Published in · 4 min read · Mar 8, 2023
--
Pop star Katy Perry, who is famous for songs like I Kissed a Girl, Roar, and Hot N Cold, has been a success for many years. However, she has gone through a lot to get to where she is nowadays. Not many people know how much she suffered before we saw her on our screens and heard her voice.
How did Katy Perry’s life look throughout the years until her breakthrough? Read the information below and learn more about the colorful artist.
Early Life
Katy Perry was born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson on October 25, 1984. Daughter to Mary Christine (née Perry) and Maurice Keith Hudson, she grew up in Santa Barbara, California. On her mother’s side, she is related to film director Frank Perry. She has an older sister named Angela and an older brother named David.
The pop singer’s parents were very religious. They didn’t even allow her or her siblings to eat Lucky Charms cereal because the word “luck” reminded their mother of Lucifer. Perry initially listened to gospel music, since her parents didn’t approve of secular music. However, she discovered pop music thanks to some CDs from her friends. She started singing because she wanted to be like her older sister, and they often practiced with Angela’s cassette tapes. At age nine, Perry started vocal training.
Career Beginnings
Although it may seem like Perry was an instant success, this is far from the truth. In fact, she had multiple unsuccessful record deals before she landed a global hit.
Perry dropped out during her freshman year in high school to pursue her music career. Before she released controversial songs like I Kissed a Girl, she was a gospel singer. In 2001, Perry released her first gospel album. However, it only managed to sell around 200 copies through Red Hill Records before the company ceased all operations and went out of business.
After that, Perry switched to pop music and moved to Los Angeles with producer Glen Ballard. She was signed to Island Def Jam in 2003, but that contract didn’t last long either.
One year later, she signed to Columbia Records. The record company aimed to make Perry the lead vocalist of a band known as The Matrix. But after the project was about 80% completed, the deal fell through. Perry was without a record label once again.
Not Giving up
Many people would give up on their dream of becoming a successful singer after getting dropped by several record companies, but not Perry. Despite her failures, the singer kept pursuing her desired career.
In 2007, the artist made a deal with Capital Music. That’s where it all started for her. Together with producer Dr. Luke, Perry wrote I Kissed a Girl, which would be the song to make her famous. It was the lead single on her next album with the record company. Her album, One of the Boys, propelled her into the music industry and gave her the fame she has today. Pop icon Madonna spoke about Perry’s music on the John Jay & Rick radio show in 2008 when she said that the song Ur So Gay was her favorite.
I Kissed a Girl did end up creating some controversy among both LGBT and religious groups. Conservative Christians criticized the song for its hom*osexual themes, while the LGBT community accused Perry of using bi-curiosity in order to sell her music and make money off it. Still, it didn’t change the fact that the song was taking over the pop charts.
Perry would enjoy even more success over the years, proving she wasn’t just a one-hit-wonder. Over the years, she’s received 13 Grammy nominations and has been nominated for two Q Awards, two ARIA Music Awards, and five Radio Disney Awards. She’s also won five Billboard Music Awards, five American Music Awards, 14 People’s Choice Awards, 10 BMI Awards, four Guinness World Records, a Brit award, three NRJ Music Awards, and more.
What can we Learn From her?
Looking at her story, there are multiple things we can learn from Perry’s failures and her journey toward success. One of the most obvious lessons is that failing multiple times shouldn’t stop us from pushing and trying our best to become successful. Perry worked with multiple record companies, and the deals fell through every time until her 2007 breakthrough.
Despite her failures, she never stopped believing and, most importantly, trying to achieve her dream. Just like her, we shouldn’t stop pursuing our dreams after a few failures. Perry persisted and became one of the most famous singers in the world.
Moreover, we must also learn to do what we want and not let ourselves be influenced by others. Perry’s first album was a failure. However, when she switched to a genre of music that genuinely interested her instead of following what her parents wanted from her, Perry’s music career took off.
Perry’s journey also shows us that just because we achieve success, it doesn’t mean that we should stop trying to improve. After One of the Boys established her as a pop star, she worked on her music so songs from her next albums would also become big hits.
Final Thoughts
Perry’s life wasn’t easy, but she shows us that not giving up can do wonders and help us get where we want in life. Hopefully, her story can serve as an inspiration to pursue your dreams, no matter how many times you fail.
