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.
Get to Know the ‘American Idol’ Season 20 Finalists: HunterGirl, Noah Thompson and Leah Marlene
variety.comMichele Amabile Angermiller American Idol’s top-three contestants — Tennessee’s HunterGirl (Hunter Wolkonowski), Kentucky’s Noah Thompson and Leah Marlene of Illinois — will journey to “Idol” glory including a rest stop on the New Jersey turnpike.
The top three will take on the music of Bruce Springsteen for the three-hour finale on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ABC.For the finale, the top three will also join judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie for duets following the ceremonial airing of the “Hometown” episode.In a video released Thursday, Perry surprised Marlene by revealing she and Marlene will join together for a song she only reserves for “inaugural occasions”: “Firework.” Kerry was touched by an old video of the then-9-year old “Idol” contestant performing the song and will be joining her for the special finale duet.
HunterGirl will pair with Bryan for “I Told You So,” and Thompson will pair with Melissa Etheridge. It’s worth noting that Etheridge famously performed alongside Springsteen on her “MTV Unplugged” for a duet of “Thunder Road” from the “Born to Run” album.
It’s conceivable that during Springsteen week, this moment could be recreated with Thompson and Etheridge on the “Idol” stage.All three singers released original songs throughout the show’s last week, which each will perform for the finale episode.
Read more on variety.com
