Lady Gaga
Dance, Electronic, Jazz, Pop • Upper East Side, United States
Lady Gaga
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, professionally known as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress born March 28, 1986. Raised on Manhattan's Upper West Side in an upper-middle-class Italian-American family, she began piano lessons at age four and pursued formal training at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to focus on her music career.
After signing with Interscope Records in 2007, Gaga achieved global superstardom with her debut album The Fame (2008) and its reissue The Fame Monster (2009), which produced massive hits including "Just Dance," "Poker Face," and "Bad Romance." Her subsequent albums showcased remarkable versatility: Born This Way (2011) explored electronic rock and social themes, Artpop (2013) pushed electronic dance music boundaries, Cheek to Cheek (2014) showcased jazz collaboration with Tony Bennett, and Joanne (2016) marked a return to introspective soft rock. She returned to dance-pop with Chromatica (2020) and released Mayhem (2025).
Beyond music, Gaga expanded into acting, earning critical acclaim for American Horror Story: Hotel (2015), A Star Is Born (2018), and House of Gucci (2021). Her A Star Is Born soundtrack contributions, including the Oscar-winning "Shallow," made her the first woman to win an Academy, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Grammy Award in a single year. With 124 million records sold and accolades including 14 Grammy Awards, Gaga is one of the best-selling artists of all time.
Known for continuous reinvention and boundary-pushing artistry, Gaga combines diverse influences from rock to jazz while maintaining strong visual presentation. Her advocacy extends to mental health awareness and LGBTQ rights through the Born This Way Foundation. She holds the record for most-attended concert by a female artist, with a 2.5 million-person performance in Rio de Janeiro.
Notable Works
The Fame
Her debut album that achieved global recognition and reached number one in multiple countries. Produced hit singles including 'Just Dance' and 'Poker Face,' establishing her as a mainstream force in pop music.
The Fame Monster
A reissue/EP of The Fame featuring eight new songs that became the second best-selling album of 2010. Included the chart-topping single 'Bad Romance' and established her as a cultural phenomenon.
Born This Way
Her second studio album that sold over one million copies in its first week in the US and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The title track became the fastest-selling song on iTunes with over one million downloads in less than a week.
Bad Romance
A chart-topping single from The Fame Monster that became one of her most iconic songs. The music video became the most watched on YouTube in April 2010 and was later ranked among Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Shallow
A duet with Bradley Cooper for the A Star Is Born soundtrack that topped charts worldwide. Won the Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Grammy Award for Best Original Song, making her the first woman to win all four awards in one year.
Chromatica
Her sixth studio album that debuted at number one in the US and multiple territories. Featured the number-one single 'Rain on Me' with Ariana Grande and marked her return to dance-pop roots while addressing mental health themes.
Mayhem
Her latest album released to critical acclaim, debuting at number one in the US. Features successful singles including 'Die with a Smile' and 'Abracadabra,' representing a return to her early pop sound.
A Star Is Born (Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album co-written and produced with Bradley Cooper featuring 34 tracks and 17 original songs. Debuted at number one in the US and won multiple Grammy Awards, establishing her credibility as an actress and songwriter.
Quotes
“I don't know exactly where my affinity for music comes from, but it is the thing that comes easiest to me. That is the thing that I believe I am the greatest at.”
“My name is Lady Gaga, I've been on the music scene for years, and I'm telling you, this is what's next.”
“I believe that all good music can be played on a piano and still sound like a hit.”
“The turning point for me was the gay community.”
“I know what it means to have someone support me and understand what I'm going through, and every young person in the world should have someone to turn to when they're hurting. It saved my life, and it will save theirs.”
Career Timeline
Die with a Smile and Grammy Recognition
Released 'Die with a Smile' duet with Bruno Mars which topped the Billboard Global 200 for 18 weeks. Won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, becoming the first artist to win the category three times.
Presidential Inauguration Performance
Sang the US national anthem at President Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20, 2021, performing for millions of viewers globally.
A Star Is Born and Academy Awards Sweep
Starred in Bradley Cooper's A Star Is Born alongside her acting debut, earning critical acclaim. Won the Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Grammy Award in one year for her contributions to the soundtrack, becoming the first woman to achieve this feat.
Super Bowl LI Halftime Show
Performed as the headlining act at Super Bowl LI with a drone performance that attracted 117.5 million US viewers, exceeding the game's viewership. Ranked as the second best Super Bowl halftime show in history by CBS Sports.
Cheek to Cheek with Tony Bennett
Collaborated with jazz legend Tony Bennett on the album Cheek to Cheek, demonstrating her versatility across genres. Won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album and became her third consecutive number-one album.
Born This Way Album and iTunes Record
Released Born This Way album which debuted at number one with 1.1 million first-week sales. The title track sold over one million copies within five days, earning the Guinness World Record for fastest-selling single on iTunes.
YouTube Milestone and MTV VMAs
Became the first person with more than one billion combined YouTube views. Won eight awards at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards from 13 nominations, including Video of the Year for 'Bad Romance,' becoming the most nominated artist for a single year.
The Monster Ball Tour
Headlined her Monster Ball Tour from November 2009 to May 2011, which grossed $227.4 million and became the highest-grossing concert tour for a debut headlining artist.
The Fame Album Release and Breakthrough
Released her debut album The Fame which reached number one in multiple countries and produced the hit singles 'Just Dance' and 'Poker Face.' Won Best Dance/Electronica Album at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.
Signed to Interscope Records
Signed with Vincent Herbert's Streamline Records, an imprint of Interscope Records, marking the beginning of her path to mainstream success. Later also signed with Akon's KonLive Distribution label as his 'franchise player.'
