MEET THE PARENTS
CHARLOTTE Church instantly became a household name when she shot to fame as child prodigy singer back in the 90s.
She is now laying bare her relationship with her parents in an explosive interview with Kate Garraway.
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Who is Charlotte Church's mum Maria?
Charlotte achieved overnight worldwide success in 1998 as a classical singer with her debut album Voice Of An Angel aged just 12-years-old.
At the time her mum Maria was her manager.
However, in 2002 a then 16-year-old Charlotte sensationally sacked her mum.
Speaking about this in her Life Stories interview with Kate, she said:
"As far as I was concerned, I needed to be free.
"I had to be a specific way for a long time and all of the normal ways in which we grow…were stifled and such."
CHARLOTTE CHURCH
She added: "I just had to cut the ties. I was at an age where I thought I knew everything. I knew better and I knew what I was doing.
"They were just trying to protect me but I just saw that as holding me too tight.
"It’s only with hindsight that I knew just what it meant to my mum. It felt like they had completely lost me and just this whole life that we had built together for the last few years."
The mother and daughter have since repaired their relationship.
Maria is no longer in the music business, and is now the owner of a dog grooming and dog hotel business.
Who is Charlotte Church's stepfather James?
Maria married Welsh singer James Church in 1992.
He officially adopted Charlotte when she was three.
Tragically James was diagnosed with a rare terminal blood disorder, AL amyloidosis, in 2019.
Speaking on This Morning, Charlotte said about her step-dad's illness: "It's absolutely terrifying the idea of not having him around.
"I rely on him for so much, he's my buddy, my absolute best friend and has been for years."
Who was her biological father?
Charlotte's father was Stephen Reed, although she has openly talked about never knowing him.
He left his then wife Maria when Charlotte was two-years-old.
In February 2021, it was revealed that Stephen had died from Covid.
He was admitted to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, with Coronavirus before Christmas 2020.
It is believed that he died at his home in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, surrounded by family.
In 2008, Stephen begged Charlotte for a reconciliation.
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He publicly wrote: "Please get in contact with me – I still love you.
"It upsets me very much that I've got a grandchild who I don't know and another on the way, but what can I do?
"When I see photos of Ruby, I see a lot of myself in her. I'm a good dad. I think I would be a good grandparent. I don't see what the problem is."
The singer had previously said that she had no intention of meeting up with her biological dad or his immediate family.
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In an statement at the time, Charlotte said: "They are strangers to me. I don't know if they are moral. Ignorance is bliss. I'm staying in my own ignorant bubble, right or wrong."