4 minute read
Hey, Hey, Hey. Katy
Born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson in Santa Barbara, California on October 25th, 1984, Katy Perry, as we now know her was raised in a conservative household and initially attempted to break into the music business with a gospel album. Both of her parents are pastors and they refused to let her listen to any rock or popular music. “The only things I was allowed to listen to were the Sister Act 1 & 2 soundtracks,” she told Entertainment Weekly when talking of her childhood.
She began singing at age 9 and followed this with learning to play the guitar. Wanting to pursue a career in music, Katy made several trips to Nashville with her mother to record the gospel album, Katy Hudson, which was released in 2001. “It reached literally maybe 100 people, and then the label went bankrupt,” she continued. Not giving up, Perry got her high school diploma and made the move to Los Angeles when she was 17 years old where she began working with producer and songwriter Glen Ballar, who had previously collaborated with Christina Aguilera and Alanis Morissette. “It was five years of living in L.A. with no money, writing bad checks, selling my clothes to pay rent (and) borrowing money,” she told Seventeen magazine.
However Katy persisted and in 2007 after having three record deals fall apart she signed with Capitol Records. Through the label’s connections Katy began working with Dr. Luke. The pair co-wrote the songs ‘Hot n Cold’ and ‘I Kissed a Girl’. It was her second album, ‘One of the Boys’ that spun her into the spotlight and she went on to have some of pop’s biggest hits including ‘Teenage Dream’, ‘California Gurls’, ‘Last Friday Night TFI’, ‘Roar’ and ‘Firework’. As well as earning a Best Female Pop Vocal Performance nomination at the Grammy’s, Katy began to stand out for her theatricality and wild stage outfits. Describing her style to Esquire as “Lucille Ball meets Bob Mackie” she explained, “It’s about innuendo. I want everybody to get the joke, but I want them to think about it for a minute.”
In 2009 Katy’s name hit the tabloids for her relationship with British comedian Russel Brand. Their whirlwind romance resulted in a wedding in India in 2010 that included a traditional Hindu ceremony, a processions of camels, elephants and horses, plus fire jugglers, snake charmers, dancers and musicians. Sadly the marriage didn’t last long as Brand filed for divorce in December 2011.
In 2011 Katy became the first female artist to achieve five number one singles from the same album. (The only other male artist was Michael Jackson.) This was followed with being named Billboard’s Woman of the Year 2012.
In May 2017 Katy Perry was announced as the first judge selected for the reboot of American Idol. She was then joined by country singer Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and host, Ryan Seacrest.
In 2016 Katy started dating actor, Orlando Bloom. The couple were spotted on numerous dates together including an Adele concert and a holiday in Hawaii. However the duo publicly ended their relationship after a year announcing in a joint statement, "Before rumours or falsifications get out of hand, we can confirm that Orlando and Katy are taking respectful, loving space at this time." However before the year ended the couple were spotted back together with a source revealing, “Katy wants to make things work this time around. She tried, but she couldn’t cut him off. She cares too much about him. This time, they’re keeping things low key – but they’re back together.” And it looks like Katy is getting her happyever-after as Orlando popped the question on Valentine’s Day this year! For all the engagement gossip head to the next page to find out more.
