Katy Perry stated that every female artist “needs to say thank you” to Madonna. The pop star made these comments during an interview with the Australian program The Project in anticipation of her AFL Grand Final performance on 28th September.

Speaking with The Project, Perry explained her friendship with Madonna, saying: “Madonna was really nice to me, well it took a minute because she was testing me and then she became super nice to me.

“She just does her Madonna thing,” Perry continued. “She would invite me to a party and we had to do a photoshoot together which was amazing. She’s the greatest.”

I used 'witchcraft' to make producer love me: Madonna | The North West Star | Mt Isa, QLD

Image Courtesy: The North West Star

Perry explained that Madonna’s endorsement of her 2007 hit ‘Ur So Gay’ on the radio played a crucial role in launching her career, marking a significant turning point for her. She emphasized that this shout-out from Madonna was instrumental in helping her gain recognition.

Perry further stated that all female artists should continue to express their gratitude to Madonna for paving the way for them. At 40 years old, she acknowledged that her ability to continue making music is largely thanks to Madonna’s influence.

Perry recently released 143, which was characterized as an album that occasionally hits the mark but rarely leaves a lasting impact.

She's Breaking Down Barriers": Katy Perry Says Every Female Artist Should Be Thankful To Madonna

Image Courtesy: FirstCuriosity

Pop fans often take a nostalgic approach to “flop” albums that didn’t receive the recognition they deserved upon release, citing examples like Mariah Carey’s unsuccessful soundtrack Glitter and Christina Aguilera’s eclectic album Bionic, both of which have since gained cult followings. However, it seems unlikely that 143 will share the same fate, as it is viewed as a serviceable yet somewhat uninspired collection where Perry struggles to recapture her former playful spirit.

The rollout of the album has seen Perry facing criticism for collaborating with Dr. Luke, who was sued by Kesha in 2014 for allegations of emotional abuse and s**ual assault, resulting in a lengthy legal battle. Dr. Luke has denied these allegations and countersued Kesha, claiming she violated their recording contract and fabricated r**e accusations to escape the agreement.

uper$tar Ke$ha Top$ Chart$ : NPR

Image Courtesy: NPR

The pair reached a settlement in their defamation lawsuit just one month before their case was scheduled to go to trial in June 2023, and Kesha cut ties with Dr. Luke’s label in December of that same year.

When discussing her collaboration with Dr. Luke, Perry acknowledged that it sparked a lot of conversations, noting that he was just one of many collaborators she worked with. She emphasized that the creative process ultimately stems from her own experiences.

Perry explained that she wrote the songs based on her life journey and personal transformation, and Dr. Luke was one of the people who helped facilitate that process.

Her upcoming performance at the AFL will follow her career-spanning set at the VMAs, where she also gave a live debut to ‘I’m His, He’s Mine’ featuring Doechii.