Katy Perry's Biography

Her parents were both travelling Christian ministers.

Katy Perry's first venture, at just 16, into the music business fitted her background and was a self-titled album under her birth name Katy Hudson on a Christian music label.

She later changed her recording name to her mother's maiden name, hence Katy Perry.

The transition from Christian singer Katy Hudson to Katy Perry, singer of number one hit I Kissed a Girl, came partially through coming to the attention of The Matrix, the managers of Avril Lavigne and Ricky Martin.

Although it did not lead to a release, it was a crucial stepping stone in her being signed up by Columbia in 2007.

Katy Perry's debut single Ur So Gay caused a stir and was followed up with her debut album, One of the Boys, which not only included Ur So Gay, but also the hugely popular I Kissed A Girl, which topped the charts in 20 countries.

However, Katy Perry told the BBC how I Kissed a Girl nearly never made it to release:

"We brought it to the record label and they didn't even wanna put it on the record."

Katy Perry followed up I Kissed A Girl with another number one, Hot N Cold.

In spite of the controversy surrounding her songs, Katy Perry insists that her parents are comfortable with her lyrics:

"I know my parents really support me and love me and they're at my shows at all times."

In January 2009, Katy Perry reportedly split up with Travis McCoy, lead singer of rappers Gym Class Heroes.

On 31 December 2009, Katy Perry got engaged to Russell Brand. They got married on 23 October 2010.

Katy Perry's second album, Teenage Dream, including the single California Gurls, was scheduled for release on 30 August 2010.

In January 2011, Katy Perry won best female artist and favourite online sensation at the People's Choice Awards.

In December 2011, Russell Brand filed for divorce from Katy Perry citing irreconcilable differences.

In the summer of 2016, Katy Perry released a new song, Rise, which was a tie-in with the US television coverage of the Rio Olympics. It was three years since her last record, Roar.

In 2017, there were reports that Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom had broken off their relationship, however, in 2019, they announced their engagement.

In August 2019, it was reported that Katy Perry had been ordered to pay $550,000 of her earnings from her 2013 song Dark Horse as part of the $2.7m awarded to gospel artist Flame, who sued her for copying one of his songs.

However, in March 2020, she won an appeal and overturned the verdict.

Also in March 2020, Katy Perry revealed that she and her fiancé Orlando Bloom were expecting their first child.

Their daughter Daisy Dove Bloom was born in August 2020.

In May 2023. she performed at the concert to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.

In September 2023, it was revealed that Katy Perry had sold a bundle of her music rights.