Is Katy Perry Canadian?

Ever wondered if the Teenage Dream singer is Canadian?

Katy Perry is not Canadian, she is North American by birth. She was born in Santa Barbara, California, and is an American national. However, she has toured and performed her music in many countries, including Canada. 

Read on to learn more!

Katy Perry Grew Up in a Strictly Religious Home 

Katy Perry was born in Santa Barbara, California, and under the birth name Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson. Katy’s roots are a bit more extensive though; she has English, German, Irish, Portuguese, and English ancestry. Her parents, Mary Christine and Maurice Keith Hudson were Pentecostal pastors. Both had turned to religion for a second time, having abandoned it in their youth – they were born-again Christians. As a child, Katy moved around with her parents quite often, but the family eventually settled in Santa Barbara. 

Katy’s education was primarily religious. She attended numerous religious camps and schools growing up and even sang at her parents’ church in her later years. Katy’s family was not rich, they often struggled financially, but her parents still gave her a guitar for her 13th birthday – her very first one. But secular music was not encouraged in her home, so she primarily listened to Gospel music at first. Later, she discovered more mainstream pop music when she began to sneak CDs from her friends. 

Katy’s first musical performances were, regardless, of a religious nature. She began to take vocal lessons, and after performing them in front of her parents she was incorporated into their ministry. She sang in church for many years, until she was 17. Soon, she began to write her own music and perform it publicly. Now, she is not strictly religious, but has said, “I pray all the time – for self-control, for humility.”

Katy’s first studio album was One of The Boys, and it rocketed her to stardom. 

Katy Perry References California in Her Music 

Katy Perry has always seen herself as a California girl; she clearly loves the place she grew up in. Despite being a tomboy when she was growing up, according to her brother, she still tried to fit into the typical Californian girl label. Her hobbies thus included surfing, rollerblading, and skateboarding. Besides taking vocal lessons, she also took different kinds of dance lessons. 

Some of the musical influences that she was exposed to as a teenager included Queen. She has said, “I’m very inspired by Freddie Mercury and how flamboyant and theatrical he was.” 

In 2010, Katy released the single California Gurls with Snoop Dogg. This was the lead single for Teenage Dream – her third studio album. The song soon reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The album itself was a hit, especially after she released the second single of the same name; Teenage Dream. This song also reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. 

More recent hits by the singer include Swish Swish and Daisies from the latest album of the same name. 

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