Kim Petras (/ˈpɛtrəs/, German: [ˈpeːtʁas]; born 27 August 1992) is a German singer and songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. Between 2016 and 2020, she released music as an independent artist under her own imprint, BunHead Records, before signing with Amigo and Republic Records in 2021.
Petras began recording music as a teenager. She independently released her debut international single, "I Don't Want It at All", in 2017. Several of her singles that followed—"Feeling of Falling", "Heart to Break", and "1, 2, 3 Dayz Up"—charted on Billboard's Dance/Electronic Songs chart. In 2019, Petras independently released her debut album, Clarity, and her second studio album, Turn Off the Light.
Petras signed with Republic Records in 2021 and released the EP Slut Pop, her first project with Republic, the following year. Petras's collaborative 2022 single "Unholy" with Sam Smith topped charts internationally, including the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first openly transgender solo artist to reach number one in the United States. Petras was the first openly transgender artist to receive a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (for "Unholy" in 2023) and the second transgender woman to win a Grammy following Wendy Carlos.
She made her Saturday Night Live debut and performing "Unholy" with Sam Smith (who is also the musical guest) on January 21, 2023, the tenth episode and first show of New Year 2023, hosted by actress, comedian and producer Aubrey Plaza.