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.
Iam Tongi Wins Season 21 of ‘American Idol’: 5 Things to Know About the Singer
usmagazine.comMeet your newest American Idol! Iam Tongi has been crowned as the season 21 winner of the ABC singing competition.The 18-year-old Hawaii native went up against fellow competitors Megan Danielle and Colin Stough during the finale on Sunday, May 21.
He wowed viewers with his performance of his original song, “I’ll Be Seeing You.” The ballad — which he wrote about his late father, Rodney — earned a standing ovation from judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and a teary-eyed Luke Bryan.The emotional song was one of Tongi’s memorable performances throughout the night, as the high school student also covered guest mentor Keith Urban’s “Making Memories Of Us,” as well as paid tribute to his home state with the tune “Cool Down” by Kolohe Kai.Tongi’s American Idol journey came full circle during the finale, as he took to the stage with artist James Blunt to duet his audition song, “Monsters,” after which the young singer shared a tearful embrace with the 49-year-old Grammy nominee.Viewers were introduced to Tongi on a February episode of the singing competition.
Having been “priced out of paradise” in Hawaii, he moved to Seattle with his mother, Lillie. During his audition, he credited his dad as the person who got him into music, revealing that he had died a few months prior.“I could tell he meant a lot to you,” Richie, 73, told Tongi at the time.The judges were deeply moved by the contestant’s rendition of “Monsters,” which was written by Blunt after his own father was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.“I was not worried about whether you were going to make it through the song,” Richie told the teen after the performance. “I was worried about whether we were going to make it through the song.
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