Featured Image Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images/Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV
Topics: Katy Perry, Celebrity, VMAs, Music
Kya Buller
Topics: Katy Perry, Celebrity, VMAs, Music
Last night's MTV VMA's were a sight to behold and have given us enough celebrity content to dine out on for months - including learning Katy Perry's real name.
The 'I Kissed A Girl' singer performed a 10-minute long medley of her best known hits at last night's award ceremony, which fans couldn't get enough of and included hits 'E.T.' and 'California Gurls'.
But it wasn't just her performance that got people talking.
After the medley performance, Perry collected the Video Vanguard Award.
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Perry's fiancé, Orlando Bloom, welcomed the pop star onto the stage to collect her gong and referred to her by her real name.
Yep, you heard that right - Katy Perry is not her legal name.
Bloom said: "Give it up for our newest Video Vanguard, Katheryn Hudson."
The Pirates of the Caribbean actor then added, 'Katy Perry', to clear up any confusion.
The loving partner then gushed about how special she is to him - and explained why he'd used her real name.
He said: "You fell in love with her as Katy Perry, I fell in love with her as Katheryn Hudson.
"You know her as a global superstar who brings love, light and her unique sense of humour into every song she writes and every music video she creates.
"I know her as a mother, as a partner who brings that same sense of love and joy to our family."
He concluded his heartfelt speech by adding: "She loves with her whole heart and it’s kind of irresistible. Congratulations on this honour baby, I’m so proud of you."
We're not crying, you are.
But why did Perry change her name?
Well, according to Wide Open Country, part of the reason was she wanted to draw a line under her poorly received Christian, gospel-inspired debut album Katy Hudson.
She also adopted Perry, which is her mother's maiden name, to avoid confusion with actor Kate Hudson.
Fans were simultaneously swooning over the public display of affection and bewildered by the Katheryn reveal.
One person wrote on X: "So I’m today years old when I learned that Katy Perry’s real name is not Katy Perry… is Taylor the only artist who goes by her real name."
Another said: "I thought Katy Perry was her real name, who’s Katheryn Hudson?
"She pulled from her golden era tonight."
Following her iconic performance, Perry joked with the crowd.
She said: "Thank you, I did that all on my first day of my period, can you believe it?"
She then gave thanks to her fans, Bloom and their daughter, Daisy.
She declared: "My Katy Cats, you stood by me for a lifetime and the LGBTQ community who I recognise I would not be here without.
"You showed me that you can be both kind and snatched. Thank you to Orlando for keeping me grounded, celebrated and doing the dishes. And lastly, for my Daisy, the only flower I'll ever need."