Katy Perry made a surprise appearance at a benefit concert for survivors of the Thomas fire and the subsequent mudslides that devastated Montecito.
The Santa Barbara native performed at One805’s Kick Ash Bash in Summerland that helped raised nearly $2 million (Dh7.34 million) for the community and its first responders.
“This means the world to me,” Perry told CNN. “This is where I flourish. My heart was broken by the tragedy, the mudslide. I’ll do anything to help this community.”
December’s catastrophic Thomas fire, which started in Ventura County and spread north into Santa Barbara County, was California’s largest wildfire in modern history. It was followed by mudslides on January 9 that killed 21 people in Montecito.
Perry joined David Foster, Katharine McPhee, Richard Marx, Wilson Phillips, Kenny Loggins and more who all reportedly waived their fees to perform.
The new American Idol judge sang Roar and dedicated Firework to the survivors. She also embraced 14-year-old survivor Lauren Cantin, who sang God Bless America, local TV station KEYT reported. Cantin was reunited onstage with the firefighter who helped save her. The teenager’s father died in the mud and her 17-year-old brother is still missing, KEYT said.
Perry was among the many famous faces at the open-air festival held at the Bella Vista Ranch. Montecito residents Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi were also in attendance.
