Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress born on March 28, 1986, in New York City. She showed musical talent from a young age, learning to play the piano by ear at age four. Gaga attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart, a private all-girls school in Manhattan. She gained early admission to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts at age 17 to study music but dropped out after two years to focus on her music career.
Career Beginnings
After leaving school, Gaga began performing in clubs on New York's Lower East Side. In 2005, she was briefly signed by Def Jam Records but was dropped after a few months. She then worked as a songwriter for Sony/ATV Music Publishing, writing for artists like Britney Spears and The Pussycat Dolls. In 2007, she was signed by Interscope Records and Akon's label, KonLive Distribution. It was during this time that she adopted her stage name, Lady Gaga, inspired by the Queen song "Radio Ga Ga".
The Fame and The Fame Monster
Lady Gaga's debut album, "The Fame," was released in August 2008 and achieved massive commercial success. The album featured the number-one singles "Just Dance" and "Poker Face". In 2009, she released the EP "The Fame Monster," which was a reissue of her debut album with eight new tracks. This release included the iconic hit "Bad Romance," along with other successful singles like "Telephone" and "Alejandro". "The Fame Monster" earned Gaga numerous awards, including a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album.
Born This Way, Artpop, and Jazz Collaborations
Gaga's second full-length studio album, "Born This Way" (2011), explored electronic rock and techno-pop. The title track became the fastest-selling song in iTunes history at the time. Her third album, "Artpop" (2013), was an EDM-focused project with an experimental and art-centric theme. Following "Artpop," Gaga shifted gears and collaborated with legendary singer Tony Bennett on a jazz album titled "Cheek to Cheek" (2014), which debuted at number one in the US. They later released a second collaborative album, "Love for Sale," in 2021.
Acting Career and A Star Is Born
Lady Gaga had long aspired to be an actress and began to seriously pursue acting in the 2010s. She had a role in "Machete Kills" (2013) and later gained praise for her performance in the television series "American Horror Story: Hotel" (2015–2016), for which she won a Golden Globe Award. Her major breakthrough in acting came with her leading role opposite Bradley Cooper in the 2018 remake of "A Star Is Born." Her performance garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, and she won an Oscar for Best Original Song for "Shallow". She continued her acting career with a starring role in "House of Gucci" (2021).
Joanne and Super Bowl Halftime Show
In 2016, Lady Gaga released her fifth studio album, "Joanne," which marked a departure from her pop sound, incorporating elements of country and soft rock. The album featured the single "Million Reasons" and became her fourth consecutive number-one album in the US. In February 2017, Gaga headlined the Super Bowl LI halftime show, a critically acclaimed performance that showcased a medley of her greatest hits. The show was noted for its technical achievements, including the use of drones, and high energy.
Chromatica and Return to Dance-Pop
With her sixth studio album, "Chromatica" (2020), Lady Gaga returned to her dance-pop roots. The album, which features collaborations with artists like Ariana Grande ("Rain on Me") and Elton John, was met with positive reviews and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. "Chromatica" was seen as a return to the sound that made her a global superstar.