Katy Perry’s Biggest Career Risks—And How They Paid Off.

[{"selector":"#anim-a56e5218-17c3-407b-9556-b7aa82661145","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Rebranding from Gospel to Pop – Starting as a Christian singer under Katy Hudson , Perry took a bold leap into mainstream pop—a move that made her a global star .

[{"selector":"#anim-e07b8d32-de72-49aa-a57a-a6ac8fd97e05","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bde8c0c8-dda4-4529-b827-3026a73529ec","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.41935%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Releasing “I Kissed a Girl” (2008) – A controversial debut single at the time, it sparked debates but topped the charts , cementing her as a pop provocateur.

[{"selector":"#anim-74c97fc6-ba31-497f-ad4f-ebb6f0c44e81","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] The Teenage Dream Era (2010) – Releasing an album with five No. 1 hits , she risked overexposure but instead made history alongside Michael Jackson .

[{"selector":"#anim-33edb277-6a43-4824-b764-b00704c960e1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.45161%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c119476a-b88b-42aa-94b0-6a60b3b1cd34","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ddc4b194-2824-45ce-bd2f-b6af8a46c583","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Performing at the Super Bowl (2015) – A career-defining moment, her performance (featuring Left Shark ) became one of the most-watched halftime shows ever .

[{"selector":"#anim-5484b1f2-f389-424a-9a9a-d93914398ca4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d0f1120-eddc-4cdb-b1da-6dd8d51131cd","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Launching Witness (2017) – A shift toward politically charged, experimental pop received mixed reviews, but it showed her artistic growth .

[{"selector":"#anim-d53c6e7f-6f32-4564-afaf-a0513ec8906f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.41935%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3cdb9f44-639c-496a-a56c-2ef30cb42b71","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Becoming an American Idol Judge (2018) – Some feared it would stall her music career, but it expanded her influence and introduced her to a new generation of fans .

[{"selector":"#anim-ea871642-dc10-4e49-b0b0-76ebf2b5918f","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -347.77022%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -97.792985864%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -33.246833032%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -12.484950898000001%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -5.425215432%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":600,"fill":"both"}] Selling Her Music Catalog (2023) – A major financial move, selling her catalog for $225M ensured long-term financial stability and legacy protection .

[{"selector":"#anim-a8c75e98-fc99-499c-91f1-755c73025b36","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a03dd3ef-2c83-4ab8-af5a-87c1088ded84","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Embracing Wild Fashion and Theatrics – Her campy, over-the-top outfits and performances set her apart, making her a pop culture icon .

[{"selector":"#anim-d93e3a93-38d7-4d41-974f-a3b7a355f40c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] STAY TURNED FOR DEVELOPMENT Learn more