Top 10 Iconic Lady Gaga Moments

Ever an artist who is looking to change things up, Lady Gaga decided to approach the initial promotion of her 2016 ‘Joanne’ album a little differently. To match her new look, pink cowboy hat and all, Gaga went on a surprise mini tour of American dive bars to share with the world what she called the “raw American vibe” of the then-upcoming Album . The intimate performances, live-streamed on Facebook in October of 2016, gave the pop superstar some much-deserved hype for arguably her most personal album to date, and showed that she could put on one hell of a show even in an environment outside her comfort zone.

Although she has been a musical guest on Saturday Night Live multiple times, in 2013 she had the chance to show the world her comedic talent when she hosted the live sketch show. Her previous cameo in Andy Sandberg and Justin Timberlake’s ‘3-Way’ was a viral hit, so it was perhaps not so surprise when she knocked her hosting gig out of the park. Having a chance to poke fun at herself and her image, Gaga gave us some memorable characters, including the Apple technician on Kanye’s talk show, and a 4th-grader’s mom at a talent show.

In 2016, Lady Gaga joined the long and impressive list of celebrities who have joined James Corden on the road for a round of Carpool Karaoke. The popular segment from James Corden’s “Late Late Show” has transcended television to become a viral phenomenon in its own right. Her appearance in support of the release of “Joanne” unsurprisingly garnered close to 50 million views on YouTube. As if singing along with her classic hits wasn’t enough, Corden decides to try on some of her iconic costumes, including the meat dress, and her police tape look from the “Telephone” music video.

Lady Gaga has certainly worn some outrageous and memorable outfits throughout the years, be it for music videos, on red carpets or during live performances. However no dress has ever caused so much commotion as much as her meat dress. Being only one of the outfits she brought with her to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, she wore it on stage when she accepted her Video of the Year award. Designed by Franc Fernandez, it naturally angered animal-rights groups, as it was made of raw flank steak. However Gaga went on record to confirm that it was worn as a protest towards the military’s “Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell” policy

Lady Gaga has become an LGBTQ icon not only because of her music and fearless fashion, but through her passionate activism. She has used her fame as a platform to speak out for queer youth and their struggles, and performed her song about the pain of sexual assault “Til It Happens to You” at the Oscars. In 2011, she founded the Born This Way Foundation, a youth-empowering outlet aimed at creating a safer community for youth. Although not LGBTQ-specific, their goal is to create a more accepting and tolerant society, while battling bullying and discrimination.

Since pop stars often get a lot of flak for attempting to be actors, Gaga was facing an uphill battle to impress critics . Having previously flirted with acting, and starring in her ownmusic videos, which are very cinematic, she ended up with cameos in both Robert Rodriguez; “Machete” and “Sin City” sequels. But the big surprise came when it was announced that Gaga would star in the fifth season of “American Horror Story”. Not only did she shock and impress the world with her portrayal of the vampiric Countess, but her work awarded her a Golden Globe, cementing her as a legitimate actress.

Having conquered the small screen, Gaga made her next big impression in film. Directed by Chris Moukarbel, the documentary “Gaga: Five Foot Two” follows the singer from the prep and release of “Joanne” all the way to her Super Bowl LI Halftime Show. It also gave the world an intimate look at her life and struggles, particularly her chronic pain caused by a 2013 accident, and the loss of a dear friend to cancer. Premiering at TIFF in 2017, it garnered rave reviews and was immediately picked up by Netflix.

After singing the National Anthem at Super Bowl L, Gaga was invited back by the NFL in 2017 to perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show. Gaga outdid even herself by using an army of drones and jumping off the roof the stadium - and that’s just the first few seconds. In ten minutes she delivered a medley of her biggest hits, multiple costume changes, and an unforgettable fireworks-filled show - becoming the second most-watched halftime show in history. Although some body-shamers chose to criticize her look, she fought back on Instagram saying “I’m proud of my body, and you should be proud of yours too.”

The Grammys have become Gaga territory. Not only has she performed there multiple times, including her magnetic 2016 tribute to David Bowie, but since her debut in 2008 she has been nominated for 19 Grammys. She had her best year at the 53rd Annual Grammys, which opened with her hatching out of an egg to deliver an unforgettable performance . Later on, her mega-hit “Bad Romance” off her “Fame Monster” EP largely swept the 2011 ceremony, taking home Grammys for Best Music Video, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album, but sadly losing Album of the Year to Arcade Fire.



Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honourable mentions:

Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (2016)



“3-Way (The Golden Rule)” (2011)The Lonely Island feat. Justin Timberlake & Lady Gaga



Lady Gaga & The Muppets Holiday Spectacular (2013)

As if her presence at the Grammys wasn’t enough, Gaga has also left her mark on the MTV Video Music Awards. After a number of remarkable performances, and winning an impressive 13 VMAs over the years, Gaga seems to thrive during live award ceremonies such as these. Who can forget her gender-bending performance of “You and I” as Jo Calderone? But it was her VMA debut, in 2009 that cemented Gaga as a brilliant live performer. Her shocking and blood-soaked “Paparazzi” performance elevated her immediately from up-and-coming Pop Star to a musical juggernaut - and a creative force that one simply could not ignore.