Every Lady Gaga Album, RANKED | The Fame to Mayhem
Welcome to MsMojo, where well be ranking every studio album by one of pops most versatile musicians - Lady Gaga.
#7: Artpop (2013)
Coming in last place is the phenomenal 2013 album, Artpop. Its almost entirely EDM, and since the EDM trend had started to die down by 2013, Gaga came to the scene quite late. Despite this, Artpop has become widely adored by her little monsters, but is still her most divisive album overall. Its most successful song is easily Applause, which became an international sensation. Interestingly, over 40,000 fans petitioned for a sequel in 2021. Since the original was recorded at a difficult time for Gaga, she doesnt seem eager to follow it up. Even though its a remarkable album, something has to come last.
#6: Joanne (2016)
Her 2016 release is easily the closest she has come to creating a rock album. She collaborated with some big names for this one, like Tame Impala, Josh Homme, and even Florence Welch. Its reception was much less divisive than Artpops, earning her a Grammy nomination. The era was also defined by Gagas departure from her eccentric outfits. The country elements in the release also inspired a trend, with both Miley Cyrus and Kylie Minogue releasing country albums in the following years. Perfect Illusion was its lead single, which performed well. It was followed by the emotional ballad Million Reasons, which has become the albums most popular track.
#5: The Fame (2008)
Gagas debut album was a sensation, taking the world by storm with its plethora of hit singles. Tracks like Paparazzi, Poker Face, and Just Dance defined the era, since becoming staples of pop. It won her multiple awards, alongside propelling her into stardom. Few debut albums are as well-received, and it was certified for sales of 6,000,000 copies in America alone. One of the best-selling albums of the 21st century so far, its core theme is what Gaga expects fame to feel like, written by a woman who at the time was hardly known. This would be expanded upon later in The Fame Monster, her second studio album.
#4: Chromatica (2020)
Gagas 2020 release was a refreshing return to her dance-pop roots, released at a time when it was dearly needed, during the COVID pandemic. It included industry giants as features, including Blackpink, Elton John, and Ariana Grande. Rain On Me, her duet with Grande, was so acclaimed, it won a Grammy for Best Pop Duo. It was historically the first female collaboration to win the award. Overall, it was a widely adored album, with critics praising it across the board. Despite its release tour being postponed for two years, it became her first all-stadium tour, a remarkable feat for any musician.
Collaborations
Before getting to the top 3, wed like to discuss her two collaboration albums. Both were released alongside Tony Bennett, an old-school jazz and pop singer who was big in the 50s and 60s. First was Cheek to Cheek, a 2014 album featuring jazz standards the two had learned. This was a huge deviation from her previous sounds, but she had no issue pulling it off. It went gold, with critics and fans adoring it equally. Seven years later, the pair released another album, Love For Sale, which turned out to be Bennetts final album. This one was entirely Cole Porter material, and Gaga again displayed her versatility in pulling it off with ease.
Soundtracks
Additionally, Gaga has released two soundtrack albums worth a mention. First was for her 2018 movie A Star Is Born, featuring her and Bradley Cooper. The musical revealed that Gaga wasnt just a talented musician but an impressive actress as well. It became a hit, earning hundreds of millions at the box office, plus earning eight Oscar nominations. The major track Shallow managed to win an Oscar for Best Original Song. In 2024, she also worked on the soundtrack for Joker: Folie à Deux. While it was well-received, it didnt make nearly as many waves as her previous soundtrack, and the accompanying movie was largely considered a flop.
#3: Mayhem (2025)
The longest gap between studio albums was between Chromatica and Mayhem, lasting 5 years in total. Was it worth the wait? Most people agree that it was. Its reminiscent of her debut album, which is largely synth-pop, but has all sorts of genres mixed into it. It had already become widely successful before its actual release, largely due to Die With a Smile, a Grammy-winning collaboration between her and Bruno Mars. Its currently her highest-rated album on Metacritic, showing how loved its quickly become. It was also Gagas seventh album to top Americas Billboard 200 list, a mindblowing achievement.
#2: Born This Way (2011)
After Gagas first two albums, expectations for a follow-up were huge. That came in the form of Born This Way, which overwhelmingly satisfied her fans hopes. Its one of her most experimental albums, displaying more heavy metal and rock influence than any other project. Its titular lead single turned into an enormous hit, selling over 8.2 million copies globally, alongside acquiring billions of streams. Fascinatingly, its final single was Bloody Mary, issued as a single in 2022 after it trended on TikTok. Other huge hits from the album included Judas, The Edge of Glory, and You and I, which all still get played regularly.
#1: The Fame Monster (2009)
In 2009, her debut album was reissued, featuring eight new songs and doubling as her second studio album. Unlike on her debut, here she was discussing fame while actually being famous. The result is a mindblowing album, which is captivating from start to finish. New tracks included Bad Romance, Telephone, and Alejandro. As such, theres no reason to listen to her debut when this includes the original plus the new material. The two combined have sold over 18 million copies globally, an incredible figure. It won three Grammys, including Best Pop Vocal Album. Its become the essential Gaga album, cementing her status as a pop legend who was here to stay.
How would you rank her albums? Let us know your favorites in the comments below!