Lady Gaga

    The enigmatic and energetic superstar Lady Gaga was born as Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta in 1986. Growing up in Yonkers, New York, Germanotta showed extreme musical talent from a young age. She began to play piano at the age of four, and at 11 was accepted to Juilliard School in Manhattan. However, she denied this acceptance and instead attended a private Catholic school. A few years later, she attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts where she recieved a coveted early acceptance. Germanotta withdrew from the school after only a few semesters to seek creative inspiration. During this time she worked as a go-go dancer to support herself, which helped her hone her unique performance art skills. 

    In 2007, Germanotta started work as a songwriter with Interscope Records where she wrote hit songs for artists such as Britney Spears, New Kids on the Block, and the Pussycat Dolls. Famous singer and producer Akon saw Germanotta at a burlesque show she had created, "Lady Gaga and the Starlight Revue". Impressed, Akon signed Gaga to his label and she began writing and recording her first album. 

    Gaga's first album, The Fame, recieved both critical and popular acclaim. Her later albums, The Fame Monster, Born This Way and Artpop also recieved great praise and were nominated for multiple Grammys. Even more noteable than her popular music, Gaga's performance art and public persona are famous for her eccentricity. From emerging from a giant egg at the 2011 Grammy's to her dress made entirely of meat in 2010, Gaga has always enjoyed surprising her audience with her antics. She is also well known for her music videos, specifically the video for Judas that portrays the 12 deciples as a motorcycle gang and Gaga as Jesus' cheating lover.