The pop icon, known for her lively music and versatile talents, has successfully climbed to the summit of stardom and maintained her position. Her recent forays into acting have even earned her recognition from the Academy Awards. With such a remarkable career, what are the origins of her stage name and early beginnings? Let's delve into the backstory of Lady Gaga and her moniker.

Early Career

Born on March 28, 1986, in Manhattan, New York City, Lady Gaga (birth name Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) began her artistic journey at Collaborative Arts Project 21, part of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, before dropping out to pursue music. Initially signed with Def Jam Recordings, her contract was cancelled, but she later landed a deal with Interscope Records and singer Akon's label, KonLive Distribution in 2007, while working as a songwriter for Sony/ATV Music Publishing.

Her debut studio album, The Fame, was released in 2008, featuring hit singles like "Just Dance" and "Poker Face." The EP, The Fame Monster, released in 2009, yielded three more hit singles. Today, Lady Gaga has sold over 125 million albums and has made her mark in the film industry with roles in major movies such as A Star Is Born (2018) and House of Gucci (2021).

Childhood

Born into an upper-middle-class Catholic family, Germanotta's musical journey started when her mother insisted on her learning the piano at the age of four to become "a cultured young woman." She learned to create music by ear through these lessons and preferred it over reading sheet music. During her teenage years, she participated in open mic nights and also took on various roles on stage, including playing Adelaide in the play Guys and Dolls.

When asked about her love for music, she said,

“I don’t know exactly where my affinity for music comes from, but it is the thing that comes easiest to me. When I was like three years old, I may have been even younger. My mom always tells this really embarrassing story of me propping myself up and playing the keys like this because I was too young and short to get all the way up there.”

“Just go like this on the low end of the piano… I was really, really good at piano, so my first instincts were to work so hard at practicing piano, and I might not have been a natural dancer, but I am a natural musician. That is the thing that I believe I am the greatest at.”

— Lady Gaga

Germanotta eventually dropped out of college to pursue her passion for music and signed with Interscope Records and KonLive Distribution, which led to the release of her debut studio album, The Fame, in 2008. The album featured hit singles like "Just Dance" and "Poker Face," and she continued her success with the EP The Fame Monster in 2009. Today, she has sold over 125 million albums and has also made a name for herself in the acting world with roles in movies like A Star is Born and House of Gucci.

Big Break

Two songs were recorded by her in 2005 with hip-hop artist Melle Mel for an audiobook. The following year, she showcased her skills at the Cutting Room's New Songwriters Showcase, where talent scout Wendy Starland noticed her and recommended her to music producer Rob Fusari. Together, they began combining pop and dance music. Fusari was also the first person to coin the name "Lady Gaga" for her, which was inspired by the Queen's song, "Radio Ga Ga."

In 2009, Gaga joined the Pussycat Dolls' "Doll Domination Tour" in Europe as an opening act, after which she embarked on her tour, "The Fame Ball Tour."

Behind the Name: Lady Gaga

Radio Gaga: Written by Queen’s drummer, Roger Taylor, in 1984, the single “Radio Ga Ga” was initially released with “I Go Crazy” as the B-side. It later appeared on the album, The Works. The song achieved commercial success as a single, topping charts in 19 countries and reaching No. 2 on the U.K. Singles Chart, while also peaking at No. 16 in the U.S. The band performed the song at every concert from 1984 until their final show with lead singer Freddie Mercury in 1986, including their legendary performance at Live Aid in 1985.

Lady Gaga: Glory: According to Lady Gaga: Queen of Pop, the artist formerly known as Stefani Germanotta adopted the stage name “Lady Gaga” from the Queen song “Radio Ga Ga” before releasing her debut album, The Fame, in 2008. Even before her debut release, Gaga confidently embraced her new identity, though some radio stations found her music too dance-focused and risqué. Nonetheless, she boldly proclaimed, “My name is Lady Gaga; I’ve been on the music scene for years, and I’m telling you, this is what’s next.” Since then, the Manhattan-born artist has achieved tremendous success and global fame as one of the pop divas.

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