Nana Mouskouri speaks about her faith on Premier

Nana Mouskouri has spoken of her Christian faith and how it gives her the courage to live.

"Faith helps me in so many ways to have the courage to exist," the Greek singing star tells Premier Christian Radio in an interview with Loretta Andrews, for 'Premier Drive' to be broadcast on 17 September. "Without faith I feel that I don't exist."

But, as she approaches her 80th birthday next month, she says she is saddened by the 'injustice' of premature deaths among young and talented people.

"Nobody wants to get old but it's a certain justice that you are born, you have to grow up and, one day you will grow old and die - and then you leave," she said.

"What is not just is when young people don't finish their road in life. When I think about wonderful singers like Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse it is really sad so that if I have the privilege to be here, I have to be happy and grateful with life and with God. Somehow he gave me this grace to be 80 and also to be able to sing."

The international singer, who is Greek Orthodox, has sold more than 300 million records. She is about to embark on an 80th birthday tour. In her interview, Nana revealed that when she was a young girl, she wanted to find out if there was love and peace in the world.

"Now I have proven to the little girl that I was that there is love and peace and it is very important," she said.

"The greatest gift in my life is to be a singer. I only ever asked to be a singer and I'm blessed."

Premier Christian Radio broadcasts on 1305, 1332, 1431 MW in London and, nationally, on DAB and Freeview 725.

See a video of Nana from 1974: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRpMCG5Wjck