In case you slept through the month of November: Katy Perry is set to headline this year's Super Bowl halftime show. And no, she did not "pay to play."
The iconic broadcast previously made headlines in August after the Wall Street Journal reported that the National Football League was asking potential performers if they would be willing to make some kind of "financial contribution" to the NFL in exchange for the highly coveted gig.
Three months later, Perry was picked as the choice performer, and the 30-year-old pop star continues to insist that she did not shell out any cash for the job.
"I put my foot down very early in the courtship," she said in a recent interview, per Refinery29. "I said, 'Look guys, here's where I draw a line in the sand. I want to be invited on my own merits and not with some fine print. I stuck to my position ... I don't even care if my contract leaks. ... I have nothing to hide, basically."
Opting not to comment on reports that she plans to perform an unreleased song, Perry, who is seemingly back together with John Mayer, did promise a 12-minute mash-up of all her biggest hits while adding that the show will feature two different "worlds."
She also shared why she believes she is the perfect pick for the broadcast, following the recent scandals that have plagued the NFL, including the Ray Rice controversy, which made headlines while Perry was in discussions with the league.
"I'm all about female empowerment and uplifting people's spirits, and people finding their own voice with songs like 'Roar' and 'Firework,' so maybe there is no better person [for the show]," she said. "Hopefully I can bring that incredible strength and empowerment to people through the performance."
Joining Perry on stage will be Lenny Kravitz, whom she previously teased as her "first" special guest, and she told E! News earlier this week that she has her mind, body and focus "really intact."
The superstar's recent interview isn't the first time she's addressed the pay to play allegations. During an appearance on ESPN's College Game Day in October (you know, when she asked Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight to call her), Katy exclaimed, "I'm not the kind of girl who would pay to play the Super Bowl."