Katy Perry's Evangelical Christian Parents Proud of Her Olympic Anthem "Rise"

Singer and songwriter Katy Perry was raised up by evangelical Christian pastors. But she has not trodded the path her parents wished. When she released songs such as "I Kissed a Girl," her parents, Keith and Mary Hudson, were so embarassed that they wanted to escape to Venezuela. They also publicly disapproved of the song's homosexual theme and of their daughter's revealing outfits. 

However, with the release of her new Olympic anthem "Rise," her first new music release since 2013's Prism, her parents are proud of Katy again. "She's going to be singing 'Rise' for the Olympics this year," informed her dad and added, "We're very proud of it and her."

The 31-year-old pop singer, who grew up singing gospel songs in their church, publicly renounced her Christian faith and said she no longer identified with any religion, including Christianity, but maintains she still prays to God.

"I'm not Buddhist, I'm not Hindu, I'm not Christian, but I still feel like I have a deep connection with God," Perry told Marie Claire in an interview.

Perry returns to her motivational best on the new number, which is a tie-in with NBC's coverage of next month's 2016 Rio Olympic Games. "When, when the fire's at my feet again/And the vultures all start circling/They're whispering, 'you're out of time'/ But still I rise," she sings.

The single was fast out the blocks, Perry explains, but it doesn't presage the release of a new LP. "This is a song that's been brewing inside me for years, that has finally come to the surface. I was inspired to finish it now, rather than save it for my next album, because now more than ever, there is a need for our world to unite," Perry said in a statement. "I know that together we can rise above the fear - in our country, and around the world. I can't think of a better example than the Olympic athletes, as they gather in Rio with their strength and fearlessness, to remind us how we ALL can come together, with the resolve to be the best we can be. I hope this song can inspire us to heal, unite, and rise together. I am honored that NBC Olympics has chosen to use it as an anthem before and during the Rio Games." 

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