It has since sold over 12 million copies worldwide, being her highest-selling album to date. It became the album’s third consecutive number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 8, 2010. Perry released her first single with Capitol, «I Kissed a Girl», on April 28, 2008, as the lead single from One of the Tuuri Boys. The former criticized its homosexual theme, while the latter accused her of using bi-curiosity to sell records. In response to speculation that her parents opposed her music and career, Perry told MTV News that they had no problems with her success.
Watch Raye Showcase Hit Single ‘Where Is My Husband!’ on ‘Fallon’
In June 2015, her music video for «Dark Horse» became the first video by a female artist to reach 1 billion views on Vevo. The following month, her music video for «Roar» reached 1 billion views on Vevo, making her the first artist to have multiple videos with 1 billion views. During May 2024, it reached 4 billion views, making it the most viewed music video by a female artist on YouTube at that time. Outside of recording music, Perry appeared as herself in the film Zoolander 2, which was released in February 2016.
Later music projects, American Idol, and Blue Origin spaceflight
Other artists who Perry has cited as influences include Stevie Nicks, ABBA, the Cardigans, Whitney Houston, Cyndi Lauper, Ace of Base, 3OH! Her second concert tour, the California Dreams Tour, was reminiscent of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. She also credits the 1996 film The Craft for inspiring her song «Dark Horse», and Eckhart Tolle’s book The Power of Now for influencing Prism.
Katy Perry at Paris La Défense Arena
Perry later recalled a story about how a friend of hers played «You Oughta Know» by Alanis Morissette, which influenced her songwriting and singing. But, as she notes in her lyrics, pain wasn’t the only feeling she had during the relationship referenced in the song. Her album One of the Boys (2008), featuring the hit “Hot N Cold,” sold more than three million copies in the United States. Later that year, with earnings of $530 million throughout the 2010s, the magazine also ranked her as the ninth-highest-earning musician of the decade.
- Her brother David described her as a «tomboy» during her adolescence, which Perry talks about on her song «One of the Boys».
- She recorded background vocals on P.O.D.’s single «Goodbye for Now», was featured at the end of its music video in 2006, and performed it with them on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
- The Guinness World Records recognized her in its 2010 edition as the «Best Start on the U.S. Digital Chart by a Female Artist», for digital single sales of over two million copies.
- Nevertheless, the combination of titillation and polished melodicism helped “I Kissed a Girl” become a number one hit in multiple countries, powering sales for her album One of the Boys (2008).
- The show’s creators Benj Pasek and Justin Paul had requested Perry to cover the song to promote the musical’s national tour.
- After serving as a guest judge on American Idol, Perry released «California Gurls» featuring Snoop Dogg on May 7, 2010.
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California Gurls
- Perry is among the wealthiest musical artists; during September 2023, Forbes surmised her net worth was $340 million.
- On September 7, she set a new record by becoming the first artist to spend 69 consecutive weeks in the top ten of the Hot 100.
- Other artists who Perry has cited as influences include Stevie Nicks, ABBA, the Cardigans, Whitney Houston, Cyndi Lauper, Ace of Base, 3OH!
- But, as she notes in her lyrics, pain wasn’t the only feeling she had during the relationship referenced in the song.
- Perry’s fifth studio album, Witness (2017), more introspective than her earlier work, was less well received.
- She performed the tracks in front of her parents, who let her take vocal lessons like Angela was doing at the time.
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She made a greater splash several months later with the single “I Kissed a Girl,” an assertive ode to sexual curiosity backed by a hard-edged electro-pop beat. Nevertheless, the combination of titillation and polished melodicism helped “I Kissed a Girl” become a number one hit in multiple countries, powering sales for her album One of the Boys (2008). From May 2010 to September 2011, the singer spent a record-breaking 69 consecutive weeks in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.
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- She hosted the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards in November and won the award for Best New Act.
- Perry recorded an album while signed to Columbia Records, but was dropped before signing to Capitol Records.
- 3’s song «Starstrukk» in September 2009, and on a duet with Timbaland entitled «If We Ever Meet Again», from his album Shock Value II, three months later.
- Keith Caulfield of Billboard stated that Perry is «the rare celebrity who seems to have enormous popularity but genuine ground-level interaction with her adoring KatyCats».
- At the 2009 Brit Awards the next month, she won the award for International Female Solo Artist.
- In addition, after Devine suggested that songwriting team the Matrix become a «real group», she recorded an album, The Matrix, with them.
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A night of a Lifetime✨
She also became the first artist to have three songs receive Diamond certifications from the RIAA in 2017 with «Dark Horse», «Firework», and «Roar». When «Teenage Dream» and «E.T.» received Diamond certifications in 2024, Teenage Dream became the first and only album in history with four Diamond-certified songs on its tracklist. Perry’s albums One of the Boys, Teenage Dream, Prism, Witness, and Smile have each surpassed one billion streams on Spotify. Perry’s music has been described by Out as having a «lasting legacy», with American singers Fletcher sampling «I Kissed a Girl» and Olivia Rodrigo referencing Teenage Dream on «Brutal». On February 10, 2017, Perry released the album’s lead single «Chained to the Rhythm» featuring Skip Marley.
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August 2017: Reunion
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Perry embarked on her first headlining world tour, the Hello Katy Tour, from January to November 2009 to support One of the Boys. Perry also hosted the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards that November, becoming the first person to host two consecutive ceremonies of the European awards. After recording the stripped-down live album MTV Unplugged (2009), Perry returned to the studio. In April, Perry was included on a remix of Daddy Yankee’s song «Con Calma», featuring Snow. She followed this with the singles «Never Really Over» on May 31, «Small Talk» on August 9, and «Harleys in Hawaii» on October 16.