It was officially announced last night (Sept. 29) that Lady Gaga will headline this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, making her just the fifth woman to do so. As her army of little monsters rejoice, let’s not forget the Super Bowl is still several months away. So, in the meantime, get caught up on Lady Gaga’s recent history with eight of her most noteworthy moments over the past few years.
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— On November 11, 2013 — nearly three years ago — Lada Gaga gifted fans with Artpop, which (as the majority of gifts do) left many disappointed. Regardless of reception, it still reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. In support of the album, Gaga played an unusually peculiar set at SXSW a few months after its release.
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— Just under a year after the release of Artpop, Gaga and classics crooner Tony Bennett teamed up for their collaborative jazz album Cheek to Cheek. The album went on to win the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
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— In February 2015, Lady Gaga performed a Sound of Music medley at the Oscars in honor of the film’s 50th anniversary. Her vocal runs led her through favorites such as “The Sound of Music,” “Do Re Mi,” “Edelweiss,” and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.” While fans had a mixed reaction, Julie Andrews — the only opinion that truly mattered — widely approved.
— On the heels of Gaga’s Oscars performance, she later revealed she would dive deeper in the world of cinematic arts — though through TV, not film. Gaga announced she would have a recurring role in American Horror Story: Hotel as the Countess.
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— Towards the end of 2015, Gaga was named Billboard’s Woman of the Year. At the event in which she accepted the award, she also delivered a moving performance of “Til It Happens to You,” her tribute song to victims of sexual assault. Two months later, she would sing the same song at the Oscars, a powerful performance that marked the singer’s second time performing at the awards show.
— A little over one week prior to her performance at the Oscars, Gaga gave a patriotic performance of the National Anthem at the 2016 Super Bowl. She didn’t disappoint, with either her unparalleled singing chops or her American-themed — though tamer than expected — outfit of choice.
Watch Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl National Anthem Performance in HD
— Clearly on a hot streak following the Oscars and Super Bowl, Gaga dropped by the Grammys for yet another prestigious performance, as the glam-pop powerhouse was entrusted to honor the late David Bowie with a medley of his biggest hits. The tribute relied heavily on flattery by way of imitation, as the singer donned red hair and a Bowie-esque costume. A few days prior to this performance, Gaga revealed (via Snapchat) her brand new Bowie tattoo.
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— Earlier this month, Gaga resurfaced after her wild ride through 2015 with the announcement of a new single — “Perfect Illusion” — and upcoming album Joanne, which will arrive on Oct. 21. The early release date will give the tracks plenty of time to become hits, allowing them to fit in fluidly among the rest of the fan-favorites that will surely make it into her Super Bowl halftime show setlist.