Katy Perry

Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter, businesswoman, philanthropist, and actress. She was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California. Having had very little exposure to mainstream pop music in her childhood, she pursued a career in gospel music as a teen and released her debut studio album, Katy Hudson, in March 2001. She also recorded a collaborative album with The Matrix and a solo album she worked on with Glen Ballard, the latter of which was never released.

In April 2007, Perry signed a recording contract with Capitol Records. She attracted media attention with the November 2007 online release of "Ur So Gay" and rose to prominence with the June 2008 release of her second album, One of the Boys, which produced the singles "I Kissed a Girl", "Hot n Cold", "Thinking of You", and "Waking Up in Vegas". The project was further promoted through the Hello Katy Tour.

In November 2009, she released a live album titled MTV Unplugged, which features performances of several tracks from One of the Boys. Perry's third record, Teenage Dream, was released in August 2010 and spawned the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping singles "California Gurls", "Teenage Dream", "Firework", "E.T.", and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)". In doing so, it became the first album recorded by a female artist in history to produce five number-one hits, and the second album overall after Michael Jackson's August 1987 album Bad. Perry embarked on the California Dreams Tour following its release. In March 2012, Teenage Dream was re-released as Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection and produced the number-one single "Part of Me".

She released her fourth album, Prism, in October 2013. It was preceded by singles "Roar" and "Unconditionally" and "Dark Horse" featuring rapper, Juicy J. She will embark on the Prismatic World Tour to promote the album in May 2014.

Katy Perry is using her showbiz status to help others, with the singer being confirmed as UNICEF's newewst Goodwill Ambassador.

Katy has confirmed on Twitter that she's honoured to be taking on the role, using the hashtag "Unconditionally UNICEF" to spread the word.

As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Katy will work to engage young people in speaking out about the issues they believe are most important in their own lives and enlisting them more directly in coming up with solutions to those challenges.

The statement also continues to say that she will focus her outreach especially on children and adolescents who are most vulnerable, including those living in severe poverty, affected by violence, abuse, and neglect, and in emergency and conflict situations.

"I believe young people have the power to change their own lives, with our help," said Katy. "I am honoured to join UNICEF as a Goodwill Ambassador, and committed to doing everything I can to help children and adolescents who come from such different backgrounds but want the same thing: a brighter future."

« back to Top 40/Mainstream Artist Info