Voice for Equality: Lady Gaga

October 12, 2009

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American recording artist. After being signed to and quickly dropped from Def Jam Records at age 19, she began performing in the rock music scene of New York City's Lower East Side before being signed to a joint deal with the Interscope label and Akon's label. Her debut album, The Fame, was released in August 2008 to critical and commercial success, hitting number one in four countries, and also topping the Billboard Top Electronic Albums chart in the United States. The album's first two singles, Just Dance and Poker Face, became international number one hits, and the former was nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 51st Grammy Awards. After starting 2009 opening for New Kids on the Block and Pussycat Dolls, Gaga embarked on her first headlining tour, The Fame Ball Tour. To date she has sold over 20 million digital singles and 3 million albums worldwide, which makes her one of the biggest-selling artists of 2009. Learn more here.