She performed in small venues to find out what her audience liked, not her record company. Once paid in avocados, now she’s the most cartoonishly ubiquitous artist on Earth.
From a gospel musician to a pop star, she is a sex symbol who left her admirers awestruck with her over-the-top fashions, quirky stage props and jaw dropping performances.
The three-time Guinness World Records holder is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and gay rights activist.
Childhood
Katy Perry was born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson on October 25, 1984 in California. Both of her parents are pastors, and they refused to let her listen to any rock or popular music.
Perry’s first experience of performing was singing in church. A passion for music grew and at the age of 15. Around this time, she began rebelling against her strict upbringing by piercing her own nose.
Perry then went to Nashville to gain experience of song writing and recording demos.
Career
Perry signed to a Christian record label, Red Hill, and recorded an album, under her birth name of Katy Hudson. The album was not a success. At the age of 17, she moved to Los Angeles and collaborated with a producer, but was not able to secure a lasting record deal.
Perry did sign to Columbia Records in 2004, but again it did not prove a success, and she was dropped. After having three record deals fall apart, Perry finally signed with Capitol in 2007.
Perry’s debut single, “Ur So Gay,” generated a small buzz with its mischievous lyrics and clever music video, but it was “I Kissed a Girl” that proved to be her breakthrough hit, topping the charts in 20 countries.
Her album, ‘Teenage Dreams’ was released in 2010. The single from the album, “California Gurls,” quickly rose through the charts to #1 on the Billboard charts. More hits from the album soon followed, including the title track and “Firework.”
In 2012, she released a new edition of her hit album called Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection. The record had several new tracks, including more successful singles “Part of Me” and “Wide Awake.”
Perry continued to dominate the music charts with 2013’s ‘Prismâ’. The album featured “Roar,” which climbed to the number one spot. “Dark Horse,” also made an impressive showing.
Relationships
Katy has dated Gym Class Heroes frontman, Travie McCoy, Relient K frontman, Matt Thiessen, Russell Brand, and John Mayer.
Katy and Russell married on October 23, 2010 in a traditional Hindu ceremony but 14 months later, Brand filed for divorce.
After her divorce, Katy was briefly been linked to Florence and the Machine guitarist, Robert Ackroyd. But she started a full-blown relationship with John Mayer in August 2012, and the two have been on and off ever since.
Awards
Throughout her career, Perry has won five American Music Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, and fourteen People’s Choice Awards.