Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson |
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| Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson |
Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (born October 25, 1984), known by her stage name Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Perry was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California around the influence of gospel music. Her conservative parents forbade her to listen to mainstream pop music. As a teen, she pursued a career in gospel music under her birth name and released her self-titled debut album. She recorded a solo album which never received release. In 2007, she signed with Capitol Records and adopted her stage name.
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Perry's commercial breakthrough came once she released her first mainstream studio album One of the Boys (2008). This was preceded by the release of her first single "I Kissed a Girl". Several successful singles followed, including "Hot n Cold" and "Waking Up in Vegas". Perry embarked on the Hello Katy Tour in support of the album. She followed this up with her second studio effort Teenage Dream which was an instant commercial success, topping the album charts in several countries. It spawned five number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100—"California Gurls", "Teenage Dream", "Firework", "E.T." and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)". It became the first album in history recorded by a female artist to achieve this, and the second after Michael Jackson's Bad (1987). In support of the album, she embarked on the California Dreams Tour. Teenage Dream was followed by a re-release entitled The Complete Confection that spawned an additional number one, "Part of Me".Perry remains the only artist to spend 69 consecutive weeks in the top ten of the Hot 100. She has sold 38 million digital tracks in the United States, 11 million albums worldwide, and a total of 75 million digital tracks worldwide. In 2011, MTV named her "Artist of the Year". As of 2012, she has been nominated for a total of eight Grammy Awards including Album of the Year. Her contributions to the music industry have garnered her multiple accolades. Using her celebrity status, Perry has ventured into celebrity endorsement and released her signature fragrance Purr. She has also made her film debut, voicing Smurfette in The Smurfs (2011). Perry was ranked at number fourteen on Billboard's list of top moneymakers of 2011, grossing more than $11 million. Billboard named Perry 2012's Woman of the Year.
Perry's personal life and public image have attracted a considerable amount of media attention. Noted for her unconventionality, she is recognized for her flamboyant appearances. After a failed relationship with fellow artist Travie McCoy, she married British comedian Russell Brand in 2010. In December 2011, Brand filed for the divorce, raising controversy as to the cause. She was spotlighted in her own 3D biopic-concert film Part of Me (2012), which concentrated on her life as a touring artist and the breakdown of her marriage.
