Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (born October 25, 1984), known professionally as Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter, and television judge. After singing in church during her childhood, she pursued a career in gospel music as a teenager.
Perry signed with Red Hill Records and released her debut studio album Katy Hudson under her birth name in 2001, which was commercially unsuccessful. She moved to Los Angeles the following year to venture into secular music after Red Hill ceased operations and she subsequently began working with producers Glen Ballard, Dr. Luke, and Max Martin.
After adopting the stage name Katy Perry and being dropped by The Island Def Jam Music Group and Columbia Records, she signed a recording contract with Capitol Records in April 2007.
‘American Idol’ Revisits Its Past With Reunion Special Featuring Alumni Favorites, William Hung
variety.comMichele Amabile Angermiller “American Idol” marked its 20th birthday on Monday night with “The Great Idol Reunion,” a one-hour special featuring past “Idol” contestants and judges and celebrating the show’s history, both during its years on Fox and its current home on ABC.“Tonight we are opening the Idol yearbook,” said host Ryan Seacrest as he revealed the “Idol” VIP area, which included such familiar faces as Tamyra Gray, Pia Toscano, Anthony Federov, Brooke White, Justin Guarini, William Hung, and Seacrest’s unforgettable frosted hair.Wasting no time getting to Hung, whose name is “synonymous with ‘American Idol,'” noted Seacrest, he returned to the stage to reprise his epic Ricky Martin performance of “She Bangs” as former judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson felt right at home alongside the current panel of Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.
In classic Abdul form, she kicked into Paula-speak, which fans surely fondly remember.“I am most proud ,most humbled by having the experience of a lifetime,” she said. “And being able to see it continue to grow and do well and see — I’m crying seeing all of the contestants who are like my babies. … We see all this talent out here.
Read more on variety.com
