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Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta was born on March 28, 1986, in Manhattan, NY. By the age of four, she began taking piano lessons, soon learning to create music by ear rather than reading sheet music. Encouraged by her parents to embrace her musical talent, Stefani became involved with musical theater and performing at open mic nights throughout New York City. In 2006, shortly before signing with Streamline Records, she adopted the stage name Lady Gaga.

Today, Lady Gaga is one of the best-selling musical artists worldwide, a musical icon, and the recipient of multiple industry awards. She is known for pushing the boundaries of immersive musical entertainment, often using emerging technology to further reach her masses of loyal fans, lovingly called Little Monsters.

One way in which Lady Gaga embraced technology was during her February 5, 2017, Super Bowl LI Halftime Show at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX. For the start of her performance, a camera panned up high above the stadium where Lady Gaga was standing on the roof of the structure. She began singing a rendition of Irving Berlin’s God Bless America. As she began the third line of the song, “Stand beside her,” twinkling lights appeared in the sky behind her. Soon, an array of 300 Intel Shooting Star drones flashed on, gliding into position to animate a giant soaring American flag.

For the drone entertainment industry, this was a pivotal moment. It was one of the first major U.S. live broadcasting events to incorporate drone technology. With 117.5 million people in the United States tuning in to watch the performance, more people than watching the actual game, Lady Gaga’s halftime show became one of the most watched performances in Super Bowl history.

The drone segment of the show was technically performed at an earlier time due to safety concerns and Federal Aviation Administration regulations. It was then seamlessly integrated into the broadcast to emulate a live performance. For those watching on television, they were mesmerized by the artistic implications of the drone show, and how it strengthened the power and message Lady Gaga was sending by starting her act with God Bless America.

From that moment on, two things shifted in the world of entertainment. Lady Gaga expanded her fanbase in a way few musical stars can achieve, cementing her position as one of the greatest musicians ever. Secondly, the status of drone light shows for aerial entertainment solidified, paving the way for one of the most popular uses of the up-and-coming technology. Soon, drone shows became common events for everything from local Fourth of July celebrations to Disney theme park shows and Olympic opening ceremonies.

Just as the drone industry has continued to grow, so too has Lady Gaga’s popularity. Currently, the superstar is promoting her seventh studio album called Mayhem. She is engaging in television promotions, merchandising, and live performances. On May 3, 2025, on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Lady Gaga hosted a free concert to promote the album. More than 2 million fans flocked to the beach to witness this record-breaking event.

Though the stage was artistically complex and she utilized a variety of theatrical effects, this performance did not feature a drone light show. However, the media was on hand with their drones to capture the grand scope of the event. As the drones soared over the crowds, it looked like a wave of color thrumming on the shore. The view from the drones allowed the world to witness what more than 2 million people gathered in one area, sharing a common experience, truly looks like. In addition to the drones being used by the media, they also played a key role in security for the concert.

Just as drones have become popular in entertainment, they have proven to be indispensable 21st-century policing tools. For security, the Brazilian police launched “Operation Fake Monster.” More than 5,000 police officers were on hand for the days leading up to the concert, during, and after. Drones with facial recognition capabilities were used to monitor the crowds, ensuring that everyone had the opportunity to fully experience the concert in safety.

Lady Gaga’s global arena tour, The Mayhem Ball, is set to begin on July 16, 2025, in Las Vegas, NV. The tour will span North America, Europe, and Oceania, with 57 dates across 11 countries, many of which have already sold out. Whether or not Lady Gaga will once again incorporate drones into her tour is not known. What is known is that she will continue to push boundaries in the world of entertainment, just as drone technologies continue to push the boundaries in an ever-growing range of uses.

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