Katy Perry Says Every Female Artist Owes Madonna a 'Thank You' for 'Breaking Down Barriers'

"I’m 40, I still get to do music because of Madonna," said Perry in a new interview following the release of her latest album, '143'

The Queen of Pop made quite an impact on Katy Perry.

In a new interview on Australian TV program The Project, the 39-year-old "Woman's World" musician recalled Madonna offering support during her early career days.

"Madonna was really nice to me — well, it took a minute because she was testing me, and then she became super nice to me," said Perry, explaining the "Material Girl" singer, 66, "actually shouted out my song, and that was really the beginning of my career. That’s kind of what started to break me."

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The former American Idol judge added that she "really" thinks about those moments when meeting new pop stars: "That might be the only interaction that we ever have, and people may not remember what you say, but they will always remember how you make them feel, and so that is very instilled inside of me."

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Elaborating on what kind of tests Madge put her through before they became friends, Perry cheekily said, "She just does her Madonna thing."

"She would invite me to a party, and we had to do a photoshoot together which was amazing," the "Teenage Dream" artist continued. "She’s the greatest."

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Perry added of Madonna, "She paved the way. When you talk about me reaching out to younger artists, every female [artist] still needs to continue to say thank you to her because she is breaking down barriers. I’m 40, I still get to do music because of Madonna."

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Fresh off the release of her latest album, 143, Perry — now a superstar in her own right — has since passed her own wisdom onto newer pop artists. In a recent Rolling Stone cover story interview, Chappell Roan revealed the "Lifetimes" singer is one of many artists who've reached out to her with advice on how to handle fame.

"When we cross paths we talk about it, and I do reach out to them," said Perry on The Project of speaking with burgeoning musicians. "I think their journey now is more unique than what I went through in 2008. When I started, social media wasn’t there."

She continued, "There wasn’t eight billion voices speaking all at once. I mean, there was still a lot to see and hear and protect yourself from, but I think you have to really depend on your tools even more so these days, and so I tell all the girlies, I’m like, ‘I’m here. I love you. I got you, whatever, if you want a tea I’ll be here for you.’"

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