Katy Perry

KATY PERRY

Date of Birth: October 25, 1984

The song I Kissed A Girl brought fame upon this conservatively raised singer from Santa Barbara, California. Katy Perry, born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, has become one of music's hottest pop singers.

Singer, songwriter and musician, Katy was watched under a microscope as a child. Her parents were both pastors and did not allow the future Teenage Dream to listen to any rock or popular music. Nor was she allowed to watch cable shows such as MTV and VH1.

Katy started taking piano lessons at the age of nine and learned to play the guitar at 13. Around this time, she began rebelling against her strict upbringing by piercing her nose and pursuing a career in music. With her mother, she travelled to Nashville several times to record a gospel album, Katy Hudson, that was released in 2001. Unfortunately, the record only reached about 100 people and the label went bankrupt.

Focused on her dream, Perry got her GED and moved to Los Angeles to work with producer/songwriter Glen Ballard. Only 17 at the time, she stuck with Ballard for five years despite having no money coming in, writing bad checks, and selling her own clothes to pay rent. After having three record labels drop her, in 2007 Perry finally signed with Capitol Records.

Later that year, Perry released her fist single Ur So Gay. Although the song did not take flight, pop superstar Madonna became a fan of the song, calling it one of her favorites of the moment. It wasn't until the release of Katy's next single, I Kissed A Girl, that her career took off. Her debut album One of the Boys made it into the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In 2009, Perry made headlines due to her relationship with British comedian/actor Russell Brand. The couple became engaged over the New Year's holiday while on a trip to India. On October 23, 2010, they were wed during a traditional Hindu ceremony in India. After 14 months of marriage the couple split on December 30, 2011.

The young pop singer released her album Teenage Dream in August 2010. Katy Perry has become the first woman, and second artist following Michael Jackson in the 53-year history of the Billboard Hot 100, to have five songs from an album go to No.1, including California Gurls featuring Snoop Dogg, Firework, E.T. featuring Kanye West, Last Friday Night and Teenage Dream.

Her debut film featured her as the voice of Smurfette in the 2011 animated movie The Smurfs. She next graced the screen in a 3D documentary/concert film entitled Katy Perry: Part of Me. She will once again reprise her role as Smurfette in the 2013 animated movie The Smurfs 2 .With a signature perfume and more film role opportunities heading her way, Katy Perry has made her dream come true.

FILMOGRAPHY

The Smurfs 2 (2013)
Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012)
The Smurfs (2011)