Katy Perry took to the main stage at Rock in Rio Lisbon last night, delivering a powerful performance that served as both a celebration of her career and a bold step into a new chapter. During the set, the pop icon debuted her upcoming track, ‘Watch It Burn,’ while candidly addressing the challenges she faced throughout a difficult 2025.

Donning the same iconic outfit she wore during her 2009 Hello Katy Tour in Lisbon, Perry shared a reflective moment with the audience. “Little did I know when I was wearing this outfit all those years ago in Lisbon that I would write a song called ‘Roar’, and I’d sing it all around the world for millions of people and at some point, I would lose my own roar,” she admitted before performing an emotive acoustic version of the 2013 anthem.

The singer spoke openly about the pressures of public scrutiny, referencing the negative reception to her 2024 album 143 and the criticism surrounding her participation in a high-profile space flight. “Life goes in seasons,” she explained. “Sometimes you don’t want to get out of bed and sometimes you can’t roar. And sometimes the things that people say about you actually hurt your feelings because you’re not a robot; you’re a human being.”

Looking ahead, Perry signaled a definitive shift in her trajectory. “I’ll admit, I lost my roar for a little bit. It was just a whisper, but as I’m about to release my next song next week – ‘Watch It Burn’ – I will tell you, my roar is back.”

The upcoming single, scheduled for release on June 25, is described by Perry as an anthem about granting herself permission to process anger. The track features lyrics that lean into a rock-inflected sound, marking a departure from her recent pop output. Following its debut in Spain earlier this month, the song has already become a focal point of her live shows, complete with theatrical stage production.

As the festival continues, the energy in Lisbon remains high, with a lineup featuring artists such as Linkin Park, Cypress Hill, The Pretty Reckless, Grandson, and Kaiser Chiefs.