Katherine Jenkins discusses media scrutiny and gender double standards
Classical singer Katherine Jenkins, 46, has revealed that a journalist told her early in her career that their newspaper loved her, but would have to “trash her” sooner or later. Ahead of a major tour marking 25 years in the classical music industry, the Welsh mezzo-soprano opened up to BBC Radio Wales about handling media scrutiny, gender double standards, and the realities of building an international music career.
Handling Press Scrutiny and Industry Double Standards
With 14 number-one albums to her credit, Jenkins has spent more than two decades in the public eye. However, looking back on her early days in the industry, she recalled being staggered by the nature of the questions directed at her as a young woman. Speaking with BBC Radio Wales, Jenkins highlighted a persistent gender disparity in entertainment journalism.
“I would often get asked ‘who’s looking after your children?’ That’s crazy.”
She also recounted an encounter at the Classical Brit Awards early in her career, where a journalist openly told her that while their publication loved her work, they would inevitably have to “trash her” sooner or later. Jenkins noted that she subsequently encountered fabricated tabloid stories regarding outlandish meal requests and unreasonable demands. “You just think, ‘wow, I’d never say that’. But it's something you learn to handle," she added, emphasizing that ambition in women is frequently met with a negative narrative.
Entrepreneurship, Family Roots, and Personal Milestones
Beyond her music career, Jenkins has expanded her professional footprint into business, recently developing a gin brand made in Wales and distributed internationally. Despite driving the enterprise, she noted that observers often assume she is merely a celebrity figurehead rather than the active entrepreneur behind the product.
Maintaining perspective over a 25-year career has been aided by a close-knit circle of family and childhood friends from her hometown of Neath. Jenkins credits her late father, who passed away when she was 15, for instilling a foundational confidence. Recalling his role as a pioneering house husband who managed school pickups, dinners, and music lessons, she remarked that she still feels his presence during major career milestones.
Among those notable milestones is her emotional history of performing for British troops in Afghanistan, which cemented a long-standing relationship with the Royal Forces. Another career high point involved recording a classical adaptation of Dolly Parton’s hit “I Will Always Love You.” After writing to Parton to request permission, Jenkins met the country music icon backstage at the O2 Arena, where Parton gave her blessing and praised the foreign-language rendition.
Looking Forward to Film and Future Projects
As she prepares to launch her 25th-anniversary tour, Jenkins has set her sights on new creative mediums outside of the concert hall. Expressing an ambition to branch into the film industry, she stated that her primary goal is to voice an animated character.
Managing the intense logistical demands, public relations, and legal realities of a landmark anniversary tour and international brand ventures requires strong professional coordination.