Katy Perry Told Her Therapist She Wanted a ‘Legendary Love.’ Then She Met Justin Trudeau: ‘Missing Puzzle Piece’ (Exclusive)

Katy Perry opens up to PEOPLE about touring through heartbreak and finding love with Justin Trudeau

"I'm living my f---ing life to the fullest!" she says

The pop superstar's concert film, Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour - Live from Paris hits theaters and IMAX on Wednesday, Sept. 2

Katy Perry is in a bathing suit, still drying off from a dip in the pool with her 6-year-old daughter Daisy , when she answers a video call on her phone. The pop superstar is finally relishing some downtime 16 months after she hit the road for her hit Lifetimes Tour , with Daisy along for the ride.

"She's seeing her mother in her purpose, and that's good for her; she sees her mom being strong. But also, not every day was easy," says Perry, 41. "Look, last year was really hard." Indeed, the tour came during a transitional period for Perry, who — after facing a harsh reception for her most recent album 143 — weathered a public breakup last summer from Daisy's dad and her partner of nearly 10 years, Orlando Bloom.

Despite the tumult, the "Teenage Dream" singer continued to shine and own the night onstage. "I learned how to step back into my purpose," she says, "and I got the greatest gift from this tour: I got to meet the love of my life." That would be Justin Trudeau , 54, the former Canadian prime minister, whom she met while on the road .

A year later the singer is happier than ever and looking back on the momentous sojourn with her concert film, Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour—Live From Paris (in theaters and IMAX for a limited time Wednesday, Sept. 2).

"A lot of people said I couldn't do it and gave me a lot of flak — and I did it. Some people are like, 'Cringe, cringe, cringe,' " she says. "But I'm living my f---ing life to the fullest!"

Perry kicked off the tour in April 2025, just months before reps for her and former fiancé Bloom confirmed their split . She was in Australia when the news broke in July. "It was probably the hardest time. My friends were all hanging out back home. I was crying and just feeling far away," Perry says of her lowest point. "But then my angels went to work. They really showed up."

By the end of that month, she and Trudeau ignited romance rumors when they stepped out for a dinner date in Montreal and the ex-politician was spotted at her show two days later with his daughter (he has three children from a previous marriage).

"I got to meet Justin on tour, and then things shifted," she says. A firm believer in manifestation, Perry wrote down a list last August. On this call she picks up her phone and pulls a piece of paper out of her case. Unfolding it while holding it up to the camera, she reads the last line item aloud: "No. 10 just says, 'True Love.' And I think that's where we're at."

In October the pair took their relationship public, stepping out for her birthday in Paris — and this June they made their red carpet debut at the Tribeca Festival premiere of the concert film. That same month Perry released "Watch It Burn," a fiery breakup single seemingly inspired by last year's uncoupling.

"I wouldn't have stayed in something for nine years if there wasn't really important things to learn. Each relationship is a teacher, right?" she says. "I had to let it go so I could move forward. I always wanted this epic legendary love , and I was talking to my therapist about it: Everything in my life is epic, but this is kind of the missing puzzle piece — then it showed up."

And Trudeau showed up for her all summer, in the crowd at 10 of her 20 recent shows. "He knows the words, he's supportive, and he's in awe; it's super healing," says Perry, who adds that "he is really heart-centered, and I think that we align in that way. I'm so grateful."

With the tour behind her, Perry surely has more love songs in her future — but for now she's focused on the precious everyday moments.

"[I'm] living my life," she says, "so I can write about my life."

For more on Katy Perry, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.