Katheryn Elizabeth Katy Hudson (born October 25, 1984), better known by her stage name Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She had limited exposure to secular music during her childhood and pursued a career in gospel music as a teenager. After releasing her debut studio album, Katy Hudson, in 2001, Perry moved to Los Angeles the following year to venture into secular music. She recorded a collaborative album with the Matrix, which was released in 2009. Perry also recorded an album with Glen Ballard that was not released due to contractual complications