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.
Later that year, Perry released her first single, "Ur So Gay." Pop superstar Madonna became a fan of the song, calling it one of her favorites of the moment. The song drew comparisons to the likes of Lily Allen, another singer known for her quirky, cheeky lyrics. Perry said the single was inspired by the emo scene, and the "guys with guy-liner who use flatirons." Still, her career did not fully take off until the release of her next single, "I Kissed a Girl," which reached the top of the charts during the summer of 2008. With that song's success, her debut album, One of the Boys, made it into the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song also earned Perry a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Katy Perry spent the eve of her 28th birthday performing at a campaign rally for President Barack Obama in Las Vegas. The singer rocked a white latex mini dress meant to look like a presidential ballot. Her pick? The current commander in chief.
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