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 American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Highly influential in pop music and recognized for her camp style, she has been called the "Queen of Camp." She was the highest-paid female musician globally in both 2015 and 2018. Billboard has acknowledged her as one of the leading pop stars of the 21st century.
2008: Keep A Breast Foundation
During the 2008 Warped Tour, Katy Perry had a cast made of her breasts to raise money for the Keep A Breast Foundation.
2008: Release of Joyful Noise
In 2008, Flame released the song Joyful Noise, which became the subject of a copyright lawsuit against Katy Perry's song Dark Horse.
June 2009: Fashion Against AIDS campaign
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: Record-breaking run on Billboard Hot 100
Beginning in May 2010, Katy Perry spent a record-breaking 69 consecutive weeks in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.
September 2010: Boys Hope/Girls Hope foundation shelter
In September 2010, Katy Perry helped build and design the Boys Hope/Girls Hope foundation shelter for youth in Baltimore, Maryland.
September 2010: Sesame Street appearance controversy
In September 2010, Katy Perry was scheduled to appear on the 41st-season premiere of Sesame Street, but the segment was not aired on television due to criticism of her exposed cleavage.
November 2010: Endorses fragrance, Purr
In November 2010, Katy Perry endorsed the fragrance, Purr.
December 2010: Appearance on The Simpsons
In December 2010, Katy Perry played Moe Szyslak's girlfriend in a live-action segment from a Christmas episode of The Simpsons titled "The Fight Before Christmas".
February 2011: Guest appearance on How I Met Your Mother
In February 2011, Katy Perry made a guest appearance on the How I Met Your Mother episode "Oh Honey", playing a woman known as Honey.
February 2011: California Dreams Tour
In February 2011, Katy Perry's second tour, the California Dreams Tour, began in support of Teenage Dream.
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: Continued Billboard Hot 100 success
Katy Perry's record-breaking run on the Billboard Hot 100 continued until September 2011, marking 69 consecutive weeks in the top ten.
September 23, 2011: Performance at Rock in Rio festival
On September 23, 2011, Katy Perry performed on the opening day of the 2011 Rock in Rio festival alongside Elton John and Rihanna.
December 10, 2011: Hosts Saturday Night Live
On December 10, 2011, Katy Perry hosted Saturday Night Live, with Robyn as the episode's musical guest.
December 2011: Release of Meow!
In December 2011, Katy Perry's second endorsed fragrance, Meow!, was released through Nordstrom department stores.
2011: Ranked Third on Forbes' "Top-Earning Women In Music"
In 2011, Forbes ranked Katy Perry third on their "Top-Earning Women In Music" list with earnings of $44 million, recognizing her financial success in the music industry.
January 5, 2012: Perry named sixth best-selling digital artist
On January 5, 2012, Katy Perry was named the sixth best-selling digital artist in the United States, with 37.6 million units sold according to Nielsen SoundScan.
January 2012: People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Guest Star
In January 2012, Katy Perry won the People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Guest Star for her role on How I Met Your Mother.
January 2012: End of California Dreams Tour
In January 2012, Katy Perry's second tour, the California Dreams Tour, concluded.
March 2012: Guest stars on Raising Hope
In March 2012, Katy Perry guest starred as a prison security guard named Rikki on the Raising Hope episode "Single White Female Role Model".
June 2012: Release of The Sims 3: Katy Perry's Sweet Treats
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: Expressed her hopes for LGBT equality
In June 2012, Katy Perry expressed her hopes for LGBT equality, commenting "hopefully, we will look back at this moment and think like we do now concerning [other] civil rights issues. We'll just shake our heads in disbelief, saying, 'Thank God we've evolved.' That would be my prayer for the future."
June 2012: Prism album dark elements
In June 2012, Katy Perry planned to have "darker elements" in Prism following the end of her marriage.
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.
September 2012: Named "Woman of the Year" by Billboard
In September 2012, Billboard dubbed Katy Perry the "Woman of the Year" in recognition of her contributions to music.
November 2012: Begins work on Prism album
In November 2012, Katy Perry began work on her fourth album, Prism.
December 2012: Trevor Hero Award
In December 2012, Katy Perry was awarded the Trevor Hero Award by The Trevor Project for her work and activism on behalf of LGBT youth.
2012: Ranked Fifth on Forbes' "Top-Earning Women In Music"
In 2012, Forbes ranked Katy Perry fifth on their "Top-Earning Women In Music" list with earnings of $45 million, acknowledging her continued financial success.
April 2013: Chime for Change campaign
In April 2013, Katy Perry appeared in a video clip for the "Chime for Change" campaign that aimed to spread female empowerment.
April 2013: Joined UNICEF to assist children in Madagascar
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 reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
August 12, 2013: Release of "Who You Love"
On August 12, 2013, "Who You Love", a duet recorded and co-written by Katy Perry and John Mayer, was released for his album Paradise Valley.
August 2013: Release of Killer Queen fragrance
In August 2013, Killer Queen was released as Katy Perry's third fragrance through Coty.
October 16, 2013: Release of "Unconditionally"
On October 16, 2013, "Unconditionally" was released as the second single from Prism and peaked 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 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
October 23, 2013: We Can Survive concert
On October 23, 2013, Katy Perry hosted and performed at the We Can Survive concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California, with profits donated to Young Survival Coalition.
November 2013: Most followed person on Twitter
In November 2013, Katy Perry surpassed Justin Bieber to become the most followed person on Twitter.
December 3, 2013: UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
On December 3, 2013, Katy Perry was officially named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
2013: Top Global Female Recording Artist
In 2013, Katy Perry was declared the Top Global Female Recording Artist of 2013 by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), acknowledging her worldwide success in the music industry.
2013: Ranked Seventh on Forbes' "Top-Earning Women In Music"
In 2013, Katy Perry was ranked seventh on Forbes' list for "Top-Earning Women In Music" with $39 million earned, reflecting her ongoing financial achievements in the music industry.
2013: Labeled as "the most potent pop star of the day"
In 2013, The New York Times labeled Katy Perry "the most potent pop star of the day," noting that her hits are relatable with just a hint of experimentation.
2013: Ranked fifth on list of Top Global Recording Artists of 2013
In 2013, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) ranked Katy Perry fifth on the list of Top Global Recording Artists.
January 2014: Guest curator of Madonna's Art for Freedom initiative
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 playing herself in the episode "Blisteritos Presents Dad Academy Graduation Congraduritos Red Carpet Viewing Party" of the Kroll Show.
March 29, 2014: Raised money for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles
On March 29, 2014, Katy Perry helped raise $2.4 million for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.
May 2014: Prismatic World Tour begins
In May 2014, Katy Perry's third headlining tour, the Prismatic World Tour, began.
May 2014: Featured in Mark Ryden's "The Gay 90s" exhibition
In May 2014, a portrait of Katy Perry by painter Mark Ryden was featured in his exhibition "The Gay 90s", and shown at the Kohn Gallery in Los Angeles. Along with several other artists, she also recorded a cover version of the song "Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two)" on a limited-edition concept album titled The Gay Nineties Old Tyme Music: Daisy Bell to accompany the exhibition.
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.
June 17, 2014: Founds Metamorphosis Music record label
On June 17, 2014, Katy Perry announced that she had founded her own record label under Capitol Records, titled Metamorphosis Music, later renamed Unsub Records.
June 26, 2014: Top Certified Digital Artist Ever
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: Announced as Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Performer
On November 23, 2014, the NFL announced that Katy Perry would perform at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show on February 1, 2015.
2014: Ranked Fifth on Forbes' "Top-Earning Women In Music"
In 2014, Katy Perry ranked fifth on Forbes' list of "Top-Earning Women In Music" with earnings of $40 million, further highlighting her consistent financial success.
2014: Releases "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 her album Prism.
February 1, 2015: Performs at Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show
On February 1, 2015, Katy Perry performed at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show with Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott as special guests. The show garnered 118.5 million viewers in the United States.
March 2015: Appears in Brand: A Second Coming and releases concert film
In March 2015, Katy Perry appeared in Brand: A Second Coming, a documentary following her ex-husband Russell Brand's transition from comedy work to activism, and released a concert film titled Katy Perry: The Prismatic World Tour through Epix.
June 2015: Cameo appearance in "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 1 billion views
In June 2015, Katy Perry's music video for "Dark Horse" became the first video by a female artist to reach 1 billion views on Vevo, marking a significant milestone in her career.
September 2015: Appears in documentaries about Super Bowl performance and Jeremy Scott
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 2015 Rock in Rio festival
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 third headlining tour, the Prismatic World Tour, concluded.
November 23, 2015: Stars in H&M's holiday advertising 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: Releases mobile app Katy Perry Pop
In December 2015, Katy Perry released a mobile app titled Katy Perry Pop through Glu Mobile where her character helps players become famous musicians.
2015: Ranked Number One on Forbes' "Top-Earning Women In Music"
In 2015, Forbes ranked Katy Perry number one on their "Top-Earning Women In Music" list with earnings of $135 million, also naming her the "World's Highest-Paid Musicians" and the highest-earning female celebrity.
2015: Guinness World Record
In 2015, Katy Perry won the Guinness World Record for most Twitter followers.
February 2016: Appearance in Zoolander 2 and start of relationship with Orlando Bloom
In February 2016, Katy Perry appeared as herself in the film Zoolander 2. Also in February 2016, she began a relationship with Orlando Bloom.
May 2016: Worked with UNICEF to improve child care quality in Vietnam
In May 2016, Katy Perry worked with UNICEF to improve child care quality in Vietnam.
June 2016: Addressed to United States Congress demanding increased gun control
Following the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in June 2016, Katy Perry and nearly 200 other artists and executives in music signed an open letter organized by Billboard addressed to United States Congress demanding increased gun control in the United States.
June 2016: Starts writing songs for new album
In June 2016, Katy Perry started writing songs for her new album.
August 2016: Prism album sales
As of August 2016, Katy Perry's album Prism has sold 4.5 million copies.
August 2016: Not rushing fifth album
In August 2016, Katy Perry stated that she aspired to create material "that connects and relates and inspires" and told Ryan Seacrest that she was "not rushing" her fifth album.
2016: Ranked Sixth on Forbes' "Highest-Paid Women in Music"
In 2016, Forbes estimated Katy Perry's net worth at $125 million and ranked her number six on their list of "Highest-Paid Women in Music" with earnings of $41 million, noting her financial success in the music industry.
February 10, 2017: Release of "Chained to the Rhythm"
On February 10, 2017, Katy Perry released the album's lead single "Chained to the Rhythm" featuring Skip Marley.
February 2017: Launch of Katy Perry Collections
In February 2017, Katy Perry launched her shoe line titled Katy Perry Collections, available on its website and at retailers like Dillard's and Walmart.
February 26, 2017: Co-chair for Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award 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: One Love Manchester benefit concert
On June 4, 2017, Katy Perry performed at the One Love Manchester benefit concert for the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.
June 9, 2017: Release of "Witness" Album
On June 9, 2017, Katy Perry's album "Witness" was released to mixed reviews, but it debuted at number one in the United States.
June 15, 2017: Release of "Feels"
On June 15, 2017, Calvin Harris released the song "Feels" from his album Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1, which featured Katy Perry, Big Sean, and Pharrell Williams. The song later reached 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.
September 2017: Beginning of Witness: The Tour
In September 2017, Katy Perry embarked on Witness: The Tour to promote her album. The tour included many international dates.
2017: Katy Perry Collections launch
During the 2017 launch of her shoe collection, Katy Perry Collections, Katy Perry discussed the role of fashion as a communication tool.
2017: Three Diamond Certifications from RIAA
In 2017, Katy Perry became the first artist to have three songs receive Diamond certifications from the RIAA: "Dark Horse", "Firework", and "Roar". These songs, along with "E.T.", "California Gurls", and "Hot n Cold", have each sold over 5 million digital copies.
2017: Nation Equality Award
In 2017, Katy Perry received a Nation Equality Award from Human Rights Campaign for "using her powerful voice and international platform to speak out for LGBTQ equality".
2017: Included in Glamour's list
In 2017, Katy Perry was included in Glamour's "104 Women Who Defined the Decade in Pop Culture" list of the 2010s.
March 2018: Judging role on American Idol
In March 2018, Katy Perry began serving as a judge on the sixteenth season of American Idol, for which she was signed for a $25-million salary.
May 19, 2018: Witness: Coming Home benefit concert
On May 19, 2018, Katy Perry held Witness: Coming Home, a benefit concert in her hometown of Santa Barbara for those recovering from the aftermath of the 2017 California wildfires and 2018 Southern California mudflows.
August 2018: End of Witness: The Tour
In August 2018, Katy Perry concluded her Witness: The Tour, which had begun in September 2017.
November 2, 2018: Release of "Waving Through a Window" Cover
On November 2, 2018, Katy Perry's cover of the Dear Evan Hansen song "Waving Through a Window" was released on the deluxe edition of the cast recording to promote the musical's national tour.
2018: Topped Forbes' "Highest-Paid Women in Music" Listing
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 appeared in the music video of Taylor Swift's "You Need to Calm Down."
2019: Ranked Fourth on Forbes' "Highest-Paid Women in Music"
In 2019, Katy Perry was placed at number four on Forbes' "Highest-Paid Women in Music" listings, with $57.5 million, and ranked as the ninth-highest-earning musician of the decade with earnings of $530 million.
March 2020: Release of "Never Worn White" and pregnancy reveal
In March 2020, Katy Perry released her single "Never Worn White" and revealed in the music video that she was expecting her first child with Orlando Bloom.
May 15, 2020: Release of "Daisies"
On May 15, 2020, Katy Perry released "Daisies", the lead single from her sixth album.
August 28, 2020: Release of "Smile" album
On August 28, 2020, Katy Perry's album titled Smile was released. Two days before, she gave birth to her daughter, Daisy Dove Bloom.
November 2020: Release of "Resilient" remix
In November 2020, Katy Perry released the Tiësto remix of "Resilient" featuring Aitana.
December 2020: Release of "Not the End of the World"
In December 2020, Katy Perry released the single "Not the End of the World", which featured a music video where Zooey Deschanel impersonated Perry.
2020: Endorsement of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
In 2020, Katy Perry supported Joe Biden and Kamala Harris during the United States presidential election. She praised Kamala Harris as a leader and highlighted Joe Biden's choice of Harris as his running mate as a testament to his decision-making.
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" remix
In April 2021, Katy Perry released the Bruno Martini remix of "Cry About It Later" featuring Luísa Sonza.
September 2021: Honored in Variety's "Power of Women" issue
In September 2021, Variety honored Katy Perry 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: Start of Play concert residency
On December 29, 2021, Katy Perry began hosting her concert residency named Play at Resorts World Las Vegas.
2021: All You Need Is Love cover
In 2021, all Spotify streams of Katy Perry's cover of "All You Need Is Love" will generate $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 that produces and sells non-alcoholic apéritifs, aiming to provide a beverage that "would mellow the mind, minus the buzz".
April 1, 2022: Release of "Where We Started"
On April 1, 2022, Katy Perry collaborated with Thomas Rhett on a country pop duet titled "Where We Started" for his album of the same name.
June 8, 2022: Awarded the Key to Las Vegas
On June 8, 2022, Katy Perry was awarded with the Key to Las Vegas, and the same day was marked as Katy Perry Day.
2022: Voting for Rick Caruso
In 2022, Katy Perry received criticism from Democrats after posting a picture of herself voting for conservative candidate Rick Caruso in the 2022 Los Angeles mayoral election.
2022: Reliable and successful hitmakers
In 2022, the Official Charts Company named Katy Perry "one of the last decade's most reliable and successful hitmakers".
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 estimated net worth of $340 million
In September 2023, Forbes estimated Katy Perry's net worth to be $340 million, highlighting her financial success as a musical artist.
November 4, 2023: Conclusion of Play concert residency
On November 4, 2023, Katy Perry concluded her concert residency, Play, at Resorts World Las Vegas. The residency grossed $46.4 million.
February 2024: Announcement of Exit from American Idol
In February 2024, Katy Perry announced her exit from American Idol following the conclusion of the twenty-second season, stating her desire to "go out and feel that pulse to my own beat" and release new music.
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
On December 20, 2024, Katy Perry released a deluxe edition of 143, titled 1432, which contains four additional tracks.
2024: Endorsement of Kamala Harris
In 2024, Katy Perry endorsed Kamala Harris for office during the United States presidential election, citing Harris's dedication to fighting for the vulnerable, speaking up for the voiceless, and protecting women's rights.
2024: Included on Forbes' list of "America's Richest Self-Made Women"
In May 2024, Katy Perry was included on Forbes' list of "America's Richest Self-Made Women," with an estimated net worth of $350 million, recognizing her financial achievements.
April 14, 2025: Space flight 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. This was the first all-female space flight since 1963.
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