KATY PERRY BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, SONGS & FACTS

KATY PERRY is one of the defining pop stars of the 21st century. With more than 150 million records sold and nine US Hot 100 No. 1 singles, she headlined the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show and spent six seasons as an American Idol judge. She is now in a brand-new era, led by her 2026 single "Watch It Burn."

Early Life

Katy Perry was born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson on October 25, 1984, in Santa Barbara, California, to pastors Maurice Keith Hudson and Mary Hudson. She has an older sister, Angela, and a younger brother, David. Raised in a strict religious household, she sang in church as a child and began playing guitar at 13.

At 15, she recorded gospel demos in Nashville, and at 16 she released the gospel album Katy Hudson (2001) on Red Hill Records under her birth name. After the album's quiet reception, she moved to Los Angeles at 17 to pursue mainstream pop, enduring two dropped record deals before signing with Capitol Records.

Career Highlights

Perry's mainstream breakthrough came with "I Kissed a Girl" in 2008, which topped the US Billboard Hot 100. Her debut pop album One of the Boys arrived the same year, followed by Teenage Dream (2010) - the only album by a woman to produce five US No. 1 singles. Prism (2013) added chart-toppers "Roar" and "Dark Horse" to her catalog.

In 2015, she headlined the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show in an Emmy-nominated performance. She went on to serve as a judge on American Idol for seasons 16 through 22 (2018-2024), and she received the MTV Video Vanguard Award at the 2024 VMAs on September 11, 2024. She has collected more than a dozen Grammy nominations across her career.

Her sixth studio album, 143, was released on September 20, 2024, on Capitol, led by the singles "Woman's World" (July 11, 2024), "Lifetimes" (August 8, 2024), and "I'm His, He's Mine" featuring Doechii (September 13, 2024). A deluxe edition, 1432, followed on December 20, 2024, and she supported the record with The Lifetimes Tour from April to December 2025. Between 2021 and 2023, she headlined the "Play" residency in Las Vegas.

Off stage, Perry has taken on headline-making ventures: on April 14, 2025, she joined the all-female Blue Origin NS-31 crew for a suborbital flight. Her single "Bandaids" followed in November 2025.

Katy Perry in 2026

Perry opened her 2026 era with "Watch It Burn," released June 25, 2026, on Capitol. Its cinematic music video was directed by Christian Breslauer, and the track topped Billboard's New Music fan poll. According to reports, a yet-untitled new album is due in 2026, though no title or release date has been confirmed as of October 2, 2026.

Her summer 2026 included a European festival run, and the concert film "Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour - Live from Paris" premiered at Tribeca on June 8, 2026, before a theatrical and IMAX release on September 2, 2026 - a look back at her 91-show world tour. Her next confirmed show is a New Year's Eve gala at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai on December 31, 2026.

In her personal life, she and actor Orlando Bloom split in June/July 2025. Since July 2025, she has been dating former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, according to PEOPLE.

Quick Facts

Born: October 25, 1984, Santa Barbara, California
Age: 41 - turns 42 on October 25, 2026
Nationality: American
Occupation: Singer, songwriter, TV personality
Years Active: 2001-present
Famous For: "Roar," "Firework," "Dark Horse," "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream," the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show, American Idol
Net Worth: Unconfirmed - only reported estimates exist

Watch: "Watch It Burn" (Official Music Video)

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Katy Perry?
Katy Perry is 41. She was born on October 25, 1984, in Santa Barbara, California, and turns 42 on October 25, 2026.

What are Katy Perry's biggest songs?
The Teenage Dream era gave her five US No. 1s - "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream," "Firework," "E.T." and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" - plus "Roar" and "Dark Horse" from Prism, giving her nine Hot 100 No. 1s in total.

Is Katy Perry touring in 2026?
After her 91-show Lifetimes Tour (April-December 2025) and a summer 2026 European festival run, her next confirmed show is the New Year's Eve gala at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, on December 31, 2026.

What is Katy Perry's latest song?
"Watch It Burn," released June 25, 2026, on Capitol, ahead of a reportedly upcoming new album.