Katy Perry in the context of "Hot n Cold"

A television special (often TV special, or rarely television spectacular) is a standalone television show which may also temporarily interrupt episodic programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Some specials provide a full range of entertainment and informational value available via the television medium (news, drama, comedy, variety, cultural), in various formats (live television, documentary, studio production, animation, film), and in any viewing lengths (short films, feature films, miniseries, telethons).

Katy Hudson is the debut studio album by the American singer Katy Hudson, later known as Katy Perry. It was released on March 6, 2001, through Red Hill Records, and was produced by Tommy Collier, Otto Price, and David Browning. The album, unlike the subsequent albums that made her known worldwide, primarily incorporates Christian pop and Christian rock, with elements of alternative rock and pop 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.

One of the Boys is the second studio album by American singer Katy Perry. It was released on June 17, 2008, by Capitol Records. She collaborated on the album with producers Greg Wells, Dr. Luke, Dave Stewart, Max Martin, and Ted Bruner among others, and wrote most of the songs in collaboration with other producers and writers. Perry wrote its title track along with "Thinking of You" and "Mannequin" alone, with "Thinking of You" being written back in 2002. The extended play (EP) Ur So Gay (2007), containing her song of the same name (later released as a promotional single), was released before One of the Boys to generate interest in the singer and the then-upcoming album.

One of the Boys is Perry's first album under the stage name Katy Perry, following her debut Katy Hudson (2001), which was released under her real name on Red Hill Records. One of the Boys received mixed reception from critics, with some deeming it as being filled with "potential hits" and others criticizing the material they perceived to be weak. Commercially, it charted within the top ten in Argentina, Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, Switzerland, and the United States. One of the Boys earned Perry two Grammy Award nominations, and has sold seven million copies worldwide. It has been certified Diamond in Brazil as well as multi-platinum in Australia, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

"I Kissed a Girl" is the debut single by American singer Katy Perry. It was released on April 28, 2008, by Capitol Records as the lead single from her second studio album, One of the Boys (2008). Perry co-wrote the song with Max Martin, Cathy Dennis, and its producer Dr. Luke, with additional production from Benny Blanco. The track was recorded at Dr. Luke's Studios and Legacy Recordings, both based in New York City, New York, and Conway Recording Studios, based in Hollywood, Los Angeles. "I Kissed a Girl" is a pop rock, electropop, bubblegum pop, club, and disco record with elements of glam rock and new wave music. Perry stated its lyrics are "about the magical beauty of a woman". The song sparked controversy for its handling of bi-curious themes, but in retrospect has been credited with increasing LGBTQ awareness in pop music.

"I Kissed a Girl" became a massive commercial success worldwide in 2008. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 7 consecutive weeks, becoming the 1,000th number-one song of the rock era. The single has sold 4.8 million units in the US alone. "I Kissed a Girl" is one of eight songs by Perry to sell over 4 million digital copies in the US, the others being "Hot n Cold", "California Gurls", "Teenage Dream", "Firework", "E.T.", "Dark Horse" and "Roar". Outside of the United States, "I Kissed a Girl" topped charts in 20 countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. It was the best-selling song of 2008 in Finland. The song has sold 8 million copies worldwide and received multi-platinum certifications in Australia, Canada, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the United States.