"Equality is a huge, huge, huge issue with me," admits Christina Perri. "In my soul, I just can't tolerate inequality; it's not who I am."
Showing her support for equality is one of many reasons the "A Thousand Years" singer "said yes instantly" when asked to headline the 25th-Annual Dinah Shore Weekend. Perri joins "All About That Bass" phenom Meghan Trainor, rising dance music sensation BeBe Rexha and more onstage at the world's largest lesbian party April 1-5 in Palm Springs, Calif.
"I grew up in Philadelphia in a hair salon," reminisced Perri, whose latest album Head or Heart was released exactly a year prior to The Dinah's 2015 kick-off, during a recent telephone interview. "Both of my parents are hairdressers, so I knew gay people my whole life -- but, to me, they weren't 'gay people.' They were just who they were."
As a result, Perri was an outspoken ally to the LGBT community long before she catapulted from unsigned singer/songwriter to global sensation overnight -- quite literally. Within hours of TV's So You Think You Can Dance featuring a demo version of "Jar of Hearts" in June 2010, the former Los Angeles-area waitress became the world's most-Googled person.
The "Jar of Hearts" Video Featuring Stars of TV's SYTYCD
With the song selling nearly a quarter-million copies in the days following, "Jar of Hearts" became an across-the-board, Platinum-certified smash. A "whirlwind" promotional tour ensued, and Perri signed to Atlantic Records three weeks later, never to wait tables again.
"My very first performance ever was on The CBS Morning Show," Perri shared. "My second performance ever was on Jay Leno. My third performance ever was when they asked me back to perform live on So You Think You Can Dance a week later."
The half-decade since has included a laundry list of nearly-unbelievable experiences, acknowledged Perri. She's performed around the world, logged a quarter-billion YouTube views with the love theme from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn and Captain Hook from TV's Once Upon a Times stars in the video for new single "The Words."
Yet, of her many accolades, signing to perform at The Dinah might have close friends the most excited, she said. Perri is stoked for the opportunity as well.
Christina Perri's Latest Video, "The Words"
"First of all, I love, love lesbians!" she said with a laugh. "I have different groups of lesbian friends, and I'm bringing them all with me. They're all so excited I'm performing...They're renting vans and coming down."
The gig places Perri among an elite list including Katy Perry, Iggy Azalea, Lady Gaga and Ke$ha -- not to mention successful out acts like Tegan & Sara, Wanda Sykes, Mary Lambert and more -- to headline The Dinah. And, as the event celebrates its landmark 25th Anniversary, it promises to be bigger than ever.
"Why not go to this thing I hear is just a big party?" Perri asked when pressed for what has her so happy to perform.
"It's not just celebrating everybody there, but I want to also bring all my friends and show the support," she concluded, "I just want to support everybody and come and sing and have everybody dance and sing along. It's an honor for me to be invited."
For More Information, Visit Christina Perri's Website.