Katy Perry Thanks the LGBTQ+ Community for Her Legendary Career

This California gurl continues to shine her light.

Ever since her pop debut in 2008 with "I Kissed A Girl," Katy Perry became a gay icon for generations to come.

Since then, the star has shattered records around the world, earned five number one singles off of one album (Teenage Dream), and solidified herself as a defining artist in pop and music overall.

Although Perry dominated the 2010s with nonstop hits, the current decade has been the most rewarding yet. The star welcomed her beautiful daughter Daisy Dove with her fiancé Orlando Bloom in August 2020. Just one year later, Perry kicked off her critically-acclaimed Las Vegas residency PLAY, with hundreds of thousands of fans from around the world attending her sold-out shows.

For any KatyCats who haven't seen the colorful and mind-blowing residency in person, now is the time to book tickets as her shows will officially conclude in November of this year.

"I'm just so proud of the show that we created and we put on. It is such a spectacular show that we love so much. It's almost like the greatest hits show! I call it all thriller, no filler. I wish I could bring it to the rest of the world, but it's just not technically possible to cart around OTT toilets and bathtubs. Closing a chapter on PLAY allows me to start a new chapter. I'm so excited for the potential of my story to continue," Perry tells Out.

The world was very quiet when everything shut down at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Perry decided to make the most of that quiet time by expanding on one of her biggest goals yet: a Vegas residency.

"It was something I had started thinking about pre-pandemic and [I] was able to take the time and dream it up and do it the right way throughout that time where everybody was on pause. I had such great luck with timing concerning it. I have so many memories of coming to Las Vegas before I had a residency. I feel very connected to it. It's where we used to vacation. I used to come to Vegas and visit my grandma. My parents used to drop us off in the basement of the Excalibur! I remember all of it."

Plenty of gays also love a campy moment — and PLAY is no exception. The show itself pays homage to the queer community throughout the show with dance-offs, rainbow imagery, and a ton of personable moments with Perry herself.

"First and foremost, I wouldn't be here without the gay community supporting me. They have been such big admirers and fans and influences for me. The fanbase that comes to this show is very much so that community. I would say it's probably like 50% of the audience. I think they feel connected to the music. I think they feel safe. I think they love the OTT of the show and it is a really hammy show. I would call this a show for the community. I am channeling my most Cher, my most Liza Minnelli, my most pop girly in this show. I am changing costumes constantly. I'm just giving them, I feel like, what they want."

Perry loves her LGBTQ+ fans so much that she even includes the gay anthem "Walking On Air" in every show's setlist.

"I feel like, they prayed to the gay gods and the gay gods listened!"

Speaking of anthems, Perry's list of hit songs goes all the way back to her first pop album with One of the Boys in 2008. This year, the record hits a 15-year milestone. Some of the biggest songs to come from that era include "I Kissed A Girl," "Hot n Cold," "Waking Up in Vegas," "Ur So Gay," "Thinking of You," and "Lost."

"I can't believe that these kids are still loving it! It's wild 15 years has passed. I know you can't tell, but thank my doctors."

One of the Boys has a special place in Perry's heart as it marked a huge shift in her career. Starting out as Katy Hudson, the star made a big switch once she changed her name to Katy Perry and moved on from gospel music into mainstream pop.

"I'm just so grateful. None of this is promised. It's been such an incredible journey with so many peaks and a couple of valleys. There's been so much growth from when I was able to put out my first record. I came from a pretty sheltered, somewhat narrow, perspective and upbringing. With my music and the success of it, it's allowed me the ability to travel the world and meet so many different people. It has really helped me grow and have such a broader perspective than [the] one that I was raised in. No doubt, I was always a bit of the black sheep. Through my music, I've been able to really learn and educate myself along the way."

Not only is the singer celebrating the 15 year anniversary of One of the Boys, but she's also hitting 10 years since the release of her majorly successful album Prism. KatyCats are still blasting "Roar," "Dark Horse," "Walking On Air," "Birthday," "Unconditionally," and so many more to this day.

"I'm just so glad that I survived it all. It was so intense, [but] I was able to feed my authentic self and present my authentic self in my art in a way that I wanted to. The subject that really stands out is love, empowerment, joy, and finding that inner strength. I see these songs and this message ripple through people's lives and how they adopt it for themselves. It makes me really proud that my higher self stepped in and helped me write these songs to help my lower self. You get songs like "Roar" and "Firework" and I'm so grateful that my higher self is stronger than my lower self."

While Perry will spend the rest of the year wrapping up her Vegas residency, the singer is promising her KatyCats across the globe that she'll be performing on an exciting tour in the future. And rest assured, she is working on her highly-anticipated sixth album.

"I still love making music. I still love spreading light and love. I know there's a lot of people who couldn't make it to Vegas. The last time I was on tour was in 2018. I'm... due. How about that? I'm due to go out and see the kids that couldn't make it to Vegas."

Between a tour, new album on the way, and being a full time mom, Perry's calendar is quite packed. But despite her busy schedule, the star is hoping that she can strut her stuff as a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race some time in the near future.

"It's absolutely on my bucket list. We're just trying to figure out the best date to do it. I adore Ru and that is an iconic show. I'm inspired by that show daily."

Until her werkroom debut, catch Katy Perry playing her final shows at Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas. Tickets can be purchased here.