Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show that Katy Perry’s parents, Keith and Mary Hudson, have been making donations to Donald Trump and the Republican Party, despite their daughter's prominent alignment with the Democratic Party. This political dichotomy has drawn public interest, especially given Perry's highly publicized support for Democratic candidates, including Hillary Clinton and President Joe Biden.
Since 2019, Mary Hudson has made 78 contributions to the GOP, including Trump’s presidential campaigns, with donations ranging from $0.34 to $1,000. Keith Hudson, on the other hand, has made a single donation to the Republican Party during the same period. Despite the numerous scandals surrounding Trump, the Pentecostal preachers have remained steadfast in their support for the former president. Following Trump's felony conviction in late May, Mary took to social media, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “Jesus was a convicted felon,” in response to a tweet about Trump.
Mary Hudson's political activities extend beyond donations. In March, she ran for a leadership position within the Santa Barbara County Republican Party, finishing fourth with a 12% share of the vote. This active political engagement starkly contrasts with Perry’s public persona and political leanings. Known offstage as Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, Perry has consistently shown her allegiance to the Democratic Party. She campaigned for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and has openly endorsed both Clinton and Biden.
Despite their opposing political views, Perry expressed in 2016 that she still loves her parents and wasn’t angry with them for voting for Trump in the 2016 election, as reported by Time magazine. However, the news of her parents' continued support for Trump comes at a challenging time for Perry, as she attempts to make a comeback in the pop music scene.
Observers have noted Perry’s struggle to blend her early career's playful image, epitomized by her album "One of the Boys," with the empowering themes of her "Woman's World" era. However, her recent efforts appear to have missed the mark. An unnamed music industry insider told the New York Post, "It's as if she was trying to cash in on [2023 movie] 'Barbie' and women power. She missed the mark by so far." The insider added, "It's like you want to empower women, but then you fall into the old misogynistic tropes of, 'I can't do music videos without showing my b***s or as.'"
This misalignment is reflected in the data. Perry’s new single, “Woman’s World,” entered Spotify’s U.S. chart at No. 110 on July 11, only to disappear from the rankings the very next day. Critics have also pointed out that four out of the six songwriters on the track are men, which undermines the song’s intended message of female empowerment.
According to the Daily Mail, the “I Kissed A Girl” singer is feeling overwhelmed by the lackluster response to her latest work. "Katy is freaking out right now because she is very aware of the feedback that 'Woman's World' is getting. She is pointing the fingers at everyone but herself, but it is her own fault," an unnamed source told the outlet. The insider elaborated, "You don't make a song about female empowerment with basically all men... she is not using her star power to make change in the world — she is using it to make money."
The contrasting political affiliations within Perry’s family and her current professional hurdles paint a complex picture. While Perry continues to navigate her career in the public eye, the revelation of her parents' political donations adds another layer of scrutiny and challenge. Whether Perry can overcome these setbacks and realign her artistic vision with her public persona remains to be seen. For now, the pop star finds herself at a crossroads, grappling with both familial and professional pressures.