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.
Noah Thompson Clinches ‘American Idol’ Win With Bruce Springsteen Cover
variety.comMichele Amabile Angermiller “American Idol” crowned a new winner last night (May 22). Twenty-year old Louisa, Kentucky native Noah Thompson sealed the deal with a sultry performance of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire” and his original song, “One Day Tonight.” He beat out fellow country artist, HunterGirl.After Thompson’s rendition of “I’m on Fire” — from Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” album — judge Katy Perry foreshadowed his victory. “So many people have fallen in love during that song, used it as their first-dance song,” she said. “I think you just swooped in and grabbed every heart in America by singing that song.”Thompson also performed Rihanna’s “Stay,” his out-of-the-box pick from early in the season, and delivered a perfect duet with powerhouse Melissa Etheridge for her hit, “I’m The Only One.”“Oh my God … my heart is beating out of my chest, this is crazy,” a stunned Thompson said after being announced the winner.
Thompson’s victory caps an incredible journey that began while he was laying down sheetrock on a construction job, and his friend Arthur signed him up for the show’s virtual “Idol Across America” online auditions.“As a kid, all I thought about was just playing music, being famous,” Thompson said in his initial “American Idol” audition. “But where I’m from, you don’t really get much opportunities.
My family, they believe in me. The guys I work with believe in me. But I’ve just never believed in myself … I would have never signed myself up for nothing like this.
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