In her latest People cover story, Katy Perry opened up about her previous one-year split with current fiancé Orlando Bloom and which Justin Timberlake track helped her make sense of it.
The all-star couple has been through thick and thin over the last four years, even after splitting for a year in 2017. But spending time apart helped them grow stronger together later on, especially with a baby girl now on the way. She even sings about their previous relationship struggles and subsequent internal reflections in “Champagne Problems,” one of the tracks featured on her upcoming fifth album Smile due Aug. 28. And looking inward reminded her of JT’s No. 2 hit single “Mirrors” from his 2013 album The 20/20 Experience.
“It’s a song that really talks about how intense it’s gotten and how many things we have had to go through. Yes, we have problems. Everybody has challenges in a relationship,” Perry told People about “Champagne Problems.” “If it’s a real relationship, it’s going to challenge you into your best self. I really understand what Justin Timberlake said about, ‘You’re my mirror,’ because it’s true. They bring up all this stuff you can’t really see about yourself.”
The 35-year-old “Daisies” singer was previously married to actor Russell Brand from 2010 to 2012, but their union ultimately didn’t work out because of their conflicting busy schedules. According to Perry, things with Bloom aren’t always “peachy-keen jelly bean,” but those rough patches are what allows the two to make time to constantly figure things out together.
“It’s a never-ending evolution, so it’s not peachy-keen jelly bean all the time, but it’s nice to have been able to show each other all the good, bad and everything in between, and really fight for our best selves,” she said. “Now, we just joke, like yeah, we still have things to work out — but champagne problems! We’ve gotten through a lot of hell.”
They’re still figuring out wedding details after canceling the planned ceremony set for this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Despite this bump in the road, the pop star says she’s more concerned about her baby bump and finally having her first child. Bloom already has one nine-year-old son Flynn with ex-wife and model Miranda Kerr.
