Lasting Legacy of Lady Gaga: A Look at the Influence on History
A closer look at the lasting mark left by Lady Gaga—a timeline of influence.
Lady Gaga, born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, is a highly influential American singer, songwriter, and actress renowned for her constant image reinventions and versatility. A best-selling music artist with approximately 124 million records sold, she has been recognized by Billboard and Rolling Stone as one of the greatest artists ever. Her impact spans music, film, and fashion, solidifying her status as a pop culture icon.
2009: Named Greatest Pop Star by Billboard
In 2009, Billboard named Lady Gaga "the Greatest Pop Star of 2009", acknowledging her rapid rise and game-changing influence.
2010: University of Virginia Writing Course: 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", focusing on Gaga's influence on gender and sexual identity.
2010: Included on Forbes' Celebrity 100
From 2010 to 2015 and 2018 to 2020, Lady Gaga was included on Forbes' Celebrity 100 and also appeared on their list of the World's Most Powerful Women from 2010 to 2014 and was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2010.
2010: One of Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2010, Time named Lady Gaga one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
2011: Most followed person on Twitter
From 2011 to 2013, according to Guinness World Records, Lady Gaga was the most followed person on Twitter and she also topped Forbes' Celebrity 100 list.
2011: Named "Queen of Pop" by Rolling Stone
In 2011, Lady Gaga was named the "Queen of Pop" in a ranking by Rolling Stone based on record sales and social media metrics.
2011: Lady Gaga Day in Taichung, Taiwan
In Taichung, Taiwan, July 3 is designated as "Lady Gaga Day", marking the first day Lady Gaga visited the country in 2011.
2011: University of South Carolina Course: 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" to explore sociologically relevant dimensions of her fame.
2012: Ranked Fourth in VH1's Greatest Women in Music
In 2012, Lady Gaga ranked fourth in VH1's Greatest Women in Music, and became a feature of the temporary exhibition The Elevated. From the Pharaoh to Lady Gaga, which marked the 150th anniversary of the National Museum in Warsaw.
2012: Meat dress displayed at National Museum of Women in the Arts
In 2012, Lady Gaga's meat dress was displayed at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
2013: Most famous celebrity
In 2013, Lady Gaga was named the most famous celebrity according to Guinness World Records.
2013: The Fame Listed as One of the Greatest Debut Albums
In 2013, The Fame's success—it was listed as one of the 100 Greatest Debut Albums of All-Time by Rolling Stone—Gaga has been credited as one of the musicians that popularized synth-pop in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
2014: Most powerful popstar
In 2014, Lady Gaga was named the most powerful popstar according to Guinness World Records.
September 2015: Meat dress enters Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In September 2015, Lady Gaga's meat dress entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
October 2015: Lady Gaga discusses emotions at Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence
In October 2015, Lady Gaga joined high school students, policymakers, and academic officials at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence to discuss recognizing and channeling emotions for positive outcomes.
2015: Included on Forbes' Celebrity 100
From 2010 to 2015 and 2018 to 2020, Lady Gaga was included on Forbes' Celebrity 100.
2015: Time notes Lady Gaga "practically invented the current era of pop music as spectacle"
In 2015, Time noted that Lady Gaga had "practically invented the current era of pop music as spectacle".
2017: Earworm Songs
A 2017 journal published by Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts studying structural patterns in melodies of earworm songs compiled lists of catchiest tracks from 3,000 participants, in which Gaga's "Bad Romance", "Alejandro", and "Poker Face" ranked number one, eight, and nine, respectively.
2018: Included on Forbes' Celebrity 100
From 2010 to 2015 and 2018 to 2020, Lady Gaga was included on Forbes' Celebrity 100.
2019: Named one of the 100 most influential people by Time
In 2019, Lady Gaga was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.
2019: One of Time's 100 Most Influential People Again
In 2019, Time recognized Lady Gaga as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for a second time.
2020: Included on Forbes' Celebrity 100
From 2010 to 2015 and 2018 to 2020, Lady Gaga was included on Forbes' Celebrity 100.
2020: Billboard ranks Lady Gaga among greatest music video artists
In 2020, Billboard ranked Lady Gaga sixth on its list of "The 100 Greatest Music Video Artists of All Time", citing her culture-shifting music videos.
2020: "Born This Way" listed among "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"
In 2020, Rolling Stone listed "Born This Way" among "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".
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 Lady Gaga with a key to the city and declared May 23 as "Born This Way Day".
2021: "Bad Romance" Recognized by Rolling Stone
In 2021, Rolling Stone featured "Bad Romance" and its music video on their respective lists of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" and "100 Greatest Music Videos of All Time".
2023: Included Among Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Singers of All Time
In 2023, Rolling Stone included Lady Gaga among the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
2024: Billboard placed Gaga fifth on its Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century list
Billboard placed Lady Gaga fifth on its 2024 "Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century" list.
2025: Billboard placed Gaga sixth on the Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century list
Billboard placed Lady Gaga sixth on the 2025 "Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century" list.
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