Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta 

(/ˈstɛfəni ˌdʒɜːrməˈnɒtə/ STEF-ən-ee  JUR-mə-NOT-ə; born

March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and
actress. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as
a teenager, singing at open mic nights, and acting in school plays. She studied at Collaborative Arts
Project 21, through New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, before dropping out to pursue a
career in music. After Def Jam Recordings canceled her contract, she worked as a songwriter
for Sony/ATV Music Publishing, where she signed a joint deal with Interscope Records and Akon's
label, KonLive Distribution, in 2007. Gaga rose to prominence the following year with her debut
studio album, The Fame, and its chart-topping singles "Just Dance" and "Poker Face". The album
was later reissued to include the EP The Fame Monster (2009), which yielded the successful singles
"Bad Romance", "Telephone", and "Alejandro".