Katy Perry says the Russell Brand divorce was life-shattering. In Billboard’s cover story interview Katy Perry says her new boyfriend, John Mayer, is "a genius." Katy Perry also says the Russell Brand divorce tainted her 2011 interview with Barbara Walters who never forgave Katy Parry for being late to an interview.

Katy Perry told Billboard that her life has changed completely in the past two years since her divorce from comedian Russell Brand. Katy Perry stopped by the magazine to promote “Prism,” Katy Perry’s new album.

Katy Perry is thrilled about her romance with John Mayer. She said "He literally is a genius, as is evident from his songwriting. I always tell him, 'Darling, you know I'm going to have to give your mind to science after you've passed, because we're going to have to understand how all these sparks work.'"

But it’s not just the music that makes the blues guitarist a genius. Katy Perry says Russell Brand is also a puzzle master. She said "We'll be in bed, and he'll be doing the crossword puzzle. Every night, he tries to finish it in under 10 minutes. When he puts his mind to something, he really gets it done very well. I always ask for his help."

Katy Perry’s third studio album is scheduled to hit stores on Oct. 22.

In the Billboard interview, Katy Perry also reveals her problems with the veteran journalist Barbara Walters. Katy Perry wishes she’d never sat down for Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating People of 2011 special. Katy Perry knew her marriage to Russell Brand was on the way out after 14 months. She said "I shouldn't have done the interview: I was playing Madison Square Garden that same night, and I knew that the end of my marriage was coming. I'd prepped everyone that I was running late, but Barbara showed up at the original time anyway. When I got there, I apologized immediately, but then she said to me, 'You know, I've only ever waited for one other person this long, and you know who that person was? Judy Garland. You know how she turned out, right?' I was like, 'Oh, snap! Yes, bitch!' I think it's the coolest thing that Barbara Walters shaded me. I just couldn't tell her as we were sitting down for a mega-interview, 'Hey, my marriage is falling apart. Give me a break.'"