By Alanah Eriksen


Happy families: Katy Perry's evangelical parents, Mary and Keith Hudson, pictured at a post-Grammy party in February, spoke about their daughter's divorce in an Ohio church


Katy Perry's religious parents have managed to see something positive in the breakdown of their daughter's one year marriage.

The pair spoke about their daughter's divorce for the first time - from the pulpit of their evangelical church which was unusually packed it seems.

And the ministers suggested her split with Russell Brand was a gift sent by God - to help them fill churches.

The service was held yesterday, as removal containers were seen in the grounds of the celebrity couple's $6.5 million Hollywood Hills mansion, ready to cart away their belongings.


Mary, 63, preached to the Church on the Rise congregation in Westlake, Ohio: 'I'm sure that Katy's trending on the Internet was to get you here to church tonight.

'I mean all over the world, who knows how God is bringing them in? The most important thing is you are here and God wants to put the fire in you in 2012.'

She and husband Keith, 63, billed themselves as 'Katy Perry's parents in marketing materials for the event, reported CNN.

Moving out: Removal containers were spotted outside Katy and Russell's $6.5 million Hollywood Hills mansion, ready to divide the couple's belongings

They spoke for about 90 minutes to 300 worshippers in the first service since Katy's split with the comedian on Friday.

A video was shown before the Hudsons took the stage in Ohio showed them at award shows with Katy.

Keith told the crowd he converted from a drug user to a Christian when he was 24 years old.

He added that his daughter's success had helped the couple share their beliefs with Hollywood superstars.

"What has taken place in my daughter's life has opened many opportunities to go in and be with guarded and gated people.

'God has given us a platform to go in and meet people — and they like us because we are cool. We are not threatening.'

Different worlds: Russell was not brought up religious by his mother Barbara, while Katy listened to gospel music and was banned from watching TV


Katy was brought up as a devout Christian in Santa Barbara, California. She listened only to gospel music and was banned from watching TV.

Keith also choked back tears when talking about his daughter's different lifestyle, reported The Sun.

'I love my daughter and I will always love her. Stop being judgmental and critical. Do not close the doors to your loved ones, especially your children.

'Just because they do not like what you do or what you are, they are still praying that you stay in the race. They are counting on you.

'I believe in God, for every one of my children.'

The service comes as it was claimed the 14-month marriage ended because Russell continuously mocked his in-laws' beliefs at family events.

Moving on: Russell was spotted leaving his manager's home in Primrose Hill, London, yesterday as removal containers were seen at his and Katy's LA mansion


Friends said the singer had asked Russell to file the court papers last month to avoid upsetting her parents, who are strongly opposed to divorce.

The comments were revealed by biographer Chloe Govan, author of Katy Perry: A Life of Fireworks.

A friend said: 'Russ was forever making lewd jokes at the dinner table and poking fun at her parents' beliefs.

'He managed to restrain himself in the beginning — just. But as the marriage progressed, he got worse and kept winding up her family.'

Another added: 'After the lust wore off, reality hit home about their differences and she was left thinking, 'What have I done?'

Other rumours say the split was because Katy couldn’t keep up with Russell’s appetite in the bedroom, and he disapproval of her party lifestyle.

Russell, 36, has reportedly been uninvited from the People's Choice Awards in Los Angeles on Wednesday to avoid a confrontation with Katy.

She is expected to make her fist appearance since the split at the show where she is nominated for seven awards, including Favourite Female Artist.

A source told the Daily Mirror: 'It will be Katy’s big night, a prelude to the Grammys, and now Russell has been strangely left off the list of attendees for the high-profile event.

'It was always going to be awkward for organisers in any case after their shock decision to split. But in order to avoid any awkwardness or confrontation Russ is no longer on the list.'

She is said to be holed up in the LA home she shared with Russell, which they purchased in June.

The comedian-turned-actor has been seen on a number of occasions since releasing a statement about the divorce, and was yesterday spotted leaving his manger's home in Primrose Hill, London.

The couple, who were married in India October 2010, spent Christmas thousands of miles apart, with Katy in Hawaii and Russell in Cornwall.

They were both pictured without their wedding rings.

He filed for divorce on January 30.

Meanwhile, a new song has been leaked in which Katy sings about shooting bad lovers. Recorded before the split, Bullet, tells how her dad will gun down men who break her heart.

She sings: 'My mama warned me about boys like you,

'It’s the reason I wear these high-heeled boots.

'And let me give you a little piece of advice.

'My papa packs heat and he won’t think twice.'

Katy wrote it for US country singer Jessie James, 23, but it is her voice on the leaked version.




source:dailymail