AS Lady Gaga turns 39 on March 28, it’s the perfect time to delve into the life of this versatile artist.
Widely known for having very explicit lyrics, dance steps, and even costumes, these are a few facts you might not know yet about Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga’s real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta
Born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, Gaga’s middle name, ‘Joanne,’ was given in honor of her aunt, who passed away before she was born. This connection was further highlighted in her fifth album, titled Joanne, released in 2016.
Her stage name comes from the classic song of the rock band ‘Queen’
Gaga’s iconic stage name derives from the Queen’s 1984 song ‘Radio Ga Ga.’ In 2010, after a period of not working and dating her former music producer, Robert Fusari, Fusari shared that he was texting Gaga when his phone autocorrected ‘Radio Ga Ga’ into ‘Lady GaGa.’
She embraced this name and has used it professionally ever since.
Lady Gaga attended an all girl-school
The singer attended an all-girls school in the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Manhattan. Gaga later studied music at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University for two years before dropping out, believing she could teach herself about art more effectively than through formal education.
Lady Gaga is actually a brunette
Interestingly, although she is widely recognized as blonde, Gaga is actually a brunette. She dyed her hair blonde after frequently being mistaken for Amy Winehouse, which eventually became her signature look.
Her debut was a huge success
Lady Gaga’s rise to fame can be credited to her four hit singles: “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” “Lovegame,” and “Paparazzi,” all of which reached number one on the charts.
Despite being one of the most controversial artists in the industry for her unique and over-the-top fashion and performances, Gaga continues to thrive – and here are some of the moments that Gaga proved she deserves the spot she fought for in the industry!
Watch here: Born This Way (Acapella)
One of her most empowering songs, “Born This Way,” is about love and equality. Gaga wrote it amidst social issues to inspire everyone to embrace their true selves and love freely.
Remarkably, she composed the song in just ten minutes, telling Vogue, “10 f–cking minutes.”
This song just proves that Lady Gaga is so much more than just a provocative performer.
Watch here: Poker Face (Piano Version)
If anyone believes Gaga is merely a trendsetter known for her unique outfits and dance moves, they need to check out some of her acoustic performances.
In NBC’s Access Hollywood report, Gaga revealed that “Poker Face” reflects her personal experience with bisexuality. The song narrates the story of being with a man while fantasizing about a woman, all while maintaining a ‘poker face’ that a man must figure out to understand her thoughts.
This acoustic version showcases a different side of her artistry
Watch how creatively different this acoustic performance is from the original track, and you’ll truly appreciate the real talent that defines Lady Gaga.
Watch here: Paparazzi (Piano Version)
In the same performance, watch how Gaga’s raw shines through with just a piano and her stunning voice.
She told DotDash Meredith, that “Paparazzi” carries multiple interpretations, from her struggles between fame and love to captivating paparazzi to gain their favor. Gaga herself told Arjanwrites, “It really defines me as an artist in a lot of ways…I’m really proud of that (paparazzi) song.”
Watch here: Perfect Illusion
Gaga needs no autotune, autotune needs her! In this performance, Gaga’s vocal range was greatly highlighted.
Perfect Illusion’s lyrics are a commentary on the illusion of social media – emphasizing that much of what we encounter online is fabricated. As Gaga explained on the Breakfast Show, “This song is about raging against it and letting it go. It’s about wanting people to re-establish that human connection.”
If that’s not enough to impress you, don’t miss her Super Bowl performance where Gaga never missed a note despite the demanding choreography!
Lady Gaga’s versatility knows no bounds
Watch here: Lady Gaga’s Performance at Oscars – Sound of Music
Her performance at the Oscars was a turning point in her career. It showed off her incredible talent and changed how people viewed her.
Instead of just being seen as a quirky pop star known for her wild outfits, she became recognized as a serious and legendary performer.
After this moment, many filmmakers and actors began to respect her more, realizing that she had much to offer beyond her flashy persona. This allowed Gaga to establish herself as a talented actress.
Here are some notable films in which Lady Gaga has participated:
Machete Kills (2013)
Gaga’s first major acting role was in Machete Kills (2013), the sequel to Machete (2010). The film follows Machete (Danny Trejo), who is recruited by the US President to stop a Mexican revolutionary and arms dealer from launching a missile at the U.S.
Throughout his mission, Machete faces constant threats from assassins and must use all his skills to complete the mission. Lady Gaga plays La Chameleon, a hit woman in a group of assassins, sent to kill Machete.
Also read: Lady Gaga praises Pinay drag queens’ ‘Abracadabra’ performance
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)
A year later, Gaga worked with the same director of Machete Kills, Robert Rodriguez, in the sequel Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.
This film is about a femme fatale and weary detective who gets involved in four dark stories of seduction, corruption, and violence. Gaga appears in a single scene as a cafe waitress named Bertha.
American Horror Story: Hotel and Roanoke (2015-2016)
In the fifth season of the acclaimed horror anthology series, Hotel, the story centers around the mysterious Hotel Cortez in Los Angeles. This unsettling location is the site of disturbing and paranormal events, overseen by the glamorous bloodsucking fashionista, Countess Elizabeth Johnson, portrayed by Lady Gaga.
Gaga also re-enacted the role of Scáthach, a wicked ancient witch, in the universe documentary “My Roanoke Nightmare” during the sixth season, Roanoke.
A Star is Born (2018)
In its fifth adaptation, A Star is Born tells the story of alcoholic musician Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) who discovers and falls in love with a struggling artist (Lady Gaga) who is on the verge of giving up on her dream of becoming a successful singer.
When Jack encourages her to step into the spotlight, Ally’s career begins to rise, but their relationship starts to break down, as Jack battles his internal demons. Gaga contributed the original song “Shallow” to the film, which was nominated as Best Original Song.
House of Gucci (2021)
After the success of A Star is Born, Gaga was cast in Ridley Scott’s film House of Gucci as Patrizia Reggiani. She portrayed the wife of Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver), who schemes and manipulates to gain greater influence over her husband and the luxury empire he inherited.
This portrayal helped Gaga bag numerous award nominations, including the BAFTA and Critics’ Choice Movie Awards.
Joker: Folie A Deux (2024)
In the Joker: Folie A Deux film, Gaga takes on the iconic role of Harley Quinn. The title translates to “shared madness,” reflecting the dual identities and psychosis often explored in the narrative. Struggling with his own identity, failed comedian Arthur Fleck finds an unexpected love while at the Arkham State Hospital.
As he awaits trial for the murder of five people, Fleck begins to uncover the music that has always been within him. This musical film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September where it received an 11-minute standing ovation from the audience.
As Lady Gaga continues to evolve as a versatile artist, she recently released her seventh studio album, Mayhem, on March 7. Just ten days later, she was honored with the Innovator Award at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Known for her unique and sometimes controversial approach to art, Gaga emphasized that true innovation stems from authenticity. In her acceptance speech, she passionately urged fellow artists, saying, “To every artist that’s ever been told they’re different, complicated or too much, please never change. Break the mold. The world doesn’t need another copy; it desperately needs your original.”
