Katy Perry, born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson on October 25, 1984, in Santa Barbara, California, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. She is one of the best-selling music artists in history, having sold over 143 million records worldwide
. Perry began her music career in gospel music, releasing a gospel album under her birth name Katy Hudson in 2001, but it was commercially unsuccessful
. She later moved to Los Angeles, adopted her mother's maiden name "Perry" to avoid confusion with actress Kate Hudson, and transitioned to secular pop music
. Her breakthrough came in 2008 with her album One of the Boys , featuring hit singles like "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot n Cold," which brought her international fame
. Known for her influence on pop music and distinctive camp style, Perry has been dubbed the "Queen of Camp" by Vogue and Rolling Stone and was the world's highest-paid female musician in 2015 and 2018
. She has released multiple successful albums, including Teenage Dream (2010), which produced five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, a rare achievement in music history
. In addition to music, Perry has appeared on television as a judge on shows like American Idol and The X Factor UK , and she has ventured into acting, notably voicing Smurfette in The Smurfs film (2011)
. She has also launched her own record label, Metamorphosis Music
. Perry grew up in a deeply religious family and started performing by singing in church choirs. Her music career evolved from gospel to pop rock and mainstream pop, marked by catchy, often provocative songs and a playful visual style
. In summary, Katy Perry is a highly successful and influential American pop artist known for her powerful voice, catchy hits, and vibrant persona in the entertainment industry
