Claudia Jung (born Ute Krummenast on April 12, 1964, in Ratingen, North Rhine-Westphalia) is a German schlager singer, actress, author, and politician. She adopted Claudia Jung as her stage name and became one of the most recognizable female voices in German-language popular music from the late 1980s onward.
Jung first worked outside the entertainment industry as a photo lab technician, dental assistant, and tour guide in Italy. She had already gained musical experience as a child through guitar lessons and school choir performances. In 1984, she met producer Adam Schairer, with whom she made early recordings. Her first releases were developed with Schairer, composer and producer Jean Frankfurter, and lyricist Erich Offierowski.
Her recording career took shape with the album Halt' mich fest in 1988. It was followed by a steady series of albums, including Etwas fur die Ewigkeit (1989), Spuren einer Nacht (1990), Wo kommen die Traume her (1991), Du ich lieb' Dich (1992), and Claudia Jung (1994). These records established her characteristic blend of romantic ballads, polished arrangements, and accessible schlager melodies. The self-titled 1994 album became one of the most commercially successful releases of her career.
Jung's repertoire has primarily been in German, although she has also recorded songs in French, Italian, and English. Her international collaborations helped broaden her profile. In 1994, she recorded Je t'aime mon amour with French pianist Richard Clayderman. Other notable duets included Domani l'amore vincera with Rosanna Perinic, Hand in Hand with Nino de Angelo, and Christmas material with Cliff Richard. She later recorded Sommerwein with Nik P., continuing her interest in duet performances.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Jung released albums at a regular pace, including Sehnsucht (1995), Wintertraume (1996), Augenblicke (1997), Fur immer (1999), Auch wenn es nicht vernunftig ist (2001), Seelenfeuer (2003), Herzzeiten (2004), and Tr aumen erlaubt (2006). Later releases included Unwiderstehlich (2007), Hemmungslose Liebe (2008), Geheime Zeichen (2009), Alles nach Plan? (2012), Seitensprung (2015), Frauenherzen (2016), Schicksal, Zufall oder Gluck (2018), Einfach Jung (2022), and 3fach Jung (2024).
Her work earned multiple gold and platinum records, two Echo awards, five Goldene Stimmgabel awards, the Amadeus Austrian Music Award, and the Fred Jay Prize for songwriting in 2002. She also expanded into television and acting, appearing in the 2008 television production Das Musikhotel am Wolfgangsee.
Jung entered public life in Bavaria as a member of the Freie Wahler. She was elected to the Bavarian Landtag in 2008 and served until 2013, representing Upper Bavaria. During her parliamentary career, she worked on the Committees for Social Affairs, Family and Labor and for Petitions and Complaints, while also serving on the Bavarian Broadcasting Council. Her career therefore combines a long-running presence in schlager with work in television, songwriting, and regional politics.