Lady Gaga has a reputation as recession pop’s holy mother, raising a generation of Little Monsters with her arthouse-style pop and shifting yet confident identities. She’s been Stefani Germanotta, Mother Monster, Jo Calderone, Mistress of Mayhem, and just plain Gaga. Also, she’s been Harley Quinn, Patrizia Reggiani, Tony Bennett’s friend, and often considered one of the greatest artists in history.

Her success, while naturally experiencing its ups and down, has always had longevity. No matter how badly she bombed, she never truly went away. It’s a testament to her versatility, and also to her resilience as an artist. But in a recent Rolling Stone cover feature, Lady Gaga revealed it was never easy. It still isn’t, she said, but she finally addressed the root of the problem.

“I did A Star

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