Katherine Jenkins talks about her brother-in-law and father’s tragic deaths

Katherine Jenkins talks about her brother-in-law’s tragic death and says losing her own father has made her want to ‘live life for him’

Katherine Jenkins has spoke about her brother-in-law’s tragic death.

The mezzo-soprano, 40, has also reflected on losing her father Selwyn when she was 15 and said that it has made her want to ‘live life for him’.

Katherine’s brother-in-law tragically passed away earlier this year and he had two sons with her sister Laura. The family have not revealed the cause of death.

Heartache: Katherine Jenkins has spoke about her brother-in-law’s tragic death (pictured in February) 

Talking about how her nephews have been coping with the loss of their father, the singer told Mirror: ‘Children are very resilient and the boys are doing really well.’

Katherine, who has worked extensively with child bereavement charity Grief Encounter, praised the organisation for giving ‘good advice’ on how to talk to the children about death.

She added: ‘How you set that precedent of communication is so important for the rest of the journey.’

The singer was just 15 and her sister Laura 13 when their father, Selwyn, tragically passed away aged 70 following a battle with lung cancer. 

Sad: The mezzo-soprano, 40, has also reflected on losing her father Selwyn when she was 15 and said that it has made her want to 'live life for him' (pictured together when she was a baby)

Sad: The mezzo-soprano, 40, has also reflected on losing her father Selwyn when she was 15 and said that it has made her want to ‘live life for him’ (pictured together when she was a baby)

Tragedy: The singer was just 15 and her sister Laura 13 when their father, Selwyn, tragically passed away aged 70 following a battle with lung cancer (pictured as a small child with her father)

Tragedy: The singer was just 15 and her sister Laura 13 when their father, Selwyn, tragically passed away aged 70 following a battle with lung cancer (pictured as a small child with her father) 

Reflecting on her father’s death, Katherine said that it has made her want to ‘live life for him’ and she believes that he has ‘somehow’ been on a journey with her.

The star said: ‘It makes me live every day as if it’s the last, I want to live life for him.’ 

Katherine is married to Andrew Levitas and the couple have two children together daughter Aaliyah, five, and son Xander, two.  

Talking about her family, the singer said that she is ‘crazy’ about taking family photos as she doesn’t have many pictures with her late father.

Her family: Katherine is married to Andrew Levitas and the couple have two children together daughter Aaliyah, five, and son Xander, two

Her family: Katherine is married to Andrew Levitas and the couple have two children together daughter Aaliyah, five, and son Xander, two

She said on a Netmums podcast: ‘I’m crazy about taking photos of us with them because I don’t have many pictures of me and my dad. In case something happens, I want them to have memories.’

Katherine also praised her mother, Susan, for dealing with her father’s death and raising herself and sister Laura.

She said: ‘She had two teenage daughters, she had to navigate the situation and bring us up by herself, which must have been so daunting,’ she says. ‘There are different dynamics within a family when there’s grief.’ 

Praise: Katherine also praised her mother, Susan, for dealing with her father's death and raising herself and sister Laura (pictured recently)

Praise: Katherine also praised her mother, Susan, for dealing with her father’s death and raising herself and sister Laura (pictured recently)