
Katy Perry
singer-songwriter | pop diva
Katy Perry is the world's highest grossing pop artist ~ a remarkable feat for a girl who didn't even listen to "secular" music growing up. The California preacher's kid's path to stardom wasn't easy. She was dropped from labels; her first album sold a mere 200 copies; she had to clock time singing backup. But, when she finally found a label willing to back her sense of infectious fun + unapologetic weirdness, the world immediately took note.
Today, Katy enjoys record-breaking popularity. And, she uses it to spread the love as a goodwill ambassador, multi-cause philanthropist and inspiring fan favorite who's tagline is "be yourself, and you can be anything."
anthemic pop candy | fun + often outrageous lyrics
imaginative high-production performances | elaborate, colorful costuming + choreography...not to mention, sets + pyrotechnics
self-made success | her tireless pursuit of a music career paid off
global music industry VIP | one of the best-selling artists of all time
1999 | got her GED at 15 so that she pursue music full-time
2008 | chose "I Kissed a Girl" to release as her first studio single + it became a smash hit
2010 | her second album Teenage Dream debuted at #1...and led her to become the second person {after Michael Jackson} to have 5 #1 songs in a single album
from | to
gospel-singing preacher's kid | the highest earning artist in the music industry
born on
October 25, 1984
born in
Santa Barbara, California
birth name
Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson
also known as
Katy Perry
~ she took her mom's maiden name for her stage name in 2003 to avoid confusion with actress Kate Hudson ~
citizen of
The United States of America
daughter of
Maurice Keith Hudson + Mary Christine Perry
~ Pentecostal pastors ~
sister of
1 older brother | David
1 older sister | Angela
divorced from
Russell Brand
~ comedian | married 2010-2012 -
educated at
Santa Barbara Christian School
loved studying
singing + guitar
musical influences
Freddie Mercury
The Beach Boys
The Beatles
Alanis Morissette
Madonna
~ who helped promote the musician by publicly referring to one of Katy's early tracks as her "favorite song" ~
worked alongside
Timbaland
Snoop Dogg
Kayne West
Max Martin
Dr. Luke
Glen Ballard
Jessie James
Kelly Clarkson
in her spare time
hiking
songwrites for other artists
serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
supports philanthropic campaigns for music education, women's + children's health, animal welfare, art, gay rights {and more}
tweets
@katyperry
~ the first person to pass 50 million followers on Twitter ~
~ now she has 71.9 million + counting ~
"Ignite the light and let it shine. Just own the night like the 4th of July—'Cause, baby, you're a firework!"
Firework | october 2010
"I start writing, and the true essential oil of who I am comes bubbling back up."
Beauty and the Beat | june 2013
"I just hope at the end of the day that over 100 million people are all smiling in unison. If you can imagine that happening, I think there's going to be an incredible energy that goes across the world."
preceding her Super Bowl XLIX half-time show | january 2015
for further reading about Katy Perry:
curated with care by Alicia Williamson
fan pride
Katy has a devoted legion of fans that self-identify as KatyCats. The popstar knows her fans are the reason for her success + she's famous for meeting up with + giving back to them.
My Shiny Boy
CC BY
Be yourself and you can be anything.
When Katy signed on to be the subject of a rock documentary, she didn't realize how poignant the footage would be. Besides charting her unlikely path to fame, the film captured her meteoric rise to a global megabrand alongside the heartbreaking dissolution of her personal life as her marriage collapsed during her first major world tour. Brave enough to put her vulnerability on display, the singer has kept on roaring + rising through tapping into the deepest, truest "part of her."
MTV Films
© all rights reserved
ready for a perfect storm
Katy's 2013 single "Dark Horse" became her ninth song to reach #1. The Egyptian-themed music video is the second-most-watched of all time...reaching 1 billion views on VEVO in 2015!
Capitol | VEVO
© all rights reserved
Katy Perry Pepsi Halftime Show press conference
When Katy got the nod to perform for Super Bowl XLIX, she took to the world's biggest live stage with one major aim ~ to make the world smile. Her outrageously fun medley of hits that involved everything from dancing sharks to high-flying pyrotechnics {plus a Missy Eliot guest spot} clocked a record 118.5 million viewers.
NFL
© all rights reserved