The track "Jar of Hearts" served as the primary catalyst for the career of Christina Perri, reaching the Billboard Hot 100 in 2010 after a high-profile feature on the television series So You Think You Can Dance. This breakthrough transition from a Philadelphia waitress to a professional recording artist marked the beginning of a prolific decade in the American music industry.
Formative Years and Musical Development
Born in 1986 in Bensalem, a suburb of Philadelphia, Perri participated in musical theater throughout her childhood. She attended Saint Ephrem Catholic School and graduated from Archbishop Ryan High School in 2004. Her self-taught guitar practice began at age 16 after she viewed a recording of Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon. She briefly studied communication at the University of the Arts before committing to a music career.
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Following a move to Los Angeles at 21 and a brief return to Philadelphia in 2009, Perri wrote "Jar of Hearts". After the song appeared on So You Think You Can Dance in June 2010, it sold over 100,000 copies in under a month. Atlantic Records signed her in July 2010, leading to her debut EP, The Ocean Way Sessions, and her first studio album, Lovestrong, which achieved platinum certification.
Chart Success and Subsequent Projects
Perri achieved significant commercial success with "A Thousand Years," the love theme for the film The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2. The single surpassed 10 million sales in the United States and received Diamond certification. Her subsequent studio albums include Head or Heart, released in 2014, and A Lighter Shade of Blue in 2022. She also expanded her discography with various holiday and lullaby collections, such as Songs for Carmella, Songs for Rosie, and Songs for Pixie.
Fast facts
- Born: 1986, Philadelphia
- Citizenship: United States
- Debut album: Lovestrong (2011)
- Notable single: A Thousand Years
- Education: Archbishop Ryan High School
- Primary occupations: Singer-songwriter, composer
Questions readers ask
What was Perri's first major hit?
Her first major hit was the single "Jar of Hearts," which gained national exposure after being featured on the show So You Think You Can Dance in 2010.
Which film featured the song A Thousand Years?
The song was the love theme for the 2012 film The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2.
Achievements
- Worked as singer-songwriter, singer and composer
