Katy Perry

Most everyone can sing the words to her infectious and catchy “I Kissed a Girl” which also won Katy Perry a Grammy nomination. But not everyone may know this mega-pop star was dropped three times by three different labels before finally releasing her first mainstream (Katy was a Christian singer-songwriter in her younger years) album and being recognized for her mega-hit “I Kissed a Girl”.

Born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, in 1984, Katy later dropped the “Hudson” due to the already famous daughter of actress Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson, and added “Perry” for her stage name. Katy hit the music scene in 2007 and has been a huge presence ever since. Her second single, “Hot and Cold” was the perfect follow-up to “I Kissed a Girl” did not disappoint fans and has them waiting for more infectious Katy Perry music.

Katy is also somewhat of a philanthropist. She performed during the opening ceremony in Vienna Austria of the annual Life Ball in May 2009. The Life Ball was a charity fundraiser. She also played in association with “Help a London Child” at Capital FMs Summertime Ball in June of 2009 at the Emirates Stadium.

Katy has released one studio album titled One of the Boys and her hot singles have been “Ur so Gay”; “I Kissed a Girl”; “Hot N Cold”; “Thinking of You” and “Waking up in Vegas”. Perry has said her musical influences are Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Alanis Morisette and Shirley Manson.

Born and raised in Santa Barbara California and the middle child of two pastors, Katy’s mother was Evangelical and Portugese and her father, a scenester from the west coast 1960s. Katy was baptized a born again Christian and began singing in her church choir at age nine. She attended Christian schools and camps but in private Katy learned how to dance the jitterbug, Lindy Hop and swing dance. Katy took the GED after her freshman year of high school and dropped out. Soon after she began studying Italian opera at the Music Academy of the West, Katy met Travis McCoy of the Gym Class Heroes in a recording studio in New York and the two dated for several years, on and off.

Katy also worked with country musicians in Nashville as well as Christian musicians on a gospel-rock album. Perry released a single called “Simple” that was also on the soundtrack for The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in 2005.

In 2004, Blender Magazine named Perry the next big thing. At the time, Perry didn’t have a project in the works so she began her own although it was never picked up by a label. After disappointment followed by disappointment, she was finally discovered by Capitol Music Group executive Jason Flom in 2007.

Perry hosted the MTV Europe Awards in 2008.