COVER GIRL

Katy Perry Confesses to Crying to Some of Her Own Songs

In a wide-ranging interview for W‘s September cover, the pop star opens up about former boyfriends, heartbreak, and her state of mind: “I feel very free.”


Katy Perry - September 2017
Photographs by Steven Klein, Styled by Edward Enninful

On May 22, halfway through the W cover shoot with Katy Perry, the BBC reported that 22 people had been killed and 59 seriously injured when a bomb went off at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. Perry got this devastating news as she was changing clothes between setups. She showed her phone to her publicist, her pink Gucci coat unbuttoned and hanging from her frame.

“Have you seen this?” Perry asked. She was stunned. “Ari’s fans are my fans. This is horrible. And really scary.”

Perry is a pro. She finished the shoot, but the news continued to haunt her. On September 7, she starts touring for her new album, Witness, which she wrote and recorded in the spirit of personal revelation and authenticity. Born 32 years ago as Katheryn Hudson, Perry reinvented herself in 2008 as a sexy, slightly goofy pop star with hits about teenage lust and summer fun. In performance, she was known to wear a cone bra that shot whipped cream from its nipples; in real life she dated a succession of high-profile men including Russell Brand (whom she married in 2010 and divorced less than two years later), John Mayer, and, most recently, Orlando Bloom.

If the pop world is like high school, then Perry was the naughty cheerleader who became prom queen and then…went punk.

True to form, Perry has bleached and chopped her raven locks—and seems much happier for having done so. “I must have loosened up some new chakras,” she told me when she arrived at the photo studio with Nugget, her teeny-tiny cocoa-colored poodle, in her arms. Perry was dressed in pink sweatpants and a matching warm-up jacket; her pixie cut emphasized her huge, round blue eyes and de-emphasized her curvy girliness.

Katy Perry Roars for W‘s September Cover: “I Feel Very Free”

Photograph by Steven Klein. Styled by Edward Enninful. Hair by Shay Ashual at Art Partner; makeup by Yadim at Art Partner; manicure by Honey for Londontown at Exposure NY. Set design by Stefan Beckman at Exposure NY.

Miu Miu dress; Repossi ear cuff; Perry’s own nose ring.

Photographs by Steven Klein, Styled by Edward Enninful

Katy Perry wears Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello boots; Tom Ford skirt.

Photographs by Steven Klein, Styled by Edward Enninful

Miu Miu stole; Prada top and skirt; Swarovski necklace.

Photographs by Steven Klein, Styled by Edward Enninful

Miu Miu stole. Beauty note: Own the night with Covergirl Outlast All-Day Matte Finishing Powder.

Photographs by Steven Klein, Styled by Edward Enninful

From left: AG shirt. Bottega Veneta dress; Delfina Delettrez ear cuff; Tom Ford boots.

Photographs by Steven Klein, Styled by Edward Enninful

Brandon Maxwell coat; Repossi ear cuff; Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello boots. Beauty note: Shock hair into recovery with Moroccanoil Mending Infusion.

Photographs by Steven Klein, Styled by Edward Enninful

Miu Miu dress; Repossi ear cuff; Perry’s own nose ring.

Photographs by Steven Klein, Styled by Edward Enninful; Hair by Shay Ashual at Art Partner; makeup by Yadim at Art Partner; manicure by Honey for Londontown at Exposure NY. Set design by Stefan Beckman at Exposure NY. Model: Louis Bubko at Fusion. Director of Photography: Mark Luckasavage; Lighting Director: John Torres; 3-d Scanning: Dir Dim; Producers: Jonathan Lia, Stephen Holtzhauser; Video Editors: Artem Nikitin, Alex Hammer; Video Artist: Douglas Abraham; Root Motion: Joshua Steen; Root Producer: Lynn Gaurino; Stills PostProduction: Jim Alexandrou; After-Effects Artist: Alexandre Moors; Illustrator: Michael DeWeese; Digital Technician: Tadaaki Shibuya; Lighting Assistants: John Temones, Kiri Wawatai, Tim Hoffman; Fashion Assistants: Dena Giannini, Devon Head; Production Coordinator: Sverre Wegge Gundhus
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Her new, slightly androgynous look seemed to match her current mood: “I feel very free,” she said. (Of all the quotations W offered Perry for her augmented-reality cover speech, she immediately gravitated toward an Albert Camus–esque declaration of freedom.) This shedding of skins may also be a reaction to Hillary Clinton’s loss in the presidential election. Perry campaigned hard for Clinton, and was frustrated by her defeat and what it meant for powerful women in general. Perry wears gold safety-pin earrings as a symbol of her continued support for Clinton, and named a suede pump with a Lucite heel in her Katy Perry shoe line after the Democratic nominee. (When an image of H.R.C. modeling the shoes appeared on Instagram, they sold out immediately.)

“I’m not still upset about the election,” Perry told me. “I think it’s more important to continue the fight.”

Perry views her newest role—as a judge on the reboot of American Idol this fall—as a kind of feminist statement. ABC is paying her a reported $25 million for the season, and she bragged during a radio interview, “I got paid pretty much more than any guy that’s been on that show.” She was interested in Idol, she said, because of its capacity to reach teenagers, a group she finds very inspiring. “Teenage girls can save the world!” she told me. “I saw that during the campaign. And that idea continues to give me faith.”

A 7-Year-Old Interviews Katy Perry

Lynn Hirschberg: How do you write songs? And was it different writing the songs on Witness? Katy Perry: In the past I used a tape recorder, and now I just use my phone. My Notes section is a hodgepodge of all kinds of crazy ideas. And I have an old-fashioned memo notebook—not one of those leather-bound things with a Montblanc pen! Just an old-fashioned black and white composition book, filled with scraps of songs.

Where do you get your best ideas? I get them in three different ways. From Transcendental Meditation, where I rest and kind of restart my mind. Or during a massage. Or showering. I always have my phone on standby when I hop out of the shower.

Do you sing your own songs in the shower? No. I make up songs. Or I go, “I like to move it, move it.” I’ve had several sing-offs with boyfriends. That’s very fun—singing in the shower and scrubbing!

Is life more enjoyable with short hair? Everything is more fun with short hair! I can just get up and go. I feel so liberated with this hair now. In general, I feel 360-degrees liberated—all around. Whether it’s politically, mentally, spiritually, sexually. I feel liberated from all the things that don’t serve me. I’m surrendering and embracing my 30s. You couldn’t give me anything to go back to my 20s. To get to this place, I had to do some much-needed work on my heart, soul, mind, and body. Since doing that, a lot of beautiful things started to bloom again.

Katy Perry’s Style Isn’t Limited to Outrageous Costumes and Colorful Wigs

A fresh-faced Katy Perry in a vintage-inspired floral frock and boots at American Music Awards in 2004.

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At Esquire’s 4th Annual Oscar Party in 2004, Perry channeled her inner pin-up girl in a strapless black dress and red pumps.

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Perry wore a belted boho sundress and flats in 2005.

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Katy Perry began her love affair with sequins wearing a shimmering mini dress and pumps at a launch party for Nintendo in 2006.

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A paired-down Katy Perry wore a printed jersey dress and purple tights to a Capital Radio recording studio in 2008

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At the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2008, Perry debuted her wacky style in a daring satin cocktail dress and neon yellow heels.

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Perry looked angelic in a white evening gown replete with feathers and crystals at the Backstage in the Life Ball in Vienna in 2009.

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Bring on the sparkle! At the Kid’s Choice Awards in 2010, Katy Perry wore a metallic rainbow mesh dress and complimentary diamante pumps.

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Katy Perry wore a blue wig and a crystal encrusted dress at the MTV awards in 2010.

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Katy Perry gave the Angels a run for their money on the Victoria’s Secret pink carpet in a floral embellished corset and hot pink mini skirt.

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Katy Perry channeled old Hollywood glamour at a pre-Grammys party in 2011 wearing a pearl-scaled mermaid gown and Cher-length tresses.

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At the Grammy Awards in 2011, Katy Perry accessorized her Armani Prive gown with a pair of feathered angel wings.

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At the American Music Awards in 2011, Katy Perry went pink–literally head to toe–in a space-age dress.

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Yet again matching her hair to her dress, Katy Perry wore a shimmering blue Elie Saab haute couture gown to the Grammys in 2012.

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At the premiere of her documentary film Part of Me in 2012, Katy Perry wore a ballerina-chic frock by Marchesa and dark purple hair,

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On the red carpet for the American Music Awards in 2013, Katy Perry wore a black polka-dot dress and Olympia Le Tan clutch.

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At the White House Correspondence Dinner in 2013, Katy Perry wore a green chiffon column gown with gold belt detail and bronze skin.

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At the Chanel Spring/Summer 2014 show at the Grand Palais, Katy Perry wore a head-to-toe look by the designer.

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Katy Perry took her role as a musician very literally, wearing an embroidered Valentino Haute Couture creation fat the Grammys in 2014.

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At the Grammys the following year, Perry paired a crystal-covered Zuhair Murad dress with strappy sandals and purple hair.

Dan MacMedan

Katy Perry wore a cowgirl-inspired Jeremy Scott number to the 2016 Country Music Awards, where she sang a duet with Dolly Parton.

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In a crimson-colored, petal-adorned gown by Marchesa, Katy Perry looked glam at the 23rd annual amfAR gala in 2016

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At the Capitol Records 75th Anniversary gala in 2016, Katy Perry wore a chic belted jumpsuit.

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Perry attends the 2017 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 26, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

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At Christopher Kane fashion show, a newly platinum blonde Katy Perry wore an ensemble by the designer.

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As a host of the 2017 Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Costume Institute gala, Katy Perry was one of the best dressed of the night, wearing a Maison Margiela Artisanal couture creation.

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A pixie-cut blonde Katy Perry attended this year’s Wang Tango festival wearing Issey Miyake and white go go boots.

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Perry opted for an all-black ensemble while visiting ‘The Morning Mash Up’ on SiriusXM Hits 1 channel at The SiriusXM Studios on May 23, 2017 in New York City.

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Perry leaves the ‘Kaviar Kaspia’ restaurant on July 3, 2017 in Paris, France wearing a chic, turtleneck dress.

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Before hosting the 2017 VMA’s, Perry prepped for the gig in a spaceman-covered Chanel ensemble.

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Now that you mention your 30s, what was your favorite birthday? I am such a birthday-party girl! I take that one day as a big fat excuse to throw a massive party. For my 32nd birthday, we had a 1950s sock hop–themed party in a veterans’ hall in Hollywood. It was on the night before Halloween, which is close to my real birthday, and everyone is still sad that party is over. I’ve heard people say that it was one of the greatest nights of their life.

Is there a song that makes you cry? Many. I always want to be moved to tears. I recently saw Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway and was a mess afterward. The actor [Ben Platt] went to that spot that is so vulnerable that it was almost scary. We all pose so much. We all display a life that isn’t real. I’m guilty of that as well. But when you break it all down, it’s really powerful. And that show does just that. Go see it!

Do you ever cry during your own songs? I have. My songs are so personal. Sometimes they are about people who are no longer in my life, or they’re about unrequited love. I started out on tour last time and I couldn’t perform a couple of the songs on the record because I was just too upset.

Katy Perry at the Met Gala: See the Singer’s Outrageous Gowns on the Red Carpet (Including Her Comme des Garçons Gown)

Katy Perry wore a bold blue Tommy Hilfiger gown to the 2009 Costume Institute Gala.

Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

Katy Perry wore a bold blue Tommy Hilfiger gown to the 2009 Costume Institute Gala.

Patrick McMullan

Katy Perry wore a CuteCircuit gown covered in 3,200 LED lights to the Costume Institute Gala Benefit for the opening of the “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity” exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 3, 2010 in New York City.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Katy Perry wore a CuteCircuit gown covered in 3,200 LED lights to the Costume Institute Gala Benefit for the opening of the “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity” exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 3, 2010 in New York City.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Katy Perry wore a Dolce & Gabbana dress to the Costume Institute Gala for the “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2013 in New York City.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Katy Perry wore a Dolce & Gabbana dress to the Costume Institute Gala for the “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2013 in New York City.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Katy Perry and Moschino designer Jeremy Scott attend the “China: Through The Looking Glass” Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015 in New York City.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Katy Perry wears Moschino to the “China: Through The Looking Glass” Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015 in New York City.

Larry Busacca/Getty Images
Photo by Getty Images.
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Are you happy when you are on tour? I feel both very overwhelmed and loved when I’m on tour. People take the time, energy, and money to come see me. That connection is such a beautiful thing. It’s so amazing to see everyone let their guard down and sing one of my songs from the bottom of their lungs—they’ll let go for a second. That’s a brave thing: We just don’t let go anymore.

I’m surprised no one has ever put you in a film. You must have been approached. I have been, but it hasn’t been quite right. I really love being the captain of my ship. If I were to do a film, I’d probably have to direct it. I’d love to do a musical! But that will come in time.

Where was your first kiss? My first French kiss was in sixth grade in Big Bear, California. I was hanging out with this girl from church who had a bit of a reputation. She had a coed party, and I was not allowed to go to a coed party until eighth grade. But I went anyway. At the party, we played spin the bottle. It got to be my turn, and I spun the bottle, and, all of a sudden, I felt like there was a wet fish in my mouth. That was my first kiss. When you’re in sixth grade, there’s no art to French kissing. There’s no cadence, no beautiful up and down, no waves. Instead, it just feels like your mouth is getting invaded by a slug.

Katy Perry’s Most Daring Beauty Looks, From Pastel Purple Bobs to Platinum Pixies

A fresh faced Katy Perry arrives at the MTV Presents: Next Generation Xbox Revealed event with a taupe smokey eye and wavy locks.

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Wearing a bob with blunt bangs and a frosted smokey eye, Perry arrives at the Gridlock New Year’s Eve in 2008.

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Wearing shoulder length tousled waves with a glossy, Barbie pink lip, Perry attends the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards.

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Back to blunt bags with long tousled curls, Perry attends the Grammy Nominations Concert Live – Countdown To Music’s Biggest Night event.

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At the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards, Perry wears her tousled bob with a dark smokey eye and satin pink lip.

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Opting for a sleek, twisted high pony, Perry attends the 2010 MTV Europe Music Awards.

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Playing with color at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, Perry wears her aqua blue curls with a sleek blue cat eye.

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Back to her dark brunette waves, Perry wears a multi-colored smokey eye instead at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.

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Wearing her cotton candy pink tousled bob with a matching lip, Perry arrives at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.

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Playing up her elegant waves with layers of purple highlights, Perry arrives at the Katy Perry: Part Of Me premiere.

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At the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, Perry opts for a turquoise blue french twist instead that she pairs with a pale pink lip.

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Perry’s look at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards was all about natural, polished waves and a neutral smokey eye.

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Pairing her sleek, braided up do with a satin maroon red lip, Perry attends the 15th NRJ Music Awards.

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Back to her tousled bob, in jade green instead, Perry arrives at the Congressional candidate Marianne Williamson press event in 2014.

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Perry looks elegant at the 56th Grammy Awards with her sleek, braided up do and subtle cat eye.

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Opting for an edgier look at the 2015 Costume Institute Gala, Perry pairs her brunette pixie with an exaggerated taupe smokey eye.

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Wearing pastel purple tousled waves with creamy nude lip, Perry arrives at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.

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A sleek up do with blunt bangs, bleached brows and blue mascara was the look at the 2016 Costume Institute Gala.

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Debuting her blonde waves at the 59th Grammy Awards, Perry radiates with luminous skin and a mauve lip.

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Elevating her blonde waves with an asymmetrical pixie, Perry arrives with a neutral smokey eye and lip at the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards.

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Perry gets experimental at the 2017 Costume Institute Gala, wearing a dramatic navy blue smokey eye with a dark burgundy lip.

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Debuting her latest do during Paris Haute Couture week, Perry joins the platinum blonde movement.

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Plus: Watch Katy Perry’s cover story come to life with W magazine’s “Beyond the Page,” our new—and free!—augmented reality app. Download it for here, for iPhone and Android.

Katy Perry’s Kitschiest, Candy-Covered, Firework-Spouting Costumes

Fresh on the scene, Katy Perry performs at the opening of a Las Vegas hotel in 2008 in a Vegas-themed ensemble.

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Katy Perry performed at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards dressed up like a football player.

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Perry performed at another 2008 concert, ending her set by jumping into a giant cake.

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Perry entered the stage at a 2008 Jingle Ball via a giant banana and dressed like Mrs. Claus.

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Perry performed on the Today show in 2009 wearing a mini-dress embroidered with some large dice.

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The following year, in 2010, she returned in a candy-coated getup.

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At the holiday-themed Jingle Ball, Perry turned herself into a snowman.

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For the 2010 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Perry opted for a bright yellow latex dress.

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At the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards, Perry once again entered the stage via a giant banana.

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Perry flew high above the crowd for the 2012 Billboard Music Awards.

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Perry got into the movie spirit for the premiere of her film Katy Perry: Part Of Me.

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Perry closed out the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards in a boxer’s ring in Brooklyn.

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For the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, Perry enlisted Snoop Dogg to live out a beach paradise.

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Perry jumped rope onstage during the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 20, 2013.

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At the Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show in 2015, Perry soared through the sky on a shooting star.

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Perry’s 2014 Grammy Awards performance was quite literally lit, with a dark magic themed set.

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Perry became a maypole at the MTV EMA’s in 2013.

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Feeling feline on the opening night of her Prismatic World Tour at Odyssey Arena on May 7, 2014.

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On the same tour, the singer also embraced a flower child persona.

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And channeled Cleopatra, complete with a giant golden horse.

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What would a Katy Perry performance be without some fireworks?

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Katy Perry peforms onstage at YouTube #Brandcast presented by Google at Javits Center North on May 4, 2017 in New York City.

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Katy Perry performs at 102.7 KIIS FM’s 2017 Wango Tango at StubHub Center on May 13, 2017 in Carson, California.

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Katy Perry performs “Swish Swish” in Studio 8H on May 20, 2017.

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Katy Perry performs on the Pyramid stage on day 3 of the Glastonbury Festival 2017 at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 24, 2017 in Glastonbury, England.

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