Singer 'postponed flight because of flu'

Teenage singer Charlotte Church did not fly to America to begin a 15-date tour because she is suffering from flu and an ear infection, her management said today.

Charlotte, 16, was due to fly out of Britain yesterday ahead of her first performance in Cincinnati on Tuesday (Dec 3) to turn on the Christmas lights in Atlanta.

But that has been cancelled and she is now due to fly out in a few days time with her mother, Maria.

A statement from her Los Angeles management, azoffmusic, said: “Charlotte over the past few days, has been suffering with an awful flu/ear infection.

“The reason Charlotte did not fly out to the US, was that she was feeling so ill, and felt that she wasn’t well enough to make that long transatlantic flight to America, without her mother beside her.

“Charlotte was flying out early, to turn on the Christmas lights in Atlanta, which has been cancelled, and will now be flying out in a few days time with her mother – who is going to be looking after her until Charlotte’s tour starts on December 3.

“Charlotte is at her parents’ home recuperating.”

The trip had originally been planned to be Charlotte’s first without her mother.

Mrs Church is said not to approve of Charlotte’s boyfriend, Steven Johnson, but in a statement earlier this month Charlotte said this was not the reason why her mother was not coming on the American tour.

She said that while her mother still remained “very involved” in her career the involvement had reached a different level because of her growing independence.

The statement added: “Now that I have completed my studies, everyone is in agreement that it is the appropriate time for me to embark on my US tour with my management and tour staff.”

Charlotte’s north American tour will be with Sound of Music stars Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.

It is in conjunction with the release of her album, Prelude – The Best of Charlotte Church, and is due to take in 15 different performances, ending in Florida on December 21.