With a new world tour mounting and her latest album, ‘143,’ storming music shelves, Katy Perry has been quite the busy bee as she pounds the promotional pavement in support of both projects.

Months before the global jaunt kicks off in Australia, however, the Pop diva was spotted Down Under as she prepares to headline this weekend’s AFL Grand Final in Melbourne.

Most recently taking to the city’s local news program, ‘The Project,‘ Perry waxed honest about the Grand Final, her new album, tour, and more.

When quizzed on “inspiring the next generation of singers,” the ‘Roar‘ songstress gave a big shout out to her idol: Queen of Pop Madonna.

Hear her touching words inside.

Having not to long ago left ‘American Idol‘ as a judge to talented hopefuls, Perry is no stranger to mentoring the next generation of musical hitmakers.

As it relates to stars like Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and the rest of today’s chart-toppers, Katy says she doesn’t hesitate to help them navigate the challenges of fame.

“When I see them and when we path cross, we talk about it. I do reach out to them; I think their journey is more unique than what I went through in 2008 when I started. Social media wasn’t there and there wasn’t 8 billion voices speaking all at once. 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,” she said. “So, I tell all the girlies that ‘I’m here, I got you.'”

As far as who that guiding light was for her in the infancy of her career, Perry pointed to the Pop Queen as who helped put her on the map.

“Madonna was really nice to me,” she started before relaying, “She actually shouted out my song [in the noughties] and that was really the beginning of my career. That’s what started to break me.”

The praise session didn’t stop there.

“She’s the greatest. She paved the way. Every person, when you talk about me reaching out to younger artists, every female still needs to continue to say ‘thank you’ to her cause she is breaking down barriers. I’m 40, I still get to do music because of Madonna,” Katy said.

Perry’s statement comes just months after rumors swirled the two Pop divas were set to drop a duet for the ‘143’ album.

The song never happened, however.

[main photo source: V Magazine]

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