Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, aka Lady Gaga, aka Mother Monster has made a name for herself in the music industry by delivering timeless bops, memorable and extravagant performances, and over the top outfits. Her performance from last week which was, modestly put, show-stopping and life-changing, spurred my interest in reminiscing on Gaga’s Grammy legacy throughout her career.
2009
What she was nominated for: “Just Dance” was nominated for Best Dance Record, but didn’t win. Obviously, this did nothing to stop this banger from being played everywhere, even nearly a decade later.
Why it was iconic: She wore the infamous bubble suit when she performed at the Grammy Celebration Tour. People still talk about this legendary look and try to recreate it on Halloween and at her concerts.
2010
What she was nominated for: “Poker Face” was nominated for song of the year and record of the year, and won for Best Dance Recording. The Fame won the award for Best Dance/Electronica album.
Why it was iconic: Gaga became a mainstream pop icon when “Poker Face” took over the world. She also wore the most beautiful outfit in red carpet history. Is it even legal for someone to look good with mustard yellow hair? Watch her performance here.
2011
What she was nominated for: The Fame Monster won Best Pop Vocal Album, and “Bad Romance” won Best Music Video and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The Fame Monster was nominated for Album of the Year, “Dance in the Dark” for Best Dance Recording, and “Telephone” for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.
Why it was iconic: She arrived on the red carpet in an EGG!!!! The egg was symbolic of rebirth, tying in to the theme of “Born This Way”, the banging self-love anthem she performed with fake horns on her body, truly personifying her nickname “Mother Monster.” Watch her performance here.
2012
What she was nominated for: Born This Way was nominated for Album of the Year (more like album of the century, amirite?) and Best Pop Vocal Album. “You and I” was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance.
Why it was iconic: She looks like an evil queen. She also delivered a powerful performance of her heartfelt country love song “You and I”. Move over Blake and Garth, country belongs to Stefani Germanotta now. Watch her perform with Sugarland here.
2015
What she was nominated for: Cheek to Cheek, Gaga’s collaboration with jazz singer Tony Bennett, won for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
Why it was iconic: Gaga wore the sexiest, most glamorous look in Grammy’s history, and delivered gorgeous vocals on stage that solidified her status as a singer who dominates all genres. Watch her sing with Tony here.
2016
What she was nominated for: “Til It Happens to You” was nominated for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture.
Why it was iconic: Gaga honored the late David Bowie with a look inspired by him and a performance paying tribute to him. She did Bowie better than Bowie ever did. Watch her tribute here.
2017
What she was nominated for: No nominations – she just showed up, looked amazing, kicked ass, and left.
Why it was iconic: She looked glam, goth, and ready to kill a man. Oh, she also performed with heavy metal legends Metallica. Watch the punk rock collab here.
2018
What she was nominated for: Joanne was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album, and “Million Reasons” for Best Pop Solo Performance. She didn’t win anything, but Joanne had enough of a cultural impact to compensate for the lack of Grammys.
Why it was iconic: She wore a gorgeous ballgown with a tear-away skirt that revealed a sheer lace bodysuit, and performed “Joanne” and “Million Reasons” on a piano with giant angel wings. Let the tears flow and watch the moving performance here.
Queen Gaga steps up her game Every. Single. Year. and always brings something memorable and beautiful to the red carpet and the stage. She didn’t win any awards this year, but the mark her platform shoes left on the Grammys for the past nine years is far more valuable than any award biased judges could grant her.
Image sources: Cover, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8