5 Things You Didn’t Know About Linda Perry

The Talk’s Sara Gilbert confirmed on Thursday’s show that after separating from her partner of 10 years, with whom she has two kids, she has a new love in her life: Linda Perry. Who is that, you ask? If her name doesn’t ring a bell, the 46-year-old Latina singer/songwriter’s music will. Trust us. Read on to get to know her better:

1.    She’s Brazilian-Portuguese

Perry’s mom, Marluce, is a Brazilian former model. Perry was born and raised in Massachussetts and has six siblings.

2.     She’s the voice behind a classic rock ballad

Perry was the lead singer in the ‘90s band 4 Non Blondes, and her booming, soulful voice is featured in their biggest hit, the still popular “What’s Up?” whose “what’s going on?” refrain was an instant classic. 

3.    She’s penned songs for Christina Aguilera and many others

Among her biggest songwriting hits: Pink's "Get the Party Started," Gwen Stefani's "What You Waiting For?" and Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful", which got her a Grammy nomination. 

4.    She discovered James Blunt

Perry, who has started two record labels, signed Blunt—that doe-eyed Brit who croons the 2005 mega-hit “You’re Beautiful”—to her Custard Records, and then the album was distributed by Atlantic Records. It went on to sell 15 million copies.

5.    She wrote an entire album about a straight girl who broke her heart

Perry and her new band, Deep Dark Robot debuted an album, 8 Songs About a Girl, in March. She told ChinashopMag: “It’s about a girl that basically broke my heart that kind of was pushing and pulling me and that I feel basically came after me and then once I showed up basically turned around and walked away. I got a little obsessive about it. She’s a straight girl and these kinds of situations happen all the time. We ended up not being together but I feel that it wasn’t because she wasn’t into me. I think it was because of lifestyle choice and it just didn’t fit. So I just started writing songs because I started getting really hurt and confused and that’s what I do. I write songs. She ended up being a muse. And because of her, I made an album. Because of her, I’m going out on tour.”