Katy Perry Q&A: Billboard's Woman of the Year 2012

Katy Perry's Top 10 Biggest Career Moments

Later this week, Billboard will honor Katy Perry as its Woman of the Year, crowning a half-decade of accomplishments and chart-topping hits. It's been a whirlwind few years for Katy Perry -- here are the 10 moments that most defined her career.

Katy Perry on Being Billboard's Woman of the Year: Watch

Watch Katy Perry talk about being honored as Billboard's Woman of the Year, her eclectic influences and more.

Katy Perry and Coty Announce Fragrance Partnership, New Perfume 'Almost Finished'

Her latest scent will follow previous offerings Purr and Meow.

Sitting back on a comfy sofa at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, Katy Perry is chatting about nail art. In place of the election-themed nails she sported Oct. 7 at a campaign fund-raiser for President Obama, the singer/songwriter is flashing a vampire-design manicure. The occasion this time is her similarly themed early birthday bash the following evening at Hollywood's Magic Castle.

"Nail art is very trendy now, but I started getting into it when I went to Japan seven years ago," says Perry, who turned 28 on Oct. 25. "I love showing my feelings and my support through my nail beds," she adds with a laugh. "God is in the details.

When Perry accepts Billboard's 2012 Woman of the Year award today (Nov. 30) at Capitale in New York, it will be the culmination of a heady year for the visionary talent.

The Santa Barbara, Calif., native not only set several chart records, she starred in, produced and released a 3-D feature film, "Katy Perry: Part of Me," and sold out 124 arenas on the worldwide California Dreams tour documented in that concert film.

Paving the road to success: Perry's sophomore album, "Teenage Dream." The 2010 release became the colorful artist's first No. 1 when it debuted atop the Billboard 200. It has since logged more than 100 weeks on the chart and sold 2.6 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

In addition to holding the record for the most consecutive weeks (69) with at least one title in the Billboard Hot 100's top 10 (2010-11), Perry is the only woman to score five Hot 100 No. 1s from one album ("Teenage Dream") in the chart's 54-year history.

Between her career and rallying support for Obama during his campaign, Perry is just as adamant about giving back. She has helped fund charity efforts for the Children's Heath Fund, Generosity Water, the Humane Society, the Red Cross, Make-a-Wish Foundation, the "Night of Too Many Stars" benefit for autism programs and MusiCares. On behalf of the lattermost organization, she donated royalties from her hit single "Part of Me" to the tune of $250,000.

Together with "American Idol" producer Nigel Lythgoe, Perry was honored by the Dream Foundation on Nov. 16 for her charity work. Up next: a performance at the Dec. 4 "Celebration of Carole King and Her Music" in Los Angeles, with proceeds benefiting Paul Newman's Painted Turtle camp.

And that's not counting Perry's entrepreneurial pursuits. On Nov. 28, she and Coty confirmed plans to produce and distribute her fragrance line, which includes previous scents Purr and Meow. She's also planning the launch of her own label while delving into her new role as creative partner/­investor in Popchips, a health-focused snack food.

All this activity is a far cry from less than five years ago. The pastors' daughter had been dropped by three labels-Columbia, Island Def Jam and gospel indie Red Hill-before she clicked in 2008. That's when Capitol released her breakthrough debut, One of the Boys, featuring the saucy single "I Kissed a Girl."

During a freewheeling 90-minute conversation over chopped chicken salad, Perry reflects on life thus far from over the rainbow.