Katy Perry Covers Billboard Magazine: Singer Opens up About John Mayer

American pop star Katy Perry has talked about her boyfriend John Mayer in the latest issue of Billboard magazine.

The couple's romance was first reported in June last year when the two were spotted enjoying affectionate moments together at Soho House in West Hollywood.

"He literally is a genius, as is evident from his songwriting," she gushed. "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.' 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."

The 28-year-old Teenage Dream singer was previously married to comedian Russell Brand, but divorced after 14 months. In Perry's 3D documentary-concert Part of Me, she included details about the breakdown of her marriage and incidents related to the situation.

Perry, who was named Billboard magazine's Woman of the Year, revealed that she regrets an interview she did with Barbara Walters towards the end of her marriage.

"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 was just exhausted and stressed," Perry says.

"I'd prepped everyone that I was running late, but Barbara showed up at the original time anyway. When I got there, I apologised 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,'" she said.