Katherine Jenkins was inspired to become a singer by her late dad

The Welsh classical music star believes her father Selwyn's passing from lung cancer when she was just 15 encouraged her to seize "every opportunity" in life and pursue her passion for music.

In an emotional interview, a teary-eyed Katherine exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I definitely think that when you have a loss like that, it changes your outlook on life. Life's too short, you know? You never know what's going to happen and you have to make the most of it. My dad had always made me think that all this, my music career, could happen to me.

"So I take every opportunity because I think he would love to see all this. I think it makes you grow up when you're a child as well. You grow up overnight because you have to be strong for everybody else and for what they're going through as well. It definitely moulds you."

The 30-year-old beauty – who has sold more than four million albums worldwide – is now a Macmillan Cancer Support Ambassador and uses her charity role to help people going through the same ordeal she did as a teenager.

Speaking at M&S Cafe in Westfield Shopping Centre, London, ahead of the launch of Macmillan's World's Biggest Coffee Morning on Friday (24.09.10), she said: "My mum has always brought me up to be involved in charity, and I've been really lucky. In many ways I feel very blessed, and I think when you're in that positive you have to give something back.

"That's the whole thing, it should be about giving back and realising how lucky you are and wanting to make a difference."

To find out more about Macmillan Cancer Support's World's Biggest Coffee Morning tomorrow (24.09.10), please visit www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee