Katy Perry recently opened up about her challenging journey to stardom, sharing memories of having her car repossessed and spending much of her early twenties without a permanent home.
During an appearance on Good Morning America, the 39-year-old singer reflected on her path to fame. When asked if coaching aspiring musicians on American Idol reminded her of her own quest for success, she shared how vivid those memories remain.
“It feels like it was just yesterday,” she enthused, sitting with Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Ryan Seacrest. “I can smell it, taste it, hear it—everything is so clear.”
Before she became one of the world’s best-selling music artists, with over 143 million records sold globally, the Grammy-nominated artist confessed that she narrowly navigated through tough times.
Katy Perry recalled her early struggles to break into the music industry, including getting her car repossessed and spending her early twenties ‘couch surfing’
“I had cars repossessed, was signed and dropped three times, and literally surfed couches,” she recounted. “It’s such a visceral memory. That’s the kind of passion I see in these young talents.”
Perry, whose net worth is now estimated at $400 million, has previously told People that her family often depended on food stamps and food banks to make ends meet.
Additionally, she said she would busk in the street as a teenager, ‘hoping to make $20.’
During her GMA appearance, Perry proceeded to point out that she sees the ‘same passion’ and talent in many of the contestants on American Idol.
The Teenage Dream hitmaker also spoke about leaving the singing competition series after seven seasons.
‘It’s been incredible to be on this journey with them,’ she said, before gesturing to her fellow judges and Seacrest.
She, then, hinted her departure may not be permanent and that it was just goodbye ‘for now.’
‘I feel so connected to America that I want to go out there again and sing and play music and hold their hands and [tour] and bring my daughter and show her and all that stuff,’ the mother-of-one, who is engaged to Orlando Bloom, said.
While appearing on Friday’s episode of Good Morning America, the 39-year-old pop star looked back on her own rise to fame when asked if mentoring contestants on American Idol takes her back to her own days chasing her dreams of stardom; seen in 2006
‘It feels like it was yesterday for me,’ she raved while sitting alongside Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Ryan Seacrest. ‘I can smell it, taste it, hear it, all of it’
Before becoming one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold over 143 million records worldwide, the Grammy nominee admitted she barely scraped by
She also admitted to getting emotional seeing contestants compete because she and her fellow judges ‘really can see’ themselves in them.
‘They also remind us about the fight, because we can get a little bit, you know, complacent here or there, but then they give us that energy again,’ she said.
As for what she hopes her replacement will bring to the judge’s table, Perry joked ‘just someone that can put up with Luke and Lionel.’
As for what she hopes her replacement will bring to the judge’s table, Perry joked ‘just someone that can put up with Luke and Lionel.’
‘Keep my seat warm,’ she teased.
ABC has not announced who will fill Perry’s role, but rumors have surfaced that Jennifer Lopez is in the running to take her spot.
‘I had, you know, cars repossessed, I had been signed and dropped three times. I was couch surfing. Literally. It’s so visceral to me. That’s the passion some of these kids have,’ she continued; seen in 2021
In February, Perry announced that she quit American Idol during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live (pictured last year)
In February, Perry announced that she quit American Idol during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
The multihyphenate had reportedly been plotting her exit from the show since last year, when it was revealed she felt repeatedly ‘thrown under the bus by producers’ who she believed were purposefully editing her to look like the ‘nasty judge.’
‘I think this probably will be my last show, my last season for Idol. I mean, I love Idol so much,’ she revealed on the late-night show.
She continued: ‘It’s connected me with, like, the heart of America, but I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse.’
The Grammy nominee pointed out it was their seventh season and former judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson all left after seven seasons.
Perry is currently the highest paid American Idol judge with a reported salary of $25 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
