Lady Gaga's biggest career achievements so far 👑
She's done so much!
Lady Gaga is a serious tour de force in the music industry. Not only is she a hugely talented singer, songwriter, actor and performer, but she's incredibly creative - serving us up with some of the most iconic outfits of all time.
As Gaga has now proved - she's not just a talented singer, but has blown us away with her incredible acting over the years. Appearing in numerous films, including the recent Joker sequel, it's fair to say she's bagged some HUGE achievements throughout her career. With a Joker: Folie à Deux companion album under her belt, a brand new single AND 'LG7' on the way next year, what better time to recap some of her most memorable moments so far...
Lady Gaga's biggest career moments so far:
2007: Lollapalooza Festival
After she began playing piano at the age of 4, Gaga - real name Stefani Germanotta - took on lead roles in plays at school, and enrolled in performance courses. She recorded songs with singer Melle Mel, and started working with producer Rob Fusari, before meeting performance artist Lady Starlight who helped to develop her on-stage persona. The pair performed together at the Lollapalooza festival in 2007.
2008: Debut album, 'The Fame'
In November 2007, Gaga was signed and began writing songs for the likes of Britney Spears, Fergie and the Pussycat Dolls. In 2008, she released her debut album 'The Fame', which spawned singles 'Just Dance', 'Poker Face' and 'Paparazzi'. It was a hit all over the world, hitting the top spot in the UK and US charts with Gaga winning two GRAMMYs in 2010. She spent a record 150 weeks in the UK singles chart in 2009.
2009: 'The Monster Ball Tour'
From 2009 - 2011, Gaga took her 'The Monster Ball Tour' worldwide! Over the two years, she travelled through arenas and stadiums supporting her first EP, 'The Fame Monster', and songs from her debut studio album, 'The Fame'.
Lady Gaga later revealed that at the height of the tour - despite multiple sold-out dates - she actually amassed a huge amount of debt which resulted in her becoming bankrupt... And she didn't even know! She told The Financial Times: "I actually went bankrupt after the first extension of The Monster Ball. And it was funny because I didn't know!"
Only finding out from her team afterwards, she continued: "I remember I called everybody and said, 'Why is everyÂone saying I have no money? This is ridiculous, I have five No. 1 singles.' And they said, 'Well, you're $3 million (£2.3 million) in debt."
2010: 'Telephone' with Beyoncé and second album
Gaga wrote eight brand new songs for the re-release of her debut album, which was entitled 'The Fame Monster' - one of which was 'Telephone' featuring Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. The Number 1 single was accompanied by a quirky 10-minute music video featuring the two stars as a criminal duo. 'Bad Romance' also featured on the reissue, and the music video became the most-watched YouTube video in April 2010. In October, Gaga became the first person to have a combined viewing figure of over a billion on the platform.
She won three GRAMMYs at the 2011 awards ceremony, and released 'Born This Way' - her second album - in May 2011. The lead single sold over a million copies in just five days, and the album hit the top spot in both the UK and US - being certified 3x Platinum in the UK and 2x Platinum in the US.
2012: The Simpsons and 'Artpop'
Gaga featured peak fame in 2012 when she was a guest star on The Simpsons in the episode 'Lisa Goes Gaga'. She also worked with Tony Bennett on a jazz version of 'The Lady Is A Tramp' and Elton John for the Gnomeo And Juliet soundtrack. Her third album 'Artpop' was released in November 2013, featuring 'Applause' and going to Number 1 in the UK and US. It was certified Gold in the UK and Platinum in the US.
She hosted Saturday Night Live that same month and starred in Lady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular, as well as a small role in 2014 Sin City follow-up A Dame To Kill For. Having worked together in 2011, Gaga collaborated with Tony Bennett once again to create a jazz album entitled 'Cheek To Cheek' and featuring covers of 'Anything Goes', 'It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)' and 'Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)'. The record showed yet another new side to Gaga, and won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, with the pair going on tour together.
2016: 'Til It Happens to You' at the Oscars 2016
After becoming engaged to Taylor Kinney in 2015 and seeing less success on 'Artpop', Gaga chose to soften her image and be less outrageous. She was approached by Diane Warren to co-write a song for documentary The Hunting Ground about campus rape in America - something that was close to her heart for personal reasons. They were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and she performed it at the 2016 ceremony, inviting victims onto the stage with her in an incredibly moving moment.
Having been an aspiring actress for most of her life, Gaga jumped at the chance to appear in American Horror Story: Hotel as the hotel's owner, Elizabeth - for which she received the Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film Golden Globe.
She also performed the National Anthem at Super Bowl 50, performing a tribute with Nile Rodgers to David Bowie, who had passed away one month before. She split from Taylor in July 2016, and returned to American Horror Story to play a witch in their sixth season, Roanoke. Her fourth album 'Joanne', named for her grandmother, was released in October 2016, and hit the top spot in the US, peaking at Number 3 in the UK. It was certified Platinum in the US and Gold in the UK.
2017: Super Bowl and documentary Gaga: Five Foot Two
After singing the National Anthem the previous year, Gaga was invited to perform as the headline act during the Super Bowl LI halftime show in February 2017 - it earned her an Outstanding Special Class Program Emmy nomination. She headlined Coachella Festival in the April, and in August went on the 'Joanne World Tour' before releasing her Netflix documentary Gaga: Five Foot Two in September.
2018: A Star Is Born
After contributing to Elton John's tribute album with a cover of 'Your Song', Gaga starred in the 2018 remake of A Star Is Born as Ally, with Bradley Cooper playing her love interest Jackson Maine. She was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, and the film's lead song 'Shallow' - which she wrote with Mark Ronson - received many nominations at all the big awards ceremonies. The soundtrack album hit the top spot in the UK and US charts, and was certified Platinum in the UK and 2x Platinum in the US.
2019: Awards and Las Vegas residency
Gaga cleaned up during the 2019 awards season - taking home the Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'Shallow', a BAFTA Film Award, two Critics' Choice Movie Awards, two GRAMMY Awards and the Best Original Song – Motion Picture Golden Globe for 'Shallow'. She signed a two-year residency in Las Vegas called Enigma which opened in December 2018, and launched her vegan makeup range Haus Laboratories in 2019. She was also announced to star in a Ridley Scott film about Maurizio Gucci, portraying his ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani who was convicted of hiring a hitman to murder him.
2020: 'Chromatica'
Gaga announced her sixth album 'Chromatica' in 2020, releasing the lead single 'Stupid Love' in February. The album was due for release in April 2020, but the singer chose to push it back due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
2021: Lady Gaga sings at President Biden's inauguration
Lady Gaga sang the US National Anthem at Joe Biden's inauguration as President of the United States.
2021: 'Love For Sale' album with Tony Bennet
'Love For Sale' is the second album Lady Gaga and singer Tony Bennet have created together. The pair collaborated in 2014 to create a jazz album called 'Cheek to Cheek'.
'Love For Sale' came out on 30th September and is a tribute to Jazz composer Cole Porter. The album is made up of renditions of Cole Porter's songs sung by Lady Gaga and Tony Bennet, and even bagged them a Grammy Award!
2021: House of Gucci
Lady Gaga is no stranger to the big screen, proving yet again in 2021 that she is one talented actress! Gaga starred as Patrizia Reggiani in the film House of Gucci, which was released on 26th November 2021.
She later received a Golden Globe nomination for her part in the film.
April 2022: 'Hold My Hand' in Top Gun: Maverick soundtrack
On 27th April, Lady Gaga announced that she had written the song 'Hold My Hand' for the Top Gun: Maverick film. The song came out on 3rd May and fans were quick to share their excitement at hearing new material from the iconic singer.
July 2022: Lady Gaga kicks off 'The Chromatica Ball' tour
After it was postponed in 2020, Lady Gaga was finally able to begin her 'The Chromatica Ball' tour on Sunday 17th July. The tour took her across Europe, Asia and North America with two shows in London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 29th and 30th July.
While on tour, fans thought the singer had 'magic powers' after an object was stopped mid-flight after it was thrown at the singer!
August 2022: Lady Gaga confirms role in Joker 2
In August 2022, Lady Gaga officially confirmed that she was set to star alongside Joaquin Phoenix in the sequel to 2019 film Joker. After months of rumours, the singer confirmed the news with a short teaser clip, which revealed that the sequel - titled Joker: Folie à deux - will be released on 4th October 2024. It was also reported at the time that we might be gifted with some musical numbers in the film, too.
2023: Nominations for 'Hold My Hand'
Gaga's song 'Hold My Hand' for Top Gun: Maverick received a pretty impressive amount of award nominations, getting nods at the Grammys, the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards. Despite the nominations, she lost out to Lin-Manuel Miranda for Encanto and M. M. Keeravani for RRR.
March 2023: Stripped-back Oscars performance of
Nominated for Best Original Song for 'Hold My Hand' at the 2023 Oscars, Lady Gaga performed the track live. In a stripped-down performance, the singer changed out of her Versace dress and diamonds and took to the stage in a T-Shirt, jeans and Converse!
April 2023: Gaga becomes co-chair of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities
In April 2023, President Joe Biden appointed Lady Gaga as co-chair of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. In this role, she will advise the President and heads of the US cultural agencies on ways to enhance federal support for the arts and humanities.
July 2023: Lady Gaga pays tribute to Tony Bennett
Lady Gaga took to Instagram to share an emotional tribute to her 'real true friend' Tony Bennett following his death aged 96. Tony and Lady Gaga first met in 2011 and collaborated on the albums 'Cheek To Cheek' and 'Love For Sale.' In 2021, Lady Gaga joined Tony on stage for his last live performance before he retired.
May 2024: Gaga Chromatica Ball release and new music tease
on 23rd May 2024, Lady Gaga's concert film premiered in Los Angeles, with the special - named the Gaga Chromatica Ball - airing on American streaming service HBO Max. The film was directed and produced by Lady Gaga herself, and gives fans the chance to re-live her iconic performance at the Dodger Stadium, in LA, in September 2022.
Not only that, but while attending the premiere, the singer teased that she would be releasing new music 'soon'. Telling Entertainment Tonight that she is working on her new music 'all the time', she gushed that her fans "hate when I say soon, but soon!"
Gaga also hinted that her upcoming album will be unlike anything that she'd made before.
July 2024: Lady Gaga performed at the Paris Olympics
Lady Gaga performed at the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. She took to a stage at the side of the River Seine and performed a French-language song 'Mon Truc en Plumes' meaning 'My Thing with Feathers'.
September 2024: Joker: Folie à Deux companion album 'Harlequin'
On 24th September 2024, just a week before the release of the highly-anticipated Joker sequel Joker: Folie à Deux, Lady Gaga dropped the news that she would be releasing a companion album for the film. Sharing the cover art, and revealing its title 'Harlequin', Gaga announced that it would be released on 27th September. Just days away from its release, she even dropped the tracklist, complete with 13 songs.
October 2024: Joker: Folie à Deux is released starring Joaquin Phönix and Lady Gaga
On 4th October 2024, Joker fans rejoiced as the sequel film - Joker: Folie à Deux - was officially released. Gaga stars in the film alongside Joaquin Phönix, with the pair playing the infamous roles of the Joker and Harley Quinn. Attending the Los Angeles premiere, the pair looked dapper as they rocked a black tie look, with Gaga donning black and red hair.
October 2024: First single from 'LG7' is released
Serving as a pretty exciting month for the singer, October 2024 also saw Lady Gaga release the official first single from her upcoming album 'LG7', coming in the form of the track 'Disease'. The almighty track, in all of its pop glory, was released on Friday 25th October, along with a lyric video on the singer's YouTube channel. Gaga also shared a snippet of what looked like an official music video to her socials.
Widely considered the 'first single' from her upcoming record, the 'Disease' singer also confirmed that her new album - dubbed 'LG7' - would be released in February 2025.
Listen to Lady Gaga's 'Disease' here on YouTube.
You can hear Lady Gaga's biggest hits on the heat radio playlist, including some fantastic throwbacks.
Now read:
Lady Gaga shares exciting update on her new music
The biggest Beyoncé collabs to date: From Jay-Z to Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga's most iconic outfits