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, born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, is a highly influential American singer, songwriter, and actress. Renowned for her image reinventions and versatility, she has achieved immense success in the music industry, selling an estimated 124 million records, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She has been recognized by publications like Billboard and Rolling Stone as one of the greatest artists in history.

Sections (5)

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

March 28, 1986: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta's Birth

On March 28, 1986, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, who is professionally known as Lady Gaga, was born. She is an American singer, songwriter, and actress known for her constant image reinventions and versatility.

Others born on this day/year

2003: 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, and lived in an NYU dorm.

2005: Record songs with Melle Mel and forms SGBand.

In 2005, Lady Gaga recorded two songs with rapper Melle Mel for an audio book accompanying Cricket Casey's children's novel The Portal in the Park. She also formed a band called the SGBand with some friends from NYU.

The Portal in the Park -- Lyrics by Grandmaster Melle Mel, Songs in audio book are performed by Melle. Featuring Lady Gaga

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2005: Withdrawal from NYU and appearance on Boiling Points

In 2005, Lady Gaga withdrew from school to focus on her music career. She also played an unsuspecting diner customer for MTV's Boiling Points.

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2005: Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage

In 2021, Lady Gaga collaborated with Dom Pérignon to benefit the Born This Way Foundation, releasing a limited edition of Rosé Vintage 2005 bottles and a sculpture. The Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage 2005 wine was created in 2005.

2009: Speech at the National Equality March

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

September 2010: MTV Video Music Awards Appearance and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Rally

In September 2010, Lady Gaga attended the MTV Video Music Awards accompanied by gay and lesbian former members of the United States Armed Forces who had been unable to serve openly. She also spoke at a Servicemembers Legal Defense Network's rally in Portland, Maine, advocating for the overturn of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

2010: University of Virginia College of Arts and Sciences course titled 'GaGa for Gaga: Sex, Gender, and Identity'

During its Fall 2010 semester, the University of Virginia College of Arts and Sciences introduced a writing course titled "GaGa for Gaga: Sex, Gender, and Identity" which explored "how identity is challenged by gender and sexuality and how Lady Gaga confronts this challenge".

2010: Befriended Alexander McQueen

In 2010, Lady Gaga became friends with British fashion designer Alexander McQueen shortly before his suicide, and became known for wearing his designs, particularly his towering armadillo shoes.

June 2011: Appearance at Europride in Rome

In June 2011, Lady Gaga appeared at Europride in Rome, criticizing the state of gay rights in many European countries and calling gay people "revolutionaries of love".

July 2011: Beginning of Relationship with Taylor Kinney

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

2011: "Lady Gaga Day" in Taichung, Taiwan

In 2011, July 3 is designated as "Lady Gaga Day" in Taichung, Taiwan, marking the first day Lady Gaga visited the country.

2011: University of South Carolina course titled 'Lady Gaga and the Sociology of the Fame'

In early 2011, sociologist Mathieu Deflem of the University of South Carolina launched a course titled "Lady Gaga and the Sociology of the Fame" with the objective of unraveling "some of the sociologically relevant dimensions of the fame of Lady Gaga".

2012: Endorsement of Barack Obama

In 2012, Lady Gaga endorsed Barack Obama during the US presidential election, after meeting with him in 2011 to discuss anti-gay bullying following the suicide of Jamey Rodemeyer.

2012: Ranked Fourth in VH1's Greatest Women in Music

In 2012, Lady Gaga ranked fourth in VH1's Greatest Women in Music and was featured in the exhibition 'The Elevated. From the Pharaoh to Lady Gaga' at the National Museum in Warsaw.

2014: Discussion of being raped

In a 2014 interview, Lady Gaga discussed being raped at age 19 by her producer, and later undergoing mental and physical therapy for this. She revealed she has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

February 2015: Engagement to Taylor Kinney

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

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

In June 2016, Lady Gaga read the names of the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub attack at a vigil in Los Angeles and gave a speech. She also signed Billboard's Open Letter on Gun Violence, advocating for universal background checks.

2018: Support for March for Our Lives and Condemnation of Trump Administration's Transgender Policies

In 2018, Lady Gaga supported the March for Our Lives gun-control rally in Washington, D.C. She also condemned the Trump administration's efforts to change the legal definition of sex, excluding transgender Americans.

2018: Partnership with Born This Way Foundation on World Kindness Day

In 2018, on World Kindness Day, Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation partnered with the Red Cross, Starbucks, and SoulCycle to provide food and relief to those affected by the California wildfires and thank the firefighters. Lady Gaga herself had to evacuate her home because of the Woolsey Fire.

January 2019: Criticism of Vice President Mike Pence

In January 2019, Lady Gaga criticized Vice President Mike Pence during one of her Enigma shows for his wife's employment at a school that turns away LGBTQ people, stating that she is a Christian who believes in acceptance and no prejudice.

March 2019: Launch of Teen Mental Health First Aid Project

In March 2019, Lady Gaga announced the launch of a teen mental health first aid pilot project with the National Council for Behavioral Health through the Born This Way Foundation. In a letter to supporters, she shared her personal struggles with mental health and emphasized the importance of having support for young people in need.

2020: Endorsed Joe Biden

In 2020, Lady Gaga endorsed Joe Biden in the United States presidential election.

February 2021: Dog walker shot and dogs stolen

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. She offered a $500,000 reward for their return.

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

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

2021: Collaboration with Dom Pérignon and Release of 'The Power of Kindness'

In 2021, Lady Gaga collaborated with Dom Pérignon to benefit the Born This Way Foundation, releasing a limited edition of Rosé Vintage 2005 bottles and a sculpture. Also, on World Kindness Day 2021, she released a special titled "The Power of Kindness", exploring the connection between kindness and mental health.

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December 2022: James Howard Jackson sentenced to prison

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

2024: Support for the Transgender Community

Following Donald 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.