Katy Hudson
Studio album by Katy Hudson
Released	March 6, 2001 (2001-03-06)
Studio	The Velvet Elvis, Nashville House of Tom, Cool Springs Sound Kitchen, Cool Springs Kong's Cage, Franklin, Tennessee
Genre	Christian pop Christian rock
Length	48:11
Label	Red Hill
Producer	Tommy Collier Otto Price David Browning
Katy Perry chronology
Katy Hudson (2001) Ur So Gay (2007)

Katy Hudson is the debut studio album by the American singer Katy Hudson, later known asKaty Perry. It was released on March 6, 2001, throughRed Hill Records, and was produced by Tommy Collier, Otto Price, and David Browning. The album, unlike the subsequent albums that made her known worldwide,^[1] primarily incorporatesChristian pop andChristian rock, with elements ofalternative rock andpop rock, and lyrical themes of childhood, adolescence, and Hudson's faith in God. It sold between 100 and 200 copies before Red Hill went bankrupt nine months later, and received mixed reviews.

Growing up in a conservative household and raised by pastor parents, Hudson spent most of her childhood with gospel music, as secular music was not permitted. At the age of 15, she began pursuing a career in music, recording demos, and learning to write songs. She captured the attention ofRed Hill Studios, who signed her a deal. Hudson then began working on her debut album,Katy Hudson.^[2]

Katy Hudson saw Hudson exploringChristian pop^[3] and contemporaryChristian rock^[1] with elements ofalternative rock.^[4] Amongst what was described as an alternative direction were prominent influences ofpop rock. During an interview for her official website at the time, Hudson cited artistsJonatha Brooke,Jennifer Knapp,Diana Krall, andFiona Apple as her musical influences. The album was described as eschewingbubblegum pop and evoking Christian pop songstressesRachael Lampa andJaci Velasquez.^[5]

"Trust in Me", "Naturally", and "My Own Monster" were said to capture "loneliness, fear and doubt often ascribed to teens".^[6] The first features "haunting" strings with "electronica effects" and "solid rock roots".^[7]

An aggressive track, "Piercing" depicts the infatuation people have with expendable things. In "Piercing", Hudson sings: "Lord, help me see the reality / That all I'll ever need is You".^[6] "Last Call" was written by Hudson while reading the bookLast Call for Help: Changing North America One Teen at a Time, written byDawson McAllister. Musically, it sees Hudson going into a morejazz-oriented sound.^[1] Hudson described "Growing Pains" as an anthem for children and adolescents, explaining that society shares a misconstructed image of them, often viewing them as individuals who do not believe in or do not know much about God.^[8]

"Faith Won't Fail" was inspired by faith always sufficing in Bible situations and chapters.^{[clarification needed]} Hudson commented on "Search Me": "I was struggling with the fact that I would have the huge responsibility of how others would be affected through what I was doing or saying on stage. I don't want to put on some kind of front that everything is good when it's not. I wanted to keep it real, but still give people hope." The record closes with "When There's Nothing Left", which has been described as a "crisp and clean 'love note' to God".^[9]

The album was released on March 6, 2001.^[1] It was a commercial failure for bankruptedRed Hill Records, only selling between 100 and 200 copies.^[10]

To promote the album, Hudson embarked onPhil Joel's The Strangely Normal Tour as an opening act,^[11] withEarthsuit andV*Enna joining her.^[12] She later embarked on 46 solo performances throughout the United States.^[13]

The song "Trust in Me" spent three weeks on theRadio & Records Christian Rock chart, peaking at number 17.^[14] "Search Me" also appeared on the Christian CHR chart, spending three weeks and peaking at number 23.^[15]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Billboard	Positive[16]
Christianity Today	Positive[7]
Cross Rhythms	[17]
The Phantom Tollbooth	[5]

The album received generally mixed reviews from critics.^[10]Stephen Thomas Erlewine fromAllMusic and The Phantom Tollbooth's Andy awarded the record three stars out of five. Erlewine wrote that on the album, Hudson betrays "a heavy, heavy debt toAlanis Morissette". He concluded that "as an album,Katy Hudson is only instructive as the first act in a prefab pop star's career, to show that she has talent but that she was mismarketed -- and that she couldn't quite fit as a Christian singer, either, so everybody is better off with Katy tasting cherry chapstick instead of communion wine".^[1] Argyrakis stated that Hudson having been reared in church had "paid off", and noted that "Although a mere pop lightweight, it's hard to ignore Hudson's sincerity and lyrical maturity."^[5]

Christianity Today writer Russ Breimeier was positive aboutKaty Hudson, highlighting Hudson's songwriting style for being "insightful and well matched to the emotional power" of Hudson's music. He further deemed Hudson a "young talent" and expected to hear more from her in the next year.^[7] Similarly,Tony Cummings fromCross Rhythms also considered Hudson to be a "vocal talent", recommending readers to listen to the album and rating it nine stars out of ten.^[17] DEP fromBillboard, also calling Hudson a talent, classified the record as "textured modern-rock collection that is equal parts grit and vulnerability" and "impressive".^[16]

Katy Hudson is the only Christian music-influenced album by Hudson, who subsequently adopted the stage nameKaty Perry.^[18] After her popularity increased, previously sold copies ofKaty Hudson have become a sought-after item amongst her fans.^[10]

The album was released on iTunes on June 1, 2012, under the R-Records label,^[19] but is no longer available.^[20] As of December 2025,Katy Hudson is available for streaming on Amazon Music in India.^[21]

During a September 2024 interview withZane Lowe, Perry acknowledgedKaty Hudson as her first album but mentioned that "it is not something I would ever play live".^[22] The album was included in the "Choose Your Own Adventure" portion ofthe Lifetimes Tour seven months later along with her other albums up untilSmile, where fans could select various songs to be performed.^[23]

Credits extracted fromKaty Hudson liner notes.^[24]

Adapted fromKaty Hudson liner notes.^[24]

• Katy Hudson – lead vocals (1–10), background vocals (2, 7, 8)
• Tommy Collier – production (2, 3), acoustic guitars (1), guitars (3), keyboards (2, 3), loops (2, 3)
• Otto Price –production (1, 7, 8), synthesizers (1, 7, 8), bass (1, 2, 4–10), loops (2), programming (1, 7, 8),B-3 (1, 8), additional guitars (7, 8)
• Scott Faircloff – piano (2), keyboards (2, 3), wurlitzer (3)
• David Browning – production (4–6, 9, 10), keyboards and programming (4–6, 9, 10),B-3 (7), piano (8), string arrangements (5, 9, 10)
• Chris Graffagnino – guitars (4–6, 9, 10)
• Barry Graul – electric guitars/12-str (1), guitars (7, 8)
• Tony Morra – drums (2–6, 9, 10)
• Scott Williamson – drums (7, 8)
• Greg Herrington – drums (1), additional drums (7)
• Matt Pierson – bass (3)
• Jeffrey Scot Wills – saxophone (4)
• Otto Price, III – wah guitar (8)
• David McMullan – brass (7)
• Kim Palsma – woodwinds (1, 8)
• David Davidson – violin (1, 7)
• Kristin Wilkinson – viola (1, 7)
• John Catchings – cello (1, 7)
• Mark Stuart (ofAudio Adrenaline) – background vocals (1)
• Stacy Tiernan – background vocals (3)

• Maloney, Dayle; McAllister, Dawson (1999).Last Call for Help: Changing North America One Teen at a Time.ASIN 0966411854.
• Summers, Kimberly Dillon (2012).Katy Perry: A Biography. Bloomsbury Academic.ISBN 9781440801006.
• Owings, Lisa (2015).Katy Perry: Chart-Topping Superstar. ABDO Publishing. p. 24.ISBN 9781629693095.

• 2001 debut albums
• Christian rock albums by American artists
• Katy Perry albums
• Pamplin Music albums
• Contemporary Christian music albums by American artists
• Alternative rock albums by American artists

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