in response to your question about charlotte church - she's not practically unknown in the states...she WAS actually quite well known.
the thing about charlotte church was that she pushed her voice way too hard way too young and she really damaged. if you listen to her cd "enchantment", which i think was recording when she was 15 or 17, you can already hear the big "wobble" that indicates serious vocal damage.
so the reason she's really not too well known now is because she can't sing the classical stuff the same way she used to, and that's what everyone was accustomed to hearing from her.
"grace, you're stuffed in a box getting rid of ass plaque. let's face it, this evening is a bust."