Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (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".