Soprano tells mum: 'You're fired!'

Charlotte Church has fired her mother as her manager.

The 16-year-old soprano acted after a series of bitter rows with 37-year-old Maria Church over Charlotte's boyfriend, rap DJ Steven Johnson.

They culminated in an instruction to her record label, Sony, that Charlotte no longer wants her mother involved in any aspect of her career.

Mrs Church became her daughter's manager three years ago, replacing Jonathan Shalit, the man credited with making Charlotte a star. He was summarily sacked after a series of differences with Mrs Church, later winning a £2million out- of- court settlement.

But the new partnership was equally stormy. 'Charlotte has always been strong-willed,' said a friend. 'She doesn't want her mother controlling her career.

'She has her own plans and would prefer it that any career decisions were taken between herself and Sony and not her mother.

'Anyone who knows Charlotte and Maria knows they are both strong characters. There is often a clash.'

The friend added that the singer - who is worth £15million - is also planning to take control of her fortune away from her mother.

The money is managed by the company Charlotte Church Ltd, of which mother Maria and stepfather James, 38, are both directors. It is being held in trust and she will not be able to gain access to it until she is 21. The friend said: 'There could be some fireworks to come because as Charlotte becomes older she is entitled to more control over her life and her money.'

Rumours of a split emerged last week after it was revealed that Charlotte was preparing to tour North America without her mother or stepfather.

Sony denied it was the result of a rift between them, claiming instead that the couple had agreed she was old enough to go on her own.

Charlotte built her success on her demure image and her 'Voice of an Angel' after appearing on a TV talent show as an 11-year- old singing Andrew Lloyd Webber's aria Pie Jesu.

But in recent times she has turned from little girl to rebellious teenager, perhaps encouraged by being awarded the title Rear of the Year.

Much to her mother's disgust she started dating 18-year-old Johnson, whom she met through a mutual friend, nine months ago.

They kissed in February, at her 16th birthday party in a Cardiff nightclub, and began dating two weeks later.

She describes him as her 'bit of rough' and was recently seen leaving his terrace house in the back streets of Cardiff smoking a cigarette.

Recently a £40,000 BMW with a personalised number plate has appeared outside the house. It is believed to be a gift from Charlotte, who is also thought to have paid the £2,000-a-year insurance bill.

Despite Charlotte's obvious generosity, Johnson has apparently boasted about seeing other girls behind her back and has told how he and his friends have been involved in the drug scene.

Yet even his attempt to sell the story of his relationship with Charlotte to a Sunday newspaper for £100,000 has made little difference to the infatuated star, who has sung for the Pope and President Clinton.

Her mother demanded that her daughter stop seeing him but she refused and even quit the family's £700,000 home in an exclusive Cardiff suburb to stay with friends.

Despite her decision to fire her mother, Charlotte's career will continue to be masterminded by American Irving Azoff.

Last night a spokesman for the singer refused to comment on Mrs Church's sacking saying: 'We do not wish to speak about Charlotte's personal business.'