In less than a year, Katy Perry has dropped a new album, supported Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign, and, just this week, launched into space. Now she’s gearing up to begin a global tour in Mexico City on Wednesday — and she’s showing no signs of slowing down.
“I’m always open. I say, ‘Why not?’ and ‘Let’s just try,’” Perry shared recently during a rehearsal in Southern California. “Your thoughts are so powerful — everything starts there. I had this thought, ‘I want to go on tour.’ And here we are.”
That spirit of openness also means being okay with setbacks. Her September album, 143, was met with harsh criticism, and her decision to reunite with controversial producer Dr. Luke sparked backlash. Her space trip was labeled wasteful by public figures like Olivia Munn and Emily Ratajkowski. And despite her campaigning, Harris lost the presidential race to Donald Trump in November.
Still, Perry’s staying power — since her 2008 breakout hit “I Kissed a Girl” — comes from her resilience. It’s the same energy she channels in her 2013 anthem “Roar,” rising stronger after every stumble.
“I can control what I can control,” she said.
That mindset has been shaped by over 15 years of practicing Transcendental Meditation, a technique she credits with helping her find inner strength. She cites the late filmmaker David Lynch as a major influence in introducing her to the practice and its life-changing benefits.
“It totally changed me. I’ve taken this inner journey to untangle emotional knots, to ground myself, to discover the strength inside me,” she explained.
Perry’s also deeply curious about spirituality — frequently referencing astrology, the enneagram, and cardology, a system that interprets personality traits through playing cards. She says becoming a mother to her daughter Daisy sparked an even deeper sense of personal growth and empowered her connection to what she calls her “feminine divine.”
“Motherhood just unlocks another level of power,” she said. “I feel like I’ve grown into the strong woman I used to look up to and dream of being.”
That personal evolution is reflected in her upcoming “Lifetimes Tour,” a sci-fi themed spectacle drawing inspiration from films like Blade Runner and The Fifth Element. On stage, Perry will play a video game character who confronts dark forces in a story rooted in self-belief and love.
“No matter the concept, those are always my core messages — love and empowerment,” she said. “When I lead with that, the effect just spreads.”
With over 80 shows planned, the tour will highlight her biggest hits, reimagined with energetic, dance-driven arrangements. Perry encouraged fans to show up in comfortable footwear: “I tell everybody they have to wear some sensible shoes,” she joked.
Since bursting onto the pop scene nearly 20 years ago, Perry has blended playful lyrics with uplifting themes, all tied together by her trademark sarcasm and bold flair. While critics haven’t embraced her latest music as warmly, that hasn’t slowed her down. She’s pulling out all the stops for this tour, describing it as “Disneyland on wheels.”
“I feel a responsibility to the fans who’ve been on this ride with me to bring them back to the magic of when they first heard Teenage Dream,” she said.