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Lady Gaga: From piano prodigy to Oscar winner© Instagram @ladygaga / Getty Images

Feliz cumpleaños, Lady Gaga! See the star's dramatic transformation


UPDATED MARCH 28, 2019 10:53 AM EDT
Lady Gaga, several years of evolution© Getty Images

Lady Gaga, several years of evolution

Lady Gaga, an evolving artist

Lady Gaga, born on March 28, 1986, has had a life full of changes and transformations which translate perfectly into her art.

The evolution is evident in the career that began when she was just a kid, amazing everyone with her piano playign skills. Years later, the singer accumulated scores of awards and in 2018 received rave reviews for her performance in the movie A Star is Born. Let's take a trip down memory lane to see how Gaga has blossomed to become what she is today: a world-renowned artist.

This is how Lady Gaga looked before leaping into stardom© @ladygaga

This is how Lady Gaga looked before leaping into stardom

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Born with a great talent for music

Although it wasn’t until 2007 that she achieved fame, Lady Gaga has been honing her musical talent since she was four years old, when she started playing the piano – an activity she excelled in thanks to the support of her parents.

Years later, she released her first ballad and was the lead in the musical productions at her school. She also played gigs in bars with the Stefani Germanotta Band, counting on huge crowds at each of her shows, although she admittedly did not do very well at castings for acting.

Lady Gaga adopted her traditional blond tresses in 2007© Getty Images

Lady Gaga adopted her traditional blond tresses in 2007

She said goodbye to her dark hair in 2007

At the beginning of her career, Stefani was a brunette. But in 2007, the year her name began to make some noise, Lady Gaga decided to change her look and color her hair platinum blonde, a tone that has become a trademark of her identity.

This image was taken on October 4, 2007 in the Slipper Room in New York, the first time that she wore her characteristic hair color. She appears with Lady Starlight, with whom she spent time with at Lollapalooza a couple months prior and again in the Big Apple.

Lady Gaga released her first album in 2008© Getty Images

Lady Gaga released her first album in 2008

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Lady Gaga released her first album in 2008

Although she was compared to Christina Aguilera at first and was hired to write music for chart-topping artists such as Britney Spears and Fergie, soon after, Lady Gaga showed that she had an undeniable stage presence.

It was in August 2008 when she debuted her album The Fame, whose single, Just Dance, was received well by the public and earned a Grammy nomination. Hits like Paparazzi, Eh, Eh and Poker Face are products of this successful album.

Lady Gaga and the success of 'Bad Romance'© Getty Images

Lady Gaga and the success of 'Bad Romance'

Lady Gaga conquered all with Bad Romance

At the end of 2009, The Fame Monster appeared on the scene, material that garnered the same success as Lady Gaga’s debut album, in large part because of her major hits Bad Romance, Alejandro and Telephone, which she sings with Beyoncé.

That year she won a Billboard for Emerging Star and three MTV Video Music Awards for Best New Artist, Best Special Effects, and Best Artistic Direction.

Lady Gaga wins her first Grammy© Getty Images

Lady Gaga wins her first Grammy

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The glory of the Grammys in 2010

In 2010, the Grammy Awards recognized Lady Gaga’s talent by awarding her in the categories for Best Dance Recording of the Year for her smash hit Poker Face and Best Electronic/Dance Album for the album Just Dance. She also won eight awards at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Since then, the singer has been stealing spotlights for her eccentric and elaborate style – her outfits becoming frequent showstoppers on the red carpet.

Lady Gaga released her second album in 2011© Getty Images

Lady Gaga released her second album in 2011

Lady Gaga released her album Born This Way in 2011

In 2011, Lady Gaga debuted Born This Way, her sophomore album. The single of the same name was performed live for the first time during the Grammy Awards. Also included on that disc were songs like Judas, The Edge of Glory, Hair, Marry the Night, You and I, among others.

That night was special for her because of the duet she performed with Elton John, with whom she sang Hello Hello for the movie Gnomeo and Juliet.

Lady Gaga had a role in 'Machete Kills'© Getty Images

Lady Gaga had a role in 'Machete Kills'

Lady Gaga and her performance in Machete Kills

Besides giving something to talk about on the album Artpop and the songs Applause, Do What U Want and G. U. Y., Lady Gaga had a very special 2013 for the launch of her fragrance Fame and for her appearance in the movie Machete Kills.

In this project, where she took on the role of La Chameleón, she had the opportunity to show off her acting abilities and to learn from great actors like Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez, and Mel Gibson, among others.

Lady Gaga and her first Oscars performance© Getty Images

Lady Gaga and her first Oscars performance

Lady Gaga dazzled at the 2015 Oscars with her voice

Although she didn’t know what would come four years later at the Oscars, Lady Gaga gave us something to talk about at the 2015 awards show for her performance of a medley from The Sound of Music, a performance that is still remembered to date.

That same year she was also in the popular television series American Horror Story and launched the album Cheek to Cheek, a collection of duets with American jazz master Tony Bennett.

Lady Gaga gave us something to talk about at the Super Bowl© Getty Images

Lady Gaga gave us something to talk about at the Super Bowl

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Lady Gaga performed in two consecutive Super Bowls

In 2016 Lady Gaga was invited to sing the national anthem to kick off Super Bowl L, but it was her performance at the Super Bowl LI halftime show that took the spotlight and made her name light up social media on Super Bowl weekend..

That night, in the city of Texas, the singer delighted the stadium audience, and the millions of viewers, with some of her greatest hits. Her show is considered the second most watched in the history of the most important game of the season.

Lady Gaga, a star is reborn© Getty Images

Lady Gaga, a star is reborn

Lady Gaga was reborn in her 2018 performance

Although we got a taste of Lady Gaga’s on-screen talents with Machete Kills and American Horror Story, in 2018 she truly astounded us with her interpretation of Ally in the movie A Star Is Born.

This project, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, received great reviews and the on-screen chemistry between Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper stole the hearts of all who watched the movie. Audiences fell in love with the cinematic pair and the soundtrack as well.

Lady Gaga and her consecration as singer and actress© Getty Images

Lady Gaga and her consecration as singer and actress

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Lady Gaga's dream 2019

By early 2019, Lady Gaga has already experienced a rollercoaster of emotions on a personal and professional level. On the one hand, she broke off her engagement to Christian Carino but on the other, she starred in one of the most emotional moments of the Oscars.

The singer took the stage and burst into tears when she was awarded Best Original Song for Shallow, the theme of the film A Star Is Born. She expressed her gratitude and gave an emotional speech about perseverance in pursuing your wildest dreams.