Early Life and Education of Lady Gaga: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Lady Gaga. A timeline of key moments.

Lady Gaga (Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress renowned for her constant image reinventions and versatility. She is a highly influential figure in popular music, known for pushing boundaries and experimenting with various genres and styles throughout her career. Her impact extends beyond music into fashion and popular culture, solidifying her status as a cultural icon.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1937: Original 'A Star Is Born' Film

The story of Ally and Jackson Maine as portrayed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in the 2018 movie A Star is Born is a remake of the 1937 film of the same name.

March 28, 1986: Lady Gaga's Birth

On March 28, 1986, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, known professionally as Lady Gaga, was born. She would later become a prominent American singer, songwriter, and actress.

Others born on this day/year

2003: Early admission to Collaborative Arts Project 21

In 2003, Lady Gaga gained early admission to Collaborative Arts Project 21, a music school at New York University (NYU)'s Tisch School of the Arts.

2005: Recording with Melle Mel and Forming SGBand

In 2005, Lady Gaga recorded two songs with rapper Melle Mel for an audio book and formed a band called the SGBand with friends from NYU, performing in New York's Lower East Side club scene.

2005: Withdrawal from NYU and Appearance on Boiling Points

In 2005, Lady Gaga withdrew from NYU to focus on her music career. She also appeared on MTV's "Boiling Points", a prank reality television show, as an unsuspecting diner customer that year.

2005: Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage release year

In 2021, Lady Gaga released a limited edition of Rosé Vintage 2005 Dom Pérignon bottles to benefit the Born This Way Foundation, with the release year of the rose being in 2005.

May 2008: First televised performance at NewNowNext Awards

In May 2008, Lady Gaga had one of her first televised performances at the NewNowNext Awards, an awards show aired by the LGBTQ television network Logo.

2009: Speech at the National Equality March

In 2009, Lady Gaga spoke at the National Equality March in Washington, D.C., demonstrating her support for the LGBTQ rights movement.

2009: Barbara Walters Interview

In 2009, during an interview with Barbara Walters for her annual ABC News special 10 Most Fascinating People, Lady Gaga dismissed claims that she is intersex as an urban legend and expressed her fondness for androgyny.

January 2010: Gaga Donates Concert Proceeds to Haiti Relief

In January 2010, after declining an invitation to appear on the single "We Are the World 25 for Haiti", Lady Gaga donated the proceeds of her Radio City Music Hall concert and profits from her online store to Haiti's reconstruction relief fund, collecting $500,000.

September 2010: Speech at Servicemembers Legal Defense Network's rally

In September 2010, Lady Gaga spoke at a Servicemembers Legal Defense Network's rally in Portland, Maine, advocating for LGBTQ rights. Following this event, The Advocate recognized her as a "fierce advocate" for gays and lesbians.

2010: MTV Video Music Awards Meat Dress Controversy

In 2010, Lady Gaga wore a dress made of raw beef to the MTV Video Music Awards. Vogue named her one of the Best Dressed people of 2010 and Time named the dress the Fashion Statement of the year. It attracted worldwide media attention, and the animal rights organization PETA found it offensive.

2010: University of Virginia introduces course on Lady Gaga and identity

In Fall 2010, the University of Virginia introduced a writing course titled "GaGa for Gaga: Sex, Gender, and Identity" exploring identity challenges related to gender and sexuality through the lens of Lady Gaga.

June 2011: Appearance at Europride in Rome

In June 2011, Lady Gaga appeared at Europride in Rome, where she criticized the state of gay rights in Europe and called gay people "revolutionaries of love".

June 2011: Gaga performs at MTV Japan's charity show

In June 2011, Lady Gaga performed at MTV Japan's charity show in Makuhari Messe, which benefited the Japanese Red Cross.

July 2011: Meeting Taylor Kinney

In July 2011, while filming the music video for "You and I", Lady Gaga met and began dating actor Taylor Kinney, who played her love interest in the video.

2011: Guinness World Record for Largest Gathering of Lady Gaga Impersonators

In 2011, 121 women gathered at the Grammy Awards dressed in costumes similar to those worn by Lady Gaga, earning the 2011 Guinness World Record for Largest Gathering of Lady Gaga Impersonators. The Global Language Monitor named "Lady Gaga" as the Top Fashion Buzzword with her trademark "no pants" a close third.

2011: "Lady Gaga Day" designated in Taichung, Taiwan

In 2011, July 3 was designated as "Lady Gaga Day" in Taichung, Taiwan, marking the anniversary of her first visit to the country.

2011: University of South Carolina launches course on Lady Gaga and fame

In early 2011, the University of South Carolina launched a sociology course titled "Lady Gaga and the Sociology of the Fame" to study the dimensions of Lady Gaga's fame.

July 2012: Launch of LittleMonsters.com

In July 2012, Lady Gaga co-founded the social networking service LittleMonsters.com, devoted to her fans.

July 2012: BTWF partners with Office Depot

In July 2012, the Born This Way Foundation partnered with Office Depot for a series of limited edition back-to-school products, with 25% of its sales going towards the foundation, for a guaranteed donation of $1 million.

2012: Endorsement of Barack Obama

In 2012, Lady Gaga endorsed Barack Obama during the US presidential election, showing her support for his policies and leadership.

2012: Ranked fourth in VH1's Greatest Women in Music and featured in exhibition

In 2012, Lady Gaga ranked fourth in VH1's Greatest Women in Music. She also became a feature of the temporary exhibition The Elevated: From the Pharaoh to Lady Gaga at the National Museum in Warsaw.

2012: Meat Dress displayed at museum

In 2012, Lady Gaga's meat dress was displayed at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

2012: LennonOno Grant for Peace

In October 2012, Yoko Ono gave Lady Gaga and four other activists the LennonOno Grant for Peace in Reykjavík, Iceland. Earlier in 2012, Gaga joined the campaign group Artists Against Fracking.

2014: Discussion of Sexual Assault

In a 2014 interview, Lady Gaga discussed being raped at age 19 by her producer, and later undergoing mental and physical therapy for this, developing PTSD.

February 2015: Engagement to Taylor Kinney

In February 2015, Lady Gaga became engaged to Taylor Kinney.

September 2015: Meat Dress Enters Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In September 2015, the meat dress Lady Gaga wore to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

October 2015: Gaga discusses emotions with high school students at Yale

In October 2015, Lady Gaga joined high school students, policy makers, and academic officials at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence to discuss ways to recognize and channel emotions for positive outcomes.

April 2016: Gaga supports It's On Us campaign with Joe Biden

In April 2016, Lady Gaga joined Vice President Joe Biden at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to support his It's On Us campaign.

May 2016: Love Bravery clothing line released at Macy's

In May 2016, Lady Gaga and Elton John released the clothing and accessories line Love Bravery at Macy's. 25% of each purchase benefited the BTWF and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

June 2016: Vigil for Pulse Nightclub Victims and Signing Billboard's Open Letter on Gun Violence

In June 2016, Lady Gaga read the names of the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting at a vigil in Los Angeles. Additionally, she signed Billboard's Open Letter on Gun Violence, advocating for universal background checks on gun buyers.

June 2017: "Cups of Kindness" campaign with Starbucks

In June 2017, Lady Gaga partnered with Starbucks for a week with the "Cups of Kindness" campaign, where the company donated 25 cents from some of the beverages sold to the Born This Way Foundation.

March 2018: Support for March for Our Lives

In March 2018, Lady Gaga supported the March for Our Lives gun-control rally in Washington, D.C., and released a cover of Elton John's "Your Song" for his tribute album Revamp.

2018: Condemnation of Trump administration's stance on transgender rights

In 2018, Lady Gaga condemned the Trump administration's efforts to change the legal definition of sex to exclude transgender Americans, and spread the #WontBeErased campaign.

2018: Partnership with Born This Way Foundation to bring relief to California wildfire evacuees

On World Kindness Day in 2018, Lady Gaga partnered with the Born This Way Foundation to bring food and relief to a Red Cross shelter for people who have been forced to evacuate homes due to the California wildfires.

January 2019: Criticism of Mike Pence's views on LGBTQ rights

In January 2019, during an Enigma show, Lady Gaga criticized Vice President Mike Pence for his and his wife Karen Pence's views and actions regarding LGBTQ people.

February 2019: Engagement Ended

In February 2019, Lady Gaga ended her engagement to talent agent Christian Carino.

March 2019: Letter announcing teen mental health first aid project

In March 2019, Lady Gaga penned a letter to supporters of the Born This Way Foundation, announcing the launch of a new pilot program for a teen mental health first aid project with the National Council for Behavioral Health, and revealed her personal struggles with mental health.

April 2020: One World: Together at Home benefit concert

In April 2020, Lady Gaga curated the televised benefit concert, One World: Together at Home, a collaboration with Global Citizen to benefit the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. The special raised $127 million.

January 2021: Yolanda Denise King High Ground Award

In January 2021, Lady Gaga received the Yolanda Denise King High Ground Award from the King Center's Beloved Community Awards for her contribution to the Black Lives Matter movement.

February 2021: Dog Walker Shooting

In February 2021, Lady Gaga's dog walker, Ryan Fischer, was shot in Hollywood and two of her French Bulldogs, Koji and Gustav, were stolen. Miss Asia, a third dog, escaped and was later recovered. Gaga offered a $500,000 reward for their return.

May 2021: "Born This Way Day" declared in West Hollywood

In May 2021, West Hollywood mayor Lindsey P. Horvath presented Lady Gaga with a key to the city and declared May 23 as "Born This Way Day" to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the album and its cultural impact.

2021: Collaboration with Dom Pérignon to benefit BTWF

In 2021, Lady Gaga collaborated with the Champagne house Dom Pérignon to benefit the Born This Way Foundation, releasing a limited edition of Rosé Vintage 2005 bottles along with a sculpture designed by her, with profits donated to the foundation.

2021: People ranks Gaga on their 'Best Dressed Stars of 2021' list

In 2021, People ranked Lady Gaga number one on their "Best Dressed Stars of 2021" list, noting her high-fashion designs and elegant style.

December 2022: Shooter Sentenced

In December 2022, James Howard Jackson, the man who shot Lady Gaga's dog walker, was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

April 2024: Engagement to Michael Polansky

In April 2024, Lady Gaga became engaged to venture capitalist Michael Polansky, four years after they began dating.

2024: Support for the transgender community after Trump's rollback of protections

Following Trump's win in the 2024 US presidential election, in which Gaga endorsed Kamala Harris, she voiced her support for the transgender community after his rollback of their protections.