Lady Gaga

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta was born on March 28, 1986, in Manhattan, New York City, to Cynthia Louise (Bissett), a philanthropist and business executive of half-Italian, half-French/English/German/Scottish ancestry, and Joseph Anthony Germanotta Jr., an internet entrepreneur of Italian descent. From a young age, she displayed musical talent, singing and playing piano proficiently. She attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart, an all-girls Catholic school in Manhattan, where she faced bullying for her appearance—being small, plumper, with large front teeth—and eccentric habits. By age 14, she performed at open mic nights in New York clubs and bars. At 11, she began formal training, and at 17, she earned early admission to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, studying there for two years before dropping out to pursue her music career full-time. In her early career, Germanotta performed in New York clubs, initially managed by her father, then signed with Interscope Records via a deal with producer RedOne and songwriter Rob Fusari, who coined her stage name 'Lady Gaga' from Queen's 'Radio Ga Ga.' She released her debut album The Fame in 2008, featuring massive hits like 'Just Dance' and 'Poker Face,' establishing her as a pop sensation known for theatrical performances and avant-garde fashion. Follow-up albums The Fame Monster (2009) with 'Bad Romance' and Born This Way (2011) solidified her stardom, with the latter's title track becoming an LGBTQ+ anthem. She bleached her hair blonde early on to avoid confusion with Amy Winehouse. Gaga diversified into acting, guest-starring in American Horror Story: Hotel (2015–2016), winning a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Miniseries. Her breakout film role was Ally in A Star Is Born (2018) opposite Bradley Cooper, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Actress and a win for Best Original Song ('Shallow'). She has released subsequent albums like Chromatica (2020) and Love for Sale (2021, with Tony Bennett), while engaging in philanthropy via the Born This Way Foundation, co-founded with her mother in 2012 to support youth mental health. Personally, she dated actor Taylor Kinney (engaged 2015, split 2016), talent agent Christian Carino (engaged 2018, split 2019), and has been with Michael Polansky since 2020, confirming their engagement in July 2024.