Blount Library Blog

Treasures from the Averett Archives: The Day A Future Multi-Platinum Recording Artist Performed at Averett

One of the most enjoyable parts of being an archivist is the element of surprise.  New and unprocessed collections - though they may have a general description like "faculty files," "admissions brochures," or "photos" - are otherwise unknown territory.  When processing a box, one might stumble across something inexplicable at any moment.

In late August, while working through an enormous deposit of photographs from the early 2000s, I had an incredible example of this sort of archival serendipity.  Amongst the expected piles of photos from graduations, sporting events, etc., I found ten undated and unlabeled photos of a young woman playing a guitar.  Shockingly, the woman was clearly a teenage Katy Perry.

For those who don't know, in early 2001, at only sixteen years old, Katy Perry released an album of Christian music under her actual name, Katy Hudson, but the record company which released the album almost immediately went bankrupt.  She would perform as an unsigned, independent Christian artist for an unknown stretch of time (apparently as Katy Hudson, Katheryn Hudson, and possibly even Katheryn Perry), while simultaneously transitioning her songwriting to secular pop-music.  This process - during which she eventually adopted the stage name Katy Perry - lasted several years. 

Publicity for the Averett concert was so minimal that I have, to this point, turned up no mentions of Katy Perry (or any of her earlier performing identities) in the local press, student newspaper, alumni newsletters, or any other extant material from the time.  However, the photos were clearly taken on North Campus, no more than a few hundred feet from the football fieldhouse.

Former Averett Chaplain Kendall Shuler - who is present in three of the photos - remembers it as "part of an event to invite high school students from area churches to a meal, concert, and Averett Football game," and thinks that it took place during the team's second season.  This is a very persuasive claim, as fall 2001 would place the concert squarely in the middle of Katy's touring in support of her "Katy Hudson" album.

Although the relatively non-descript performance area seems odd for a concert during a recruitment event, the location, "Welcome to Averett" sign behind her, and the appearance of the Cougar mascot all fit perfectly with the notion that the concert was part of a football-related Baptist recruitment event.  Assuming Rev. Shuler's memories are accurate, the safest guess is that the performance occurred on Sept 22, 2001 - a warm, 80-degree day which matches up well with both Katy's outfit and what can be inferred about the weather from the photos.  On that day the Averett University calendar included both a home football game and a "Baptist Day Open House."  Although a schedule for the open house is vague, it does list "Entertainment and lunch" on North Campus from 11:30-12:30, prior to a 1:00 football game.

Katy Perry's small performance on Averett's campus would, therefore, have been extremely early in her professional career - back when she was still performing under the name Katy Hudson.  It would be seven and a half more years before she would release her first number one hit single, "I Kissed A Girl," and be on her way to becoming one of the most successful recording artists of the 21st century.

The moral of the story?  Make time to attend some of the events that occur on campus during your time at Averett.  Maybe see if you can take a picture of yourself with the performer(s).  Who knows how jealous you'll be able to make your friends just a few years later.

If any readers of this post can offer further information about this performance, please contact the archivist.