Katy Perry was born October 25th, 1984 as Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson. She was born as the middle child (older sister, Angela and younger brother, Danny) in a very religious family. Both of her parents are pastors, and she began her singing in the church choir. At the age of 15 she began to visit Nashville gaining experience with song writing and recording demos. She began her career attempts signing for a Christian label called Red Hill, which didn't turn out a success. She continued her pursuit of stardom by moving to Los Angeles, even signing with Columbia Records in 2004, but to no success. She was later recommended to the Chairman of Virgin Records, and singing for Capital Music Group, she released the album “One of the Boys” with the hit song “I Kissed a Girl.” This song hit number one slots in 'several' countries. This is when her career began to pick up steam. (1)
After her 'Hello Katy Tour' (Jan 2009) she released the album “Teenage Dream” which was the first album recorded by a female artist to have five number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100. These songs were: “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” “Firework,” “E.T.,” and “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.).” This album was second to ever achieve this, the first being Michael Jackson's Bad released in 1987. She has received many awards and nominations. One of her biggest was becoming Billboard's 2012 Woman of the Year award. She has sold over 11 million albums, and 75 million digital tracks worldwide. (Of which I own only one. I'll have to buy more.) She also remains the only artist EVER to spend 69 consecutive weeks in the top 10 of the Hot 100. (2) What a woman! (The Hot 100 is the American music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales.) (3) Also very impressive is that she is 3rd in the world for most followers on Twitter sporting 30 million, behind Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber. (4) She was recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the “Best Start on the US Digital Chart by a Female Artist,” for having her first two singles sell over two million digital copies (5)
As for her 'personal life,' she has had relationships with Travie McCoy, Matt Thiessen, Johnny Lewis, and Russel Brand. She began a relationship with Russell Brand after meeting and dating from summer to September of 2009. They were engaged by December, while vacationing in India. The couple were married October 23rd, 2010 in a traditional Hindu ceremony near the Ranthambhore tiger sanctuary in Rajasthan, India, the same place that her fiancee had proposed. After just fourteen months of marriage, Brand filed for divorce, which was granted July 2012 for 'irreconcilable differences.' (6) She has recently broken up with singer and song-writer John Mayer. I'll probably be her next boyfriend. She just has to find me on Facebook first.
As for her public image, she has some impressive beliefs and opinions. She is a gay activist. According to Dosomething.org, she stated, “I am a gay activist and I say that proudly. I voted no on Prop 8, of course.” She also endorsed President Barack Obama due to his stance on same-sex marriage, believing in “equal rights for all.” (7) These beliefs are seemingly contrary to what her parents believe or support. Her mother said, according to British Tabloid Daily Mail that she dislikes her daughter's music, calling it “shameful and disgusting.” Katy later said that her mother was misquoted and told MTV that it was false information.
She has written songs and sold them to other artists including Ashely Tisdale “Time's Up”, Selena Gomez & the Scene (“Rock God” and “That's More Like It”), Jessie James (“Bullet” and “Girl Next Door”) and Lesley Roy “Slow Goodbye.”
Perry is well known for her “unconventional” style of dress. Her clothes are often bright in color, humorous, reminiscent of different decades, and she often uses fruit-shaped accessories as part of her outfits. She herself defines her fashion as “a bit of a concoction of different things.” (8) She says her transformation into an artist began with fashion inspired by American film actress Dominique Swain's portrayal in the 1997 film Lolita. (9)
She was inspired by music at a young age, she said: ” I remember hearing Killer Queen by Queen and falling down in what felt like slow motion in my bed listening to the lyrics. And I thought to myself, 'Oh my gosh, this music is incredible. These lyrics speak to me...' and that made me want to be what I am.” This was the most inspirational for me. It makes me want to pursue music. I can't say how many times I've listened to a song and felt like it was also what I wanted to do for other people. Katy Perry is a remarkable lady, and I hope she continues to inspire Americans for the equality she promotes and other good morals.
References
"Top Twitter User Rankings & Stats". Twitaholic.com. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
"Oasis, Coldplay & Take That enter Guinness World Records 2010 Book"(Press release). Guinness World Records. Take from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katy_Perry#cite_note-46
Direct Quotes from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katy_Perry#cite_ref-46
"Find Out What Influences Katy Perry's Cute Style!".Seventeen. February 5, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2009. Again from Wikipedia.
Harris, Sophie (August 30, 2008)."Katy Perry on the risqué business of I Kissed a Girl".The Times(London). Retrieved October 12, 2012.
