Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
The singer’s birth name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta.
What’s in a name? Just ask Lady Gaga.
In a newly released ELLE cover story on Tuesday, Jan. 28, the 38-year-old singer of Disease discussed her upcoming album Mayhem and the significance of her stage name.
When questioned about whether she would ever consider changing it, Gaga—born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta—expressed her deep attachment to it.
“Absolutely not! I love being Lady Gaga. I love being myself,” she shared. “I became a star at 20, and everything around me reinforced the idea that this persona is what makes me special.”
Her well-known moniker reportedly originated when her former boyfriend and music producer, Rob Fusari, began calling her “Gaga,” inspired by her voice and style, which reminded him of Queen’s song Radio Ga Ga.
In another part of her ELLE cover story, Gaga opened up about creating her seventh studio album, set for release in March.
Reflecting on the process, she shared, “The chaos I thought had disappeared is still very much present and ready to meet me whenever I choose.”
Gaga revealed that the opening track of her upcoming album carries a powerful message: “Your demons are with you from the start and remain with you until the end—but not in a hopeless way.”
She reflected on the idea that rather than constantly running from this reality, perhaps it’s possible to “make peace with it sooner.” With her new music, she fully embraces the darkness.
In a press release shared with PEOPLE, Gaga described Mayhem’s style as akin to “reassembling a shattered mirror.”
“Even if the pieces don’t fit together perfectly, you can still create something whole and beautiful in its own unique way,” she explained.
The 13-time Grammy winner has previously hinted at the diverse sound of her upcoming album, once again emphasizing the chaos that inspired it. Speaking with The Los Angeles Times in December, she revealed that the record will feature “a wide range of genres, styles, and dreams.”
“It jumps between genres in a way that almost feels disruptive,” she explained, adding that the album ultimately finds resolution. “It ends with love. That’s the answer to all the chaos in my life—I find peace through love.”
Reflecting on the songwriting process, Gaga shared, “With every song I wrote, I found myself drifting into different dreams about the past, almost like revisiting all the bad choices I’ve made in life.”
