Charlotte Church Gaining $30M Trust Fund

02/23/2004 8:09 AM, AP


Charlotte Church , the bright-eyed Welsh soprano who has sung for two U.S. presidents, the pope and Queen Elizabeth II , turned 18 on Saturday, meaning she now has control of her $30 million trust fund.

Church — whose bursts of rebelliousness, family spats and a now-discarded boyfriend have become a tabloid soap opera — now faces the difficult transition from child prodigy to adult star.

With more than 10 million records sold around the world, the singer's financial future seems secure. But Church said she planned to leave most of the trust-fund money where it was, telling Britain's GMTV television: "I just don't want it. I don't need a lot of money now."

Church's last album of new material appeared in 2001 and there is no set date for a new one. She said she wants to leave behind the light classical musical that endeared her to millions and forge a pop career.

Her next album will include "some rocky stuff, some soulful songs and some electric — it's really mixed," Church told Britain's Daily Mirror in an interview published Friday.

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