CELEBRITIES

Katy Perry

BIO

Risk-taking songstress Katy Perry, who is best known for her breakout single "I Kissed a Girl," wasn't always so naughty. Born in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Oct. 25, 1984, Perry (real name Katy Elizabeth Hudson) was a good-natured pastor's daughter who sang in the church choir.

In 2001, she released her first CD Katy Hudson, a Christian album. But as Perry grew up, so did her music taste. In 2007, Perry released the successful pop album One of the Boys, but was criticized for her songs, which some critics thought were homophobic.

The singer is also not shy about publicly voicing her opinions and found herself in a feud with British singer Lily Allen after Perry declared herself a “skinnier version” of Allen; Allen criticized Perry for not writing her own songs.

After four months of dating, Perry got engaged to British comedian Russell Brand during a New Year's Eve vacation in India. The pair wed at the same location in October 2010.