Katy Perry is a pop singer/songwriter from Santa Barbara, California. Her hit song "I Kissed a Girl" remained No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart for seven weeks in the summer of 2008.Celebuzz: Katy Perry Wants You To Kiss a Girl at the Grammys (January 7, 2009)

• • • Grammy Fever

On December 2, 2009 Katy was nominated for a grammy award for her work on "Hot N Cold" for best female vocal artist.

On May 13, 2009, Perry appeared on American Idol and performed her newest single "Waking Up in Vegas" during the semi-final result show. Perry made it very clear she was voting for Adam Lambert by wearing a cape with his name embroidered across the back of it.NeonLimeLight: Katy Perry Is Team Adam Lambert As She Performs On American Idol Results Show(May 13, 2009) She also sported a glittery, leotard-like outfit that was evidently inspired by Vegas showgirls.Newsday: Perry looks ridiculous on 'Idol' (May 14, 2009)

In March 2009, Perry blogged about being urinated on by a chimpanzee during a recent magazine photo shoot. Perry told fans, "Jeremy Scott is one of my all time favorites and he shot the pictures while I got to prance around in his creations. I had a chimp on set with me that day... fun fact, she peed all over me, I had to take a silkwood shower in the middle of shooting."Perez Hilton: Katy Perry Gets Peed On... (March 20, 2009)

Perry made a cameo appearance in singer Jesse McCartney's remix video for the song "How Do You Sleep?" which premiered on March 3, 2009. McCartney had hoped Perry would make an in-person cameo, but she was unable due to her touring schedule. Instead, Perry's photo appears attached to a car sun visor in the video.Just Jared: Katy Perry Makes Cameo... (March 3, 2009)

Perry was rumored to be dating Benji Madden after the couple were spotted in Las Vegas together in February of 2009, however, Perry denied the rumors in a post on her blog stating "Oh kittens! It's two pseudo famous people sitting next to each other, doesn't mean we were bumping uglies!" OK! Magazine: Benji Madden Not Kissing This Girl (February 17, 2009) People: Is Benji Madden Katy Perry's New Valentine? (February 15, 2009)

The tumultuous breakup between Perry and Travis McCoy again surfaced in February of 2009 when Perry addressed an audience about her ex while performing in Los Angeles.People: Katy Perry Warns Girls About Dating Her Ex (February 2, 2009) Perry warned: "Girls, if you have ever dated a boy, specifically the lead singer from Gym Class Heroes, don't do it! Boys should have a heart. You know what I mean girls? Boys just want the milk, but they don't want to buy the cow."People: Katy Perry Warns Girls About Dating Her Ex (February 2, 2009)

Perry released her debut album in 2001 under her real name, Katy Hudson. The album was released on Red Hill Records, a Christian rock label. In 2004, Perry began working with The Matrix songwriting team as their in-house singer, but the project never got off the ground. In 2007, she signed a deal with Capitol Records after catching the eye of Jason Flom, the former head of Capitol Music Group. Her Capitol debut, One of the Boys, was released on June 17, 2008.

During the summer of 2008, Perry recorded video blogs for MTV while traveling on the Warped Tour.MTV: Buzzworthy Katy Perry (July 11, 2008)

Perry's longtime boyfriend, Gym Class Heroes front man Travis McCoy, posted what appeared to be a break-up poem on his blog in January 2009, apparently ending the high-profile couple's relationship. In the poem, McCoy mentioned nightly fights and feeling ostracized by Perry's friends.Perez Hilton: Perry and McCoy Call It Quits (January 1, 2008)

Blog sites reported in late March of 2009, that Perry is dating singer Josh Groban.PerezHilton: New Couple Alert! (March 23, 2009)

On January 16, 2009, an alleged photo of Perry nude in her bathroom appeared online. Publications from the Village Voice to Idolator argued that the photo is a fake.Bunny with Fangs: Katy Perry Nude Photos Leaked (January 16, 2009) Idolator: Five Reason Why Katy Perry Nude Isn't Real (January 16, 2009) Just a few days after that she made headlines for taking a vow of celibacy, saying "I’ve actually taken a vow of celibacy this year…no kissing anyone. Just my cat, Kitty Purry."JustJared.com: Katy Perry Takes Celibacy Vow (January 21, 2009)

• 2001: Katy Hudson
• 2008: One of the Boys

Alanis Morissette, Queen, The Beach Boys, Heart, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon

"I have a song out called 'I Kissed a Girl' [which features a line about cherry-flavored ChapStick]. If I want I could create a Katy Perry cherry ChapStick line...but I'm never going to hawk something that I don't believe in."CNET News: Katy Perry is no tech ingenue (July 18, 2008)