Katy Perry has revealed why she and boyfriend John Mayer broke up last spring and the true reason she split with husband Russell Brand in her January 2014 Marie Claire cover. She looks pretty bangin', BTW!

Perry shared why she and Mayer, who have since gotten back together, happily so, had a relationship timeout. "I took a break from my boyfriend, not one that I wanted. It was like a splash of cold water to search inward on what was going on with me," she confessed.

It was necessary for her to do a little soul-searching so she could appreciate what she and Mayer have. She finished, "That is what led me to this new awakening, this realizing, ‘If I don’t do some self-love, I’m not going to be able to keep the love that I want.'"

That's an incredibly grown-up perspective for the 'Unconditionally' singer, who calls Mayer " a fantastic partner… He’s got a brilliant, brilliant mind. It’s a rad, mature relationship."

As for getting over her ex-husband Russell Brand? She still had to sift through the remnants and remains of those feelings, saying, "I still needed to deal with all of my ex-husband stuff. I hadn’t. It’s almost like if I kept talking about it, it would seem like I actually cared about it. I don’t."

Hmm, she may say she doesn't care, but it sounds like she does, since she discusses Brand often, perhaps since she realizes people are naturally curious.

But then again, we understand her position. She didn't discuss Brand as much since she felt like if she did, it would seem like she cared too much. But she still needed to purge it from her system and talking about it is a good way to do that. It's normal and human.

Perry also admitted it was Brand's desire to have children -- and her reluctance -- that sunk the marriage. She said, "He really wanted me to have children, and I knew I wasn’t ready. I think it was a way of control. I think it was part of, ‘If I have a kid, then I would have to sacrifice – I’d have to be home more."

While Perry has said she loved being married to Brand, it sounds like the relationship was not a healthy one. She is not ready for kids at this moment, either.

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