Career Timeline of Katy Perry: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Katy Perry, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Katy Perry, born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, is an influential American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Recognized for her significant impact on pop music and distinctive camp style, she has earned the title of "Queen of Camp" from prominent publications like Vogue and Rolling Stone. Perry is a major figure in contemporary pop culture and entertainment.
1996: Inspiration from The Craft
In 1996, Katy Perry credited the 1996 film "The Craft" for inspiring her song "Dark Horse".
2008: Donation to Keep A Breast Foundation
In 2008, Katy Perry donated a plaster cast of her breasts that had been painted by her then-boyfriend Travie McCoy to raise money for the Keep A Breast Foundation.
June 2009: Designed for Fashion Against AIDS
In June 2009, Katy Perry designed an item of clothing for H&M's "Fashion Against AIDS" campaign, which raises money for HIV/AIDS awareness projects.
May 2010: Perry begins record-breaking Billboard Hot 100 streak
From May 2010, Katy Perry spent a record-breaking 69 consecutive weeks in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.
September 2010: Helped Build Shelter
In September 2010, Katy Perry helped build and design the Boys Hope/Girls Hope foundation shelter for youth in Baltimore, Maryland.
November 2010: Endorsement of Purr Fragrance
In November 2010, Katy Perry began her venture into business by endorsing the fragrance, Purr.
December 2010: Guest Appearance on The Simpsons
In December 2010, Katy Perry played Moe Szyslak's girlfriend in The Simpsons Christmas episode, "The Fight Before Christmas".
February 2011: California Dreams Tour Begins
In February 2011, Katy Perry embarked on her second tour, the California Dreams Tour, in support of Teenage Dream.
February 16, 2011: Release of "E.T." as a Single
On February 16, 2011, "E.T." featuring Kanye West, was released as the fourth single from Katy Perry's Teenage Dream album.
July 29, 2011: Film Debut in The Smurfs
On July 29, 2011, Katy Perry made her film debut as Smurfette in the 3D family motion picture The Smurfs.
September 2011: Perry ends record-breaking Billboard Hot 100 streak
Ending in September 2011, Katy Perry spent a record-breaking 69 consecutive weeks in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.
November 2011: American Music Award and Guinness Record
In November 2011, Katy Perry received an honorary American Music Award and a Guinness record for Teenage Dream producing four number one singles.
December 10, 2011: Hosting Saturday Night Live
On December 10, 2011, Katy Perry hosted Saturday Night Live with Robyn as the musical guest. Her performance received positive reviews.
December 2011: Release of Meow! Fragrance
In December 2011, Katy Perry's second endorsed fragrance, Meow!, was released through Nordstrom department stores.
2011: Forbes ranks Perry third on their "Top-Earning Women In Music" list
In 2011, Forbes ranked Katy Perry third on their "Top-Earning Women In Music" list with earnings of $44 million.
January 5, 2012: Sixth Best-Selling Digital Artist
On January 5, 2012, Katy Perry was named the sixth best-selling digital artist in the United States, with sales of 37.6 million units, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
January 2012: End of California Dreams Tour
In January 2012, Katy Perry's California Dreams Tour concluded, grossing $59.5 million globally and earning her the award for Best Live Act at the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards.
March 2012: Guest Star on Raising Hope
In March 2012, Katy Perry guest-starred as Rikki, a prison security guard, on the Raising Hope episode "Single White Female Role Model".
June 2012: The Sims 3: Katy Perry's Sweet Treats Release
In June 2012, Electronic Arts released The Sims 3: Katy Perry's Sweet Treats, a stuff pack featuring Perry-inspired furniture, outfits, and hairstyles.
June 2012: Plans for Darker Elements in Prism
In June 2012, Katy Perry initially planned to have "darker elements" in Prism following the end of her marriage, as told to L'Uomo Vogue.
June 2012: Perry expresses hopes for LGBT equality
In June 2012, Katy Perry voiced her hopes for LGBT equality, expressing her wish that future generations would look back at the present time with disbelief at the inequality, similar to how people view past civil rights issues.
July 5, 2012: Release of Katy Perry: Part of Me
On July 5, 2012, Katy Perry's autobiographical documentary Katy Perry: Part of Me was released to theaters through Paramount Pictures. The film grossed $32.7 million worldwide.
November 2012: Beginning Work on Prism Album
In November 2012, Katy Perry began working on her fourth album, Prism, outlining her vision for the artwork, coloring, tone, and tour.
December 2012: Perry awarded Trevor Hero Award by The Trevor Project
In December 2012, Katy Perry was honored with the Trevor Hero Award by The Trevor Project for her activism and support of LGBT youth.
2012: Forbes ranks Perry fifth on their "Top-Earning Women In Music" list
In 2012, Forbes ranked Katy Perry fifth on their list of "Top-Earning Women In Music" with $45 million earned.
April 2013: Perry appears in "Chime for Change" campaign video
In April 2013, Katy Perry appeared in a video for the "Chime for Change" campaign, aimed at promoting female empowerment.
April 2013: Joins UNICEF
In April 2013, Katy Perry joined UNICEF to assist children in Madagascar with education and nutrition.
July 31, 2013: Release of The Smurfs 2
On July 31, 2013, Katy Perry reprised her role as Smurfette in The Smurfs 2, which was released in theaters.
August 10, 2013: Release of Roar
On August 10, 2013, "Roar" was released as the lead single from Prism and promoted at the MTV Video Music Awards, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
August 12, 2013: Release of Who You Love
On August 12, 2013, Katy Perry recorded and co-wrote a duet with John Mayer titled "Who You Love" for his album Paradise Valley, and the song was released.
August 2013: Release of Killer Queen Fragrance
In August 2013, Katy Perry released Killer Queen as her third fragrance through Coty.
October 16, 2013: Release of Unconditionally
On October 16, 2013, "Unconditionally" was released as the second single from Prism, peaking at number 14 in the United States.
October 18, 2013: Release of Prism Album
On October 18, 2013, Katy Perry's album Prism was released, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and selling over eight million copies worldwide.
October 23, 2013: We Can Survive Concert
On October 23, 2013, Katy Perry hosted and performed at the We Can Survive concert along with various artists at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The concert's profits were donated to Young Survival Coalition, an organization aiding breast cancer in young women.
November 2013: Most Followed Person on Twitter
In November 2013, Katy Perry surpassed Justin Bieber as the most followed person on Twitter.
December 3, 2013: Named UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
On December 3, 2013, Katy Perry was officially named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, with a special focus on engaging young people in the agency's work to improve the lives of vulnerable children and adolescents.
2013: Forbes ranks Perry seventh on their "Top-Earning Women In Music" list
In 2013, Katy Perry ranked seventh on the Forbes list for "Top-Earning Women In Music" with $39 million earned.
2013: IFPI Top Global Recording Artist Ranking
In 2013, Katy Perry was ranked fifth on the list of Top Global Recording Artists by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
2013: Labeled as Most Potent Pop Star
In 2013, The New York Times labeled Katy Perry "the most potent pop star of the day," highlighting the relatability of her hits with a hint of experimentation.
January 2014: Guest Curator of Art for Freedom
In January 2014, Katy Perry became a guest curator of Madonna's Art for Freedom initiative.
March 2014: Guest Appearance on Kroll Show
In March 2014, Katy Perry made a guest appearance on the Kroll Show.
March 29, 2014: Perry helps raise money for the Museum of Contemporary Art
On March 29, 2014, Katy Perry participated in a fundraising event, helping to raise $2.4 million for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, alongside other celebrities.
April 2014: Perry supports Marianne Williamson's congressional campaign
In April 2014, Katy Perry publicly supported Marianne Williamson in her campaign for California's 33rd congressional district by attending a political press event.
May 2014: Prismatic World Tour Begins
In May 2014, Katy Perry's third headlining tour, the Prismatic World Tour, began.
June 2014: "Make Roar Happen" Project
In June 2014, Katy Perry teamed up with Staples Inc. for a project entitled "Make Roar Happen" which donated $1 million to DonorsChoose, an organization that supports teachers and funds classroom resources in public schools.
June 17, 2014: Founding of Metamorphosis Music
On June 17, 2014, Katy Perry announced that she had founded her own record label under Capitol Records, titled Metamorphosis Music (later Unsub Records).
June 26, 2014: Top Certified Digital Artist Ever by RIAA
On June 26, 2014, Katy Perry was declared the Top Certified Digital Artist Ever by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for certified sales of 72 million digital singles in the United States.
November 23, 2014: Announcement of Super Bowl Halftime Performance
On November 23, 2014, the NFL announced that Katy Perry would perform at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show.
2014: Forbes ranks Perry fifth on their "Top-Earning Women In Music" list
In 2014, Katy Perry ranked fifth on the Forbes list for "Top-Earning Women In Music" with $40 million.
2014: Release of Birthday and This Is How We Do
In 2014, Katy Perry released "Birthday" and "This Is How We Do" as the fourth and fifth singles from Prism, both reaching the top 25 on the Hot 100.
February 1, 2015: Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Performance
On February 1, 2015, Katy Perry performed at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show, which garnered 118.5 million viewers in the United States, becoming the most watched show in Super Bowl history.
March 2015: Appearance in Brand: A Second Coming and Release of Concert Film
In March 2015, Katy Perry appeared in Brand: A Second Coming, a documentary, and released Katy Perry: The Prismatic World Tour, a concert film.
June 2015: Cameo in Madonna's Bitch I'm Madonna Music Video
In June 2015, Katy Perry made a cameo appearance in the music video for Madonna's song "Bitch I'm Madonna".
June 2015: "Dark Horse" music video reaches one billion views on Vevo
In June 2015, Katy Perry's music video for "Dark Horse" became the first video by a female artist to reach one billion views on Vevo.
September 2015: Appearance in Documentaries
In September 2015, Katy Perry appeared in the documentaries Katy Perry: Making of the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show and Jeremy Scott: The People's Designer.
September 27, 2015: Performance at Rock in Rio
On September 27, 2015, Katy Perry performed at the 2015 Rock in Rio festival.
October 2015: Prismatic World Tour Concludes
In October 2015, Katy Perry's Prismatic World Tour concluded, selling almost 2 million tickets and grossing $204.3 million worldwide.
November 23, 2015: Stars in H&M Holiday Campaign
On November 23, 2015, Katy Perry starred in H&M's holiday advertising campaign, for which she wrote and recorded a song titled "Every Day Is a Holiday".
December 2015: Release of Mad Potion Fragrance and Katy Perry Pop Mobile App
In December 2015, Katy Perry released Mad Potion fragrance and the Katy Perry Pop mobile app, where her character helps players become famous musicians.
2015: Forbes ranks Perry number one on their "Top-Earning Women In Music" list
In 2015, Forbes ranked Katy Perry number one on their "Top-Earning Women In Music" list with earnings of $135 million and also declared her the highest earning female celebrity.
February 2016: Appearance in Zoolander 2
In February 2016, Katy Perry appeared as herself in the film Zoolander 2.
March 2016: Perry performs at fundraising concert for Hillary Clinton
In March 2016, Katy Perry performed alongside Elton John at a fundraising concert in New York City for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.
May 2016: Worked with UNICEF in Vietnam
In May 2016, Katy Perry worked with UNICEF to improve child care quality in Vietnam, hoping to improve children's health, education and well-being.
June 2016: Perry signs open letter demanding increased gun control
Following the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, in June 2016 Katy Perry, along with nearly 200 other artists and executives, signed an open letter organized by Billboard demanding increased gun control in the United States.
June 2016: Started Writing Songs for New Album
In June 2016, Katy Perry started writing songs for her new album.
August 2016: Perry Discusses Upcoming Album
In August 2016, Katy Perry discussed her aspirations for her upcoming fifth album, stating she wanted to create material that connects, relates, and inspires. She mentioned she was not rushing the album, but experimenting with different producers, collaborators, and styles.
November 2016: Perry endorses Kamala Harris and organizes fundraiser
In November 2016, Katy Perry endorsed Kamala Harris in the United States Senate election in California and organized a fundraiser for her at her home in Los Angeles.
2016: Forbes ranks Perry number six on their list of "Highest-Paid Women in Music"
In 2016, Forbes ranked Katy Perry number six on their list of "Highest-Paid Women in Music" with earnings of $41 million and estimated her net worth at $125 million.
February 10, 2017: Release of "Chained to the Rhythm"
On February 10, 2017, Katy Perry released "Chained to the Rhythm" featuring Skip Marley as the lead single from her upcoming album. The song reached number one in Hungary and number four in the United States, and broke Spotify's record for the highest first-day streaming for a single track by a female artist, with over three million streams within 24 hours.
February 2017: Launch of Katy Perry Collections
In February 2017, Katy Perry launched a shoe line titled Katy Perry Collections.
February 26, 2017: Co-Chair for Elton John AIDS Foundation Party
On February 26, 2017, Katy Perry served as a co-chair for the 25th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Party, a fundraiser for HIV/AIDS healthcare.
June 4, 2017: Perry performs at One Love Manchester benefit concert
On June 4, 2017, Katy Perry performed at the One Love Manchester benefit concert, organized by Ariana Grande, to support the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing.
June 9, 2017: Release of 'Witness' Album
On June 9, 2017, Katy Perry's album, titled Witness, was released to mixed reviews, but it debuted at number one in the United States. To accompany the album release, Perry broadcast herself on YouTube for four days with a live-stream titled Katy Perry Live: Witness World Wide.
June 15, 2017: Release of "Feels" featuring Perry
On June 15, 2017, Calvin Harris released the song "Feels" from his album Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1, featuring Katy Perry, Big Sean, and Pharrell Williams. The song went on to reach number one in the United Kingdom.
June 2017: 100 Million Twitter Followers
In June 2017, Katy Perry became the first person to gain 100 million followers on Twitter, receiving a Guinness record for this milestone. Time magazine listed Perry among its "25 Most Influential People on the Internet" of the year.
September 2017: Start of Witness: The Tour
In September 2017, Katy Perry embarked on Witness: The Tour to promote her album Witness.
2017: Katy Perry Collections Launch
During the 2017 launch of her shoe collection, Katy Perry Collections, she talked about her cultivated style on a budget and how her shoes were a form of communication and an icebreaker.
2017: Perry receives Nation Equality Award from Human Rights Campaign
In 2017, Katy Perry received the Nation Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign for her advocacy for LGBTQ+ equality. During her acceptance speech, she discussed her bisexual experiences and thanked the LGBTQ+ community.
2017: Included in Variety 500
In 2017, Variety included Katy Perry in their Variety 500 list of the most influential business leaders, calling her a "global phenomenon" and recognizing her impact through chart-topping hits, sold-out shows, and endorsements.
March 2018: Perry announces Witness: Coming Home benefit concert
In March 2018, Katy Perry announced 'Witness: Coming Home', a benefit concert to support those affected by the 2017 California wildfires and 2018 Southern California mudflows.
March 2018: Debut as American Idol Judge
In March 2018, Katy Perry began her role as a judge on the sixteenth season of American Idol, for which she was signed for a $25-million salary.
May 19, 2018: Perry announces Witness: Coming Home benefit concert
In May 19, 2018, Katy Perry held 'Witness: Coming Home', a benefit concert in her hometown of Santa Barbara to support those affected by the 2017 California wildfires and 2018 Southern California mudflows.
August 2018: End of Witness: The Tour
In August 2018, Katy Perry's Witness: The Tour came to an end.
November 2, 2018: Release of "Waving Through a Window" cover
On November 2, 2018, Katy Perry released her cover of the Dear Evan Hansen song "Waving Through a Window" for the deluxe edition of the cast recording. The show's creators requested Perry to cover the song to promote the musical's national tour.
2018: Forbes tops Perry as "Highest-Paid Women in Music"
In 2018, Katy Perry topped Forbes' "Highest-Paid Women in Music" listing and ranked at number four on the "Highest-Paid Female Celebrities" list, with earnings of $83 million.
June 2019: Appearance in Taylor Swift's "You Need to Calm Down" music video
In June 2019, Katy Perry made an appearance in the music video for Taylor Swift's song "You Need to Calm Down".
2019: Forbes places Perry at number four on their "Highest-Paid Women in Music" listings
In 2019, Katy Perry was placed at number four on the Forbes "Highest-Paid Women in Music" listings, with $57.5 million.
May 15, 2020: Release of "Daisies"
On May 15, 2020, Katy Perry released "Daisies" as the lead single from her sixth album, Smile.
August 28, 2020: Release of 'Smile' Album and Birth of Daughter
On August 28, 2020, Katy Perry's album, titled Smile, was released. Two days before its distribution, she gave birth to a daughter named Daisy Dove Bloom.
November 2020: Release of "Resilient" Tiësto Remix
In November 2020, the Tiësto remix of Katy Perry's song "Resilient" featuring Aitana was released.
December 2020: Release of "Not the End of the World"
In December 2020, Katy Perry released the single "Not the End of the World", featuring a music video in which Zooey Deschanel impersonates Perry.
2020: Perry supports Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the 2020 US presidential election
In 2020, Katy Perry supported Joe Biden and Kamala Harris during the United States presidential election, praising Harris's experience and believing Biden's choice of her was a good sign.
January 20, 2021: Performance at Celebrating America Concert
On January 20, 2021, Katy Perry performed "Firework" at the Celebrating America concert during the inauguration of Joe Biden.
April 2021: Release of "Cry About It Later" Bruno Martini Remix
In April 2021, the Bruno Martini remix of Katy Perry's song "Cry About It Later" featuring Luísa Sonza was released.
September 2021: Honored in Variety's "Power of Women" Issue
In September 2021, Katy Perry was honored by Variety in their "Power of Women" issue, where she discussed her career, motherhood, and philanthropy. She also attended the Variety 2021 "Power of Women" dinner as a nominee.
December 29, 2021: Beginning of Play Concert Residency
On December 29, 2021, Katy Perry began hosting her concert residency named Play at Resorts World Las Vegas.
2021: Perry heralded as a "gay icon" in Out interview
In 2021, Katy Perry was called a "gay icon" and her song "I Kissed a Girl" was hailed as a "bonafide queer anthem" in an Out interview. Perry thanked the LGBTQ+ community, reflecting on her personal growth and acceptance.
2021: Cover Generated Donations
In 2021, all Spotify streams of Katy Perry's cover of "All You Need Is Love" generated $1 in donations for the charity Baby2Baby.
January 2022: Establishment of De Soi
In January 2022, Katy Perry and Morgan McLachlan established De Soi, a company which produces and sells non-alcoholic apéritifs.
April 1, 2022: Release of "Where We Started"
On April 1, 2022, Katy Perry and Thomas Rhett released a country pop duet titled "Where We Started" for his album of the same name.
June 8, 2022: Awarded Key to Las Vegas
On June 8, 2022, Katy Perry was awarded with the Key to Las Vegas, and the day was marked as Katy Perry Day.
May 2023: Performance at Coronation Concert of Charles III
In May 2023, Katy Perry performed at the Coronation Concert of Charles III at Windsor Castle.
September 2023: Forbes estimates Perry's net worth at $340 million
During September 2023, Forbes estimated Katy Perry's net worth to be $340 million.
November 4, 2023: Conclusion of Play Concert Residency
On November 4, 2023, Katy Perry's Play concert residency at Resorts World Las Vegas concluded.
February 2024: Announcement of Exit from American Idol
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in February 2024, Katy Perry announced her exit from American Idol following the conclusion of the twenty-second season.
May 2024: "Roar" music video reaches four billion views on YouTube
During May 2024, Katy Perry's music video for "Roar" reached four billion views, becoming the most viewed music video by a female artist on YouTube at that time.
July 11, 2024: Release of "Woman's World"
On July 11, 2024, Katy Perry released "Woman's World", the first single from her seventh album.
December 20, 2024: Release of 1432 deluxe edition
On December 20, 2024, a deluxe edition of Katy Perry's album 143, titled 1432, was released. It contains four additional tracks, and Perry called this "an early holiday gift" for her fans.
2024: Perry endorses Kamala Harris for office during the 2024 election
During the 2024 United States presidential election, Katy Perry endorsed Kamala Harris for office, highlighting Harris's commitment to fighting for the vulnerable and protecting women's rights.
April 14, 2025: Spaceflight aboard Blue Origin NS-31
On April 14, 2025, Katy Perry flew into space aboard Blue Origin NS-31, Blue Origin's eleventh crewed flight to space under the New Shepard program, along with Amanda Nguyen, Aisha Bowe, Kerianne Flynn, Gayle King, and Lauren Sánchez. It was the first all-female space flight since 1963.
June 2025: Forbes estimates Perry's net worth at $360 million
By June 2025, Forbes estimated Katy Perry's net worth had increased to $360 million, and she was included on the magazine's 2025 list of "America's Richest Women Celebrities".
September 2025: Second-Most Followed Woman on Twitter
As of September 2025, Katy Perry was the second-most followed woman on Twitter, with over 104 million followers.
November 6, 2025: Release of "Bandaids"
On November 6, 2025, Katy Perry released a new song titled "Bandaids".
November 2025: Perry garners over 125 billion cumulative streams
As of November 2025, Katy Perry has garnered over 125 billion cumulative streams from various digital and streaming platforms.
April 28, 2026: Announcement of The Lifetimes Tour – Live from Paris
On April 28, 2026, Katy Perry announced her third concert film The Lifetimes Tour – Live from Paris, which will premiere on June 8, 2026, during the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival.
June 8, 2026: Premiere of The Lifetimes Tour – Live from Paris
On June 8, 2026, Katy Perry's third concert film The Lifetimes Tour – Live from Paris premiered during the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival.
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