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Christina Perri facts for kids

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Christina Perri
Christina Perri @ Grammy Museum 07 11 2022 (52300441692).jpg
Perri in 2022
Born
Christina Judith Perri

(1986-08-19) August 19, 1986 (age 38)
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Spouse(s)
Paul Costabile
(m. 2017)
Children 3
Relatives Nick Perri (brother)
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
  • keyboards
Labels
Signature
Christina Perri signature, Billboard Open Letter 2016.png

Christina Judith Perri, born on August 19, 1986, is an American singer and songwriter. She became famous in 2010 when her first song, "Jar of Hearts", was shown on the TV show So You Think You Can Dance. After this, she signed with Atlantic Records and released her first album, Lovestrong, in 2011. This album was very successful and sold over a million copies.

Perri also wrote and sang "A Thousand Years", a popular love song for the movie The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012). This song sold more than 10 million copies in the United States. Its music video has been watched over two billion times on YouTube. She has released several other albums, including Head or Heart (2014) and lullaby albums like Songs for Carmella (2019) and Songs for Rosie (2021). Her most recent album, A Lighter Shade of Blue, came out in 2022.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Christina Perri was born in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Her family has Italian and Polish roots. She has an older brother, Nick Perri, who is also a musician.

She went to Saint Ephrem Catholic School and then graduated from Archbishop Ryan High School in 2004. She later attended the University of the Arts for a year. Perri taught herself to play guitar when she was 16. She learned by watching a video of a musician named Shannon Hoon. She decided to leave college to focus on her music career.

As a child, Perri often sang and acted in musical theater. She says she learned piano and guitar because she missed hearing music in her home after she moved away. When she played, songs would just "appear."

Music Career Highlights

Starting Her Journey

Perri moved to Los Angeles when she turned 21. She felt scared being so far from her family at first. She later got married and started making music videos for work. After her divorce 18 months later, she moved into her own apartment to focus only on music.

She moved back to Philadelphia in late 2009. During this time, she wrote her hit song "Jar of Hearts". She then moved back to Los Angeles, working as a waitress during the day and recording music at night.

Breakthrough with Lovestrong

Christina Perri
Perri in a 2011 interview

On June 30, 2010, Christina Perri's song "Jar of Hearts" was featured on So You Think You Can Dance. A friend of Perri's, Keltie Knight, shared the song with the show's choreographer. After being on the show, "Jar of Hearts" quickly sold many digital copies. It became a hit on the Billboard charts.

Because of this success, Perri signed with Atlantic Records in July 2010. She released a short album called The Ocean Way Sessions in November 2010. Her first full album, Lovestrong, came out on May 10, 2011. It was very popular, reaching number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart.

In July 2011, Perri started her first world tour, the Lovestrong Tour. It lasted for about a year. She also released "A Thousand Years" in October 2011. This song was part of the soundtrack for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1. It became her most successful song, selling over 4 million copies in the US. In late 2012, Perri opened for Jason Mraz on his "Love Is a Four Letter Word Tour."

In August 2012, she announced a Christmas album, A Very Merry Perri Christmas EP. It was released in October 2012. She also re-recorded "A Thousand Years" with Steve Kazee for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 soundtrack.

New Albums and Tours

Christina Perri - Head or Heart Tour, LA, CA (4)
Perri on her Head or Heart Tour in Los Angeles, California, in 2014

In 2013, Perri started sharing updates about her second album. She worked with a charity called To Write Love on Her Arms and performed a new song, "I Believe." On November 11, 2013, she announced her new single, "Human". It was released a week later.

Her second album, Head or Heart, was released on April 1, 2014. She then started her Head or Heart Tour in April 2014. She also opened for Demi Lovato's North American tour dates.

In December 2018, Perri released her first lullaby album, Songs for Carmella: Lullabies & Sing-a-Longs. She dedicated it to her daughter, Carmella. In November 2019, she released a deluxe version of her Christmas EP.

Recent Music and Projects

Perri released her second lullaby album, Songs for Rosie, on November 24, 2021. This album is a special tribute to her daughter, Rosie, who passed away. It goes along with her first lullaby album, Songs for Carmella.

Christina Perri @ Grammy Museum 07 11 2022 (52301918890)
Perri performing at the Grammy Museum in 2022

In March 2022, Perri released "Evergone" as the first song from her third album. She shared that she waited a year to release the song after writing it. She wanted to take care of herself first.

Perri started writing for this album in 2017 but felt something was missing. She worked with British singer-songwriter Luke Sital-Singh. They wrote a song called "Blue," which helped her see the full vision for the album. Her third studio album, A Lighter Shade of Blue, was released by Elektra Records on July 15, 2022.

In August 2024, Perri announced she was writing a children's book based on her 2011 song, "A Thousand Years." She mentioned that people have played the original song to their kids for a long time. She felt it was natural to turn it into a children's book. The book is planned for release on April 1, 2025.

Personal Life

Christina Perri married Paul Costabile on December 12, 2017. They welcomed their first daughter, Carmella Stanley, in January 2018.

In January 2020, Perri shared that she had a miscarriage. In July of that year, she announced she was pregnant again. Sadly, in November 2020, Perri revealed that her daughter, Rosie, was stillborn. She shared that Rosie is "at peace now and will live forever in our hearts." In May 2022, Perri announced another pregnancy. She gave birth to their daughter, Pixie Rose, in October 2022.

Discography

  • Lovestrong (2011)
  • Head or Heart (2014)
  • Songs for Carmella: Lullabies & Sing-a-Longs (2019)
  • Songs for Rosie (2021)
  • A Lighter Shade of Blue (2022)
  • Songs for Pixie (2023)
  • Songs for Christmas (2023)

Awards and Nominations

Year Awards Work Category Result
2011 MP3 Music Awards "Jar of Hearts" The BNC Award Won
4Music Video Honours Best Video Nominated
2013 BMI Pop Awards "A Thousand Years" Award-Winning Song Won
Musicnotes.com Song of the Year Awards Song of the Year Won
Herself Publisher of the Year Won

Concert Tours

Headlining Tours
  • Lovestrong Tour (2011–2012)
  • Head or Heart Tour (2014)
Co-Headlining Tours
Opening Act Tours
  • Love Is a Four Letter Word Tour (2012)
  • Demi World Tour (2014)
  • Native Tour (2014)
  • x Tour (2015)
  • Billy Joel @ Citizen Bank Park (2016)
  • Ed Sheeran Tour (2016)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Christina Perri para niños

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