“I had a boyfriend who told me I’d never succeed, never be nominated for a Grammy, never have a hit & hoped I’d fail.

I said to him someday, when we’re not together, you won’t be able to order a cup of coffee at the f***ing deli without hearing or seeing me.”- Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga  grew up in privilege, but it was not enough to shield her from failing many times on her journey to super-stardom

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta cannot claim grass to grace but the rich also cry.  She grew up in  Manhattan, Learned to play classical Piano from the age of four and attended same schools as rich kids Paris Hilton.

Her many struggles started early in high school;

 People found her very awkward, the way she styled her hair, her  make up was weird, so she was bullied a lot.

Sometimes she got to school and see faggot written all over her desk in class; At one point, she was picked up and thrown into the trash in the full glare of the public- an experience that scarred her terribly.

While in high school, she trained to become an actress for almost 10 years, every weekend she went to Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute

Inspite of her extensive training in theatre and acting, she failed to land any movie role

After her failed attempt at acting her mum convinced her to try music;

She enrolled for Music theatre training- at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

She dropped out of school after one year,  got an apartment and found a producer Robert Fusari- who later became her boyfriend.  she and her producer  would make music and send to record label executives, – Def jams took notice of her.

She was signed to Def jams only to be cancelled after three months because someone was in a bad mood.

LA Reid listened to her demo(s) and decided they were not willing to invest in her and dropped her immediately- A decision he now regrets

In the midst of it all, she was raped by a record producer 20 years older than she is…she refused to name him till date 

Bullying, failed acting career, dropped by record label… and then getting raped- What else was left to do- KEEP SINGING & START SONG WRITING

Gaga started to perform on her own in clubs and venues on New York City’s Lower East Side. There, she collaborated with several rock bands, Gaga became more outrageous with fashion choices to hide her insecurities 

Enter Akon 

Gaga began work as a song writer at  Interscope Records,  She was writing for artists like Britney Spears, New Kids on the Block and The Pussycat Dolls, thats where she met Akon.

He realized…she was a great writer, then the next day she had to vocalize the songs she wrote and he realized she was also a great singer,  plus she had an unbelievable personae, the dramatic way she put together her outfit was great.

Impressed, Akon convinced inter scope records to sign a joint deal for  lady Gaga with his label KonLive , Lady Gaga was unleashed to the world and and boy was she successful…..

Three widely successful Albums, back to back and many awards!

She always showed up in her art form, it cost her millions to make her costumes. but she did not want to disappoint her fans, she wanted to look the part they expected. and play the role they wanted her to play

 

"When I got Lady Gaga to the peak of where I felt it couldn't go nowhere—and there was nowhere left to go but down—I cashed out. I sold my share and got out before it was too late,- Akon on dumping lady Gaga

It all comes crashing down

In 2013, a hip injury left her confined to a 24 carat  wheel chair

Then there was a squabble with her internal team over her third album – Artpop.  Its reported that many disagreed with her direction. Her long time Manager left, Akon left,  her choreographer also left describing her direction as to dark for him creatively.

When the controversial third album was released, it flopped in every proportion- fans laughed at her 

I put so much love into my music, into my shows, I make it all for you. I'll never understand the overflow of hate sent my way.

— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) November 20, 2013

A time for reflection- 

Stephanie realized she created Gaga, a person stronger than herself to hide, to stop all the repressed anger from rape, the bullying. she hid her insecurities beneath this outrageous alter ego.  She went through therapy, it was time to let the Gaga go and reveal more of the Lady.

Time to be free, to live for herself  and not just her fans.

2016- Joanne Album – she took of her mask and unveiled her true self

Stripped down, vulnerable and authentic. It became Gaga’s fourth album to reach number-one in the United States. It also topped the charts in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and the international charts of Japan and Korea.

Lady Gaga as we know her was back- but more of the lady and less of the Gaga

She performed at the super bowl half time 2017 

Won three Grammy’s and a golden Globe award

But most importantly, a resurgent Lady Gaga was ready to take on her biggest role yet – A star is born- A movie which earned her an Oscar.

“I have worked hard for a long time and and it’s not about winning. What it’s about is not giving up. If you have a dream, fight for it. There’s a discipline for passion: it’s not about how many times you get rejected or you fall down and get beaten up, but how many times you stand up, and are brave and you keep on going.”- Lady Gaga