How Lady Gaga’s Commitment to Craft Earned Her 16 Grammys
- Feb 2
- 2 min read
February 1st marked the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, which brought together many of the biggest names in music from across the decades. The stage welcomed today’s young stars like Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Dean, plus tenured legends like Reba McIntyre and Lauryn Hill. Speaking of tenure, comedian Trevor Noah hosted for a sixth consecutive year, serving up playful audience interaction and clever zingers about the current U.S. administration.
The big winner of the night was Puerto Rican hip hop icon Bad Bunny, who will be headlining the upcoming Superbowl halftime show. But the biggest standout for me was an artist many affectionately call ‘mother’: Lady Gaga. She performed a funkified rendition of her recent hit Abracadabra and to my delight, she also took home 2 trophies: Best Pop Dance Recording (Abracadabra) and Best Pop Vocal Album for Mayhem.
Shaking up the status quo
When Lady Gaga first became famous, circa 2008, many didn't know what to think of her—myself included. Up until that point, the 2000s had been by-and-large a melting pot of R&B and hip hop sounds, low-rise jeans, and a far cry from originality.
Enter Stefani Germanotta with a gaudy, artificial look and sound that initially had me convinced this Gaga lady was actually some sort of robot experiment (2026 me might have called her ‘AI slop’). But despite skeptics like me, she doubled down on her innovative style and quickly gained worldwide acclaim. I was soon to jump on board as well. I realized there was real talent and artistry behind her glowing crystal ‘disco stick’ and digitalized vocals. Everything she did was intentional.
Art Doesn’t Create Itself
I believe one of the main reasons Gaga has been able to make and sustain such a huge legacy, is that she is so true to herself. When she makes an artistic statement—no matter how odd it may be—she commits to it. She says “This is what I have to say, and this is how I’m choosing to say it.” She’s unapologetic and people respect her for that.
She also has the skills to back up her wild ideas. She began music lessons at age four, going on to study at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Not only does she write all of her own music, but she often plays it live on the keys—sometimes with a high-heeled foot on top of the piano. Everything she touches is filled with equal parts craftsmanship, creativity, and grit.
Recognizing excellence
It brought me so much satisfaction to witness ‘Mother Monster’ earn her SIXTEENTH (!!) Grammy Award at the 2026 Grammy’s. Her enduring success, along with the industry and public’s universal respect for her, tells me that true musicianship and artistry are still valued by society. It reminds me that hard work, resilience, and bold creativity are the only path to excellence.
Comments