Charlotte Church has candidly expressed that her father, James Church, is an indispensable influence in her life, stating that she "would be dead" without his guidance during her childhood under the glare of fame. In an insightful conversation with public speaking coach Deborah Thomas on her podcast, "These Three Things," the Cardiff-born singer opened up about her close bond with her father.
At 39, Church praised her dad for helping her navigate the "arduous" journey of the "child star route," acknowledging the many temptations she would have succumbed to had it not been for his support. "It would have been so easy for me to have fallen into addiction..." she mused.
In the interview, the star revealed that her father, who is currently in the hospital with a terminal diagnosis of the rare blood disorder amyloidosis, has been a constant source of comfort and guidance. She described him as an "absolutely extraordinary human" who has faced numerous challenges, including battling septicaemia seven times.
Reflecting on her career beginnings as a child touring with her mother Maria, Church said, "We really missed him on the road. My family isn't very traditional in any way, and so my father was far more like the nurturing one." She further described him as "the hearth" who helped her maintain perspective amidst the transient nature of fame and the impermanence of success.
The singer, who recently appeared on "Celebrity Traitors" and rose to global fame at the age of 11, earning the moniker "the Voice of an Angel," said that her father joined them on the road after a year and would help take care of her while her mother dealt with the business side of her career.
Church, who runs a wellness retreat in the Nant Caethon Valley in Powys, said that her father's terminal diagnosis nearly a decade ago has been a "journey" for both of them. "Pretty much every year in those nine years, he's had a near-death experience where it's like something's happened," she said. Despite this, he has remained resilient and supportive throughout.
Speaking about her father's impact on her life, Church added, "I'm making him a photo album, and I think that'll be very emotional for us to go through. But in general, I am able to tell him what he means to me and how he has massively shaped my life and who I am. Without him, I'd be dead."
This heartfelt tribute underscores the profound influence that Charlotte's father has had on her life and career, reinforcing the importance of familial support and guidance in navigating the complexities of fame and adversity.
