Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (born October 25, 1984), better known by her stage name of Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Santa Barbara, California, and raised by Christian pastor parents, Perry grew up listening to only gospel music and sang in her local church as a child. After earning a GED during her first year of high school, she began to pursue a career in music. As Katy Hudson, she released a self-titled gospel album in 2001, which was unsuccessful. She later recorded an album with production team The Matrix and completed the majority of a solo album from 2004–05, the latter of which was never released.
After signing with Capitol Music Group in 2007, her fourth record label in seven years, she adopted the stage name Katy Perry and released her first Internet single "Ur So Gay" that November, which received public attention but failed to chart. She rose to fame with the release of her second single "I Kissed a Girl" in 2008, which went on to top international charts. Perry's first mainstream studio album One of the Boys followed later that year and subsequently became the 33rd-best selling album worldwide of 2008. It was accredited platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America, while "I Kissed a Girl" and her second single "Hot n Cold" both received multi-platinum certifications. The recording earned two Grammy Awards nominations. In 2009, Billboard magazine named her the 51st-best-selling music artist of the 2000–2009 decade. The album spawned other two hits singles on the charts, "Thinking of You" and Billboard top ten "Waking Up in Vegas". The One of the Boys's singles, digital tracks, and mobile products have sold more than 22 million copies worldwide. After all the success of One of the Boys, she released her first live album, MTV Unplugged.
This entry is from 
