olds.
  • She saw the struggles of her transgender sister Juliet, and has become a vocal supporter of LGBTQ rights.
So consider your life.  Sure, we have problems, but that's normal.  You do the best you can, try to move forward and hope for the best.  Has worked well for me.

Close to Japan, Typhoon Shanshan has strengthened to 130 MPH, a Category 4, and will make landfall over Kyushu, somewhere between Fukuoka and Kagoshima on Thursday

There remain two ocean storms nearing Hawaii, but both are expected to weaken and only bring some needed rain to the state.  Parts of Hawaii have been facing drought conditions.

- 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

DAY 1 on the DIAMOND PRINCESS

But first, Sheraton Yokohama Bay highlights of our Sheraton Club eats/drinks and breakfasts. Breakfast stations. Then taxi off to the Diamond Princess.  Fall colors. Approaching from the rear of the Diamond Princess. Departure of Diamond Princess from Yokohama, Departure snack of lamb, beef, penne pasta, Johnny Walker Gold and champagne. Leaving Yokohama. We then went to Kai Sushi for dinner, Sushi and sake dinner, Then, off to Fun Dance Class. That followed by karaoke. The night continued into some old time disco.  Finally, after midnight, back to our stateroom.  Walked 4127 steps today. -

ON THE MATTER OF PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Hawaii today celebrates King Kamehameha the First Day as a public holiday.  Next Monday, June 19, or  Juneteenth,  is a Federal holiday.  However, 22 states, including Hawaii, do not recognize this as a public holiday.  Four of these will begin to honor this day next year, not Hawaii.  Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery.  Here are the Hawaii holidays, and note three that only we have: New Year’s Day: 1st day in January Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: 3rd Monday in January Presidents’ Day: 3rd Monday in February Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day: 26th day in March Good Friday: Friday before Easter Easter:   Calculating Easter Memorial Day: Last Monday in May King Kamehameha I Day: 11th day in June Independence Day: 4th day in July Statehood Day: 3rd Friday in August Labor Day: 1st Monday in September Veterans’ Day: 11th day in November Thanksgiving Day: 4th Thursday in November Christmas: 25th day in December There are  11 paid Fede...

HOW TO WATCH NETFLIX SHOWS

But first, maybe  President Donald Trump's 20-point Gaza Peace Plan is showing some progress .   No one expects the Hamas to accept all of them, but they did agree to release all captives and the act of handing over administration to Palestinian technocrats. So far, in the Gaza Strip, 66,288 have been killed and 169,165 wounded.   On 7October2023, almost two years ago, 1139 were killed in the initial Hamas-led attack. About my topic of the day, I've long been lamenting the overflow of watchable films and series available on Netflix and Prime.  Why expand into the plethora of other streaming options when I can't keep up with what I have, which costs me around $30/month.  And, of course, why venture out to a movie theater to end up watching a film that will cost me around that amount of money, when you add the popcorn, drink, gasoline cost, time it takes to get there and back, and the risk of a car accident or worse.  Oh, also getting infected with ...