katherine jenkins

Katherine Jenkins heads for America to prove she's hot to trot

Katherine Jenkins and Gethin Jones ended their attribute at the begin of the year, job off their engagement. Katherine has given been on tour, where she.

The "stars" this year are: Jack Wagner, Melissa Gilbert, Green Bay Packers receiver Donald Driver, telenovela star William Levy, Sherri Shepherd, Kath.

America welcomes Katherine Jenkins, 'acclaimed show star'. Feb 28, 2012 by Norman Lebrecht Leave a Comment. She's a single of fourteen receiving part in the brand brand new array of 'Dancing with the Stars', along with Gladys Knight and Martina

It's 6 weeks given she and Gethin Jones separate up, and Katherine Jenkins is still feeling tender and “emotional” it hasn't helped that the show star has been belting out ardent adore songs every night on a 27-date tour, which ended on Thursday

Katherine Jenkins to appear on Dancing with The Stars

SONGBIRD Katherine Jenkins is to don her dancing shoes and appear on Dancing with the Stars, the American version of Strictly Come Dancing, in a bid to crack America.

The mezzo-soprano has long been a household name in the UK for her soaring voice and classic looks and has also had success in America.

The Neath-born beauty will attempt to put the split from fiance Gethin Jones behind her when she appears alongside the likes of veteran Motown diva Gladys Knight, singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw and tennis legend Martina Navratilova in the line-up for the 14th series of the US-version of Strictly Come Dancing, Dancing with the Stars.

The 31-year-old has been paired up with hunky US dancer Mark Ballas – a passing resemblence of Jones – who was the professional partner of Kim Kardashian in her run on the show.

Dancing with the Stars – which also previously featured hellraiser Kelly Osbourne, singer Nicole Scherzinger and racing driver Helio Castroneves – pulled in more than 19 million for last series’ final, with the latest shows kicking off on March 19 on American network ABC.

Other celebrities signed up for the 12th series include Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert, Cuban-American actor William Levy, Jack Wagner of Melrose Place fame, the View host Sherri Shepherd and Jaleel White, known as Steve Urkel from Family Matters.

Her publicist Dan Deacon said yesterday: “Katherine is very excited to be going on the show.”

Her appearance marks another step in her recovery from her split with Jones just after Christmas.

It’s not the singer’s first appearance on the show, having performed in April last year, although insisted that she “wasn’t looking for world domination” after completing a South African tour when she played sell-out gigs to around 3,500 fans over five nights.

However she said she was still “working” at breaking the lucrative US market.

“I’ve been going back and fore and chipping away at it,” she told the Western Mail.

“It’s such a huge place and I’m not a pop artist. I get invited to go and sing at events and it’s going well.

“I’ve just got to keep working at it. I knew [success] wouldn’t happen overnight. It’s starting to happen in other countries and the response to the last album has been brilliant.”

PR guru Max Clifford last night predicted the show would be a “golden opportunity” for Jenkins to become a “massive star” Stateside.

He told the Western Mail: “she has got the look and she’s got the voice.

“obviously the American market is very different from the British market, but I am sure she understands that now, because it is something she has been looking at in recent years.

“This is a massive show that gives her the opportunity to really break in America.

“the fact of the matter is that with her looks and voice there is a massive market waiting for her – and this may be the key that opens that door.”

He said that Jenkins needed to be careful not to make her music material “too classical” to alienate some of the market.

But he added that Jenkins needed the exposure that the series offered her, as she didn’t have the might of the Simon Cowell machine behind her.

“if you look at others like Leona Lewis that are popular there, even Susan Boyle, they have had Simon Cowell behind them,” he said.

“They already had a massive PR offensive that he brings to the table. This programme gives her a golden opportunity for that kind of exposure. if she takes off with that voice that she’s got, and her looks, she could be enormous, a major, major star over there.

“she needs to be careful with the use of material, to make sure it’s not too classical so as to limit her range.

“she needs something to show the quality of her voice, something like Barbara Streisand.”

Read more: Katherine Jenkins follows in famous footsteps on Dancing With the Stars

Town hosts world’s first screening of Sheen film

THE world premiere of the movie version of Michael Sheen’s the Passion will take place in Port Talbot this Easter.

Called the Gospel Of us and directed by cult artist Dave McKean, its unveiling will be one of a series of events being held to mark the first anniversary of the award- winning production.

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Michael himself will return home to join cast members and others who will reminisce about the extraordinary three- day performance that put the town on the international theatrical map.

National Theatre Wales, which was behind the Passion, has described it as a memory event but details are being kept under wraps until a later date.

A spokeswoman said: “Everyone and anyone who saw the production or were involved in it will be invited to share their memories, their photographs, video and film and their stories for a multimedia exhibition which will be held in the town’s shopping centre.

“The Passion’s star and co-director Michael Sheen and other cast members will be sharing their own memories at the event.

“The world premiere of Dave McKean’s film of the production, the Gospel Of us, will take place in the town.”

The Passion was a modern retelling of Port Talbot’s traditional passion play that took place for many years and left a lasting impression on Michael Sheen. Scripted by Welsh author Owen Sheers, it started at dawn on the dunes last Good Friday, with the actor’s baptism in the sea off Aberavon Beach.

The production took in a variety of locations around the town, including Aberafan Shopping Centre and outside Port Talbot Civic Centre.

There were iconic moments when the Hollywood star carried the cross on Easter Sunday along a packed Station Road, which included Neath mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins and her then-fiance Gethin Jones in the audience.

Events then returned to Aberavon seafront where Michael was “‘crucified”.

As the story unfolded, it was simultaneously filmed by Dave McKean.

There were also performances from the Manic Street Preachers, along with Port Talbot singer Paul Potts in the Last Supper, which was held at the Seaside Social and Labour Club in Dalton Road, Sandfields.

The Passion led to co-directors Michael Sheen and Bill Mitchell being jointly named best director at the National Theatre Awards.

It was also critically acclaimed, with the Observer hailing it as “one of the outstanding theatrical events not only of this year, but of the decade”.

Dancing With The Stars 2012 line-up announcement: Katherine Jenkins, Maria Menounos and Sherri Shepherd to compete

Getting her dance shoes ready! Katherine Jenkins leads celebrities signed up for new series of Dancing with The Stars

Katherine Jenkins is just one of the 12 celebrities who have signed up to star in the new series of Dancing with The Stars.

The Welsh singer, who is newly-single after splitting from fianc Gethin Jones earlier this year, will be joined by famous faces including fellow singers Gladys Knight and Gavin DeGraw, as well as actors such as Jack Wagner, Melissa Gilbert and Jaleel White.

Katherine will no doubt be hoping that her decision to take part in the show will help her break America with her music. She also performed on Dancing with The Stars back in February 2011.

Getting their dancing shoes ready: Katherine Jenkins and Maria Menounos are among those signed up to the new series of Dancing with The Stars

Dancing queen: Katherine previously showed off her dancing skills during the show Viva La Diva with Darcey Bussell in 2009

And Katherine isn't entirely withoutdancing experience, as she joined Darcey Bussell on stage in the 2009song-and-dance spectacular Viva La Diva.

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova andAmerican television presenter Sherri Shepherd willalso be competing, alongside sportsman Donald Driver, The Disney Channelstar Roshon Fegan and Cuban model William Levy.

The announcement was made this morning on Good Morning America.

Executiveproducer Conrad Green said: 'This season, we particularly wanted to gofor a likable cast, people that you feel affectionate toward.

Belting it out: Katherine had previously appeared on the show to perform back in February 2011

Accompaniment: Katherine had sung as Kirstie Alley performed with her dance partner on the show

'The core of our show is about finding people you can root for and wanting them to triumph.'

Andone person hoping to triumph on the show is Navratilova, who is lookingforward to throwing herself into the training and learn a new skill.

Shesaid: 'I like to conquer my phobia. I was afraid of heights. I got apilot's license. My biggest fear was to drown, so I got a SCUBA-divinglicense. I get embarrassed dancing by myself, so I figured why not do itin front of millions of people.

Dancing to victory Sherri Shepherd and Jack Wagner are also set to take to the dancefloor in the new series

Famous faces: Martina Navratilova, Gladys Knight and actress Melissa Gilbert have also signed up

'Stayingfocused on something physical for such a long time is easy for us andit does involve your body. And I think if you excel in one sport, it'seasy to pick up the movements in another.'

Singer McGraw said he was inspired to take part in the show by his great-grandfather, who was a dance instructor.

He said: 'Growing up, I would hear these storiesabout him. for someone my age, growing up seeing Dirty Dancing as a kid,I created this fantasy world. This is a way for me of really satisfyingthat curiosity.'

Bop to the top: Singer Gavin DeGraw and The Disney Channel's Roshon Fegan will also be competing

Suited and booted: Actor Jaleel White and NFL player Donald Driver will strut their stuff when the series begins in March

McGraw added: 'only really recently have I beenembracing the element of stepping away from the piano, stepping out infront of the audience during concerts. I think this type of thing willmake me a lot more comfortable being able to do that.'

Family Matter actor White said of his decision to take part in the show: 'I'm a performer, first and foremost.

'That's what I was raised to do. if you put a crowd in front of me, I don't want to see that crowd disappointed. I'm there to give them a good time.'

Dancing with the Stars season 14 begins March 19th on ABC.

Big announcement: The line-up was revealed by Brooke Burke and Tom Bergeron on Good Morning America this morning

Ready for action: The male cast members were present as the names were revealed

DANCING WITH THE STARS 2012, FULL LINE-UP:

Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins & professional mark Ballas

Family Matters actor Jaleel White & professional Kym Johnson

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova & professional Tony Dovolani

Actor Jack Wagner & professional Anna Trebunskaya

Green Bay Packers receiver Donald Driver & professional Peta Murgatroyd

Melissa Gilbert & professional Maks Chmerkovskiy

The Disney Channel star Roshon Fegan & professional Chelsie Hightower

Extra presenter Maria Menounos & professional Derek Hough

Cuban actor William Levy & professional Cheryl Burke

Singer Gavin DeGraw & professional Karina Smirnoff

Singer Gladys Knight & professional Tristan MacManus

Sherri Shepherd & professional Val Chmerkovskiy

1. Katherine Jenkins sheds a tear as she returns to the stage for first time since broken engagement
2. Katherine Jenkins and Gethin Jones call off their engagement
3. Is a jealous rival singer the stalker making life hell for opera star Katherine Jenkins?
4. Katherine Jenkins stalker: is a jealous rival singer making life hell for opera star?
5. Katherine Jenkins says she doesn"t want fans to "feel conned" with no new music