Billboard has placed Lady Gaga at No. 3 on its Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 list, marking a powerful return to the upper ranks of the publication’s annual editorial project. According to Billboard, the ranking reflects a year defined by commercial success, cultural impact, and artistic range. Gaga began 2025 by securing her sixth Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit with “Die With a Smile,” her duet with Bruno Mars that reached the top after its August 2024 release. Billboard credited the song as the first non-holiday chart-topper of the year and later named it the year-end No. 1 song on the Hot 100, a first for Gaga’s career. In a verified TikTok post cited by Billboard, she expressed gratitude and shared that achieving No. 1 hits across three different decades felt especially meaningful.
Billboard official announcements, the single played a central role in building momentum for Gaga’s seventh studio album, Mayhem, released on March 7. Gaga explained to Billboard’s Stephen Daw that she allowed the music to guide the creative process, which led her back toward elements of her earlier work. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with the biggest streaming week of her career, while also topping the Top Dance Albums chart and setting a new record for most No. 1 titles in that category. Ten tracks from Mayhem entered the Hot 100, reinforcing its broad appeal and commercial strength.
From Mayhem to The Mayhem Ball Tour and Historic Live Moments
Throughout 2025, Gaga balanced album promotion with high-profile performances tied to social causes and global events. Billboard reported that she used appearances at FireAid, the Grammy Awards, and the Super Bowl to honor victims of wildfires, natural disasters, and acts of violence. During her Grammy win for best pop duo/group performance, she redirected attention toward messages of inclusion and support for marginalized communities, a moment widely covered by Billboard and other major outlets. She also premiered “Abracadabra” during a Grammys commercial break, a move that Billboard credited with signaling the visual and sonic direction of the Mayhem era.
Live performances became a defining feature of Gaga’s year. Billboard reviews highlighted her Coachella headlining sets as a thoughtful exploration of fame, while her return to Mexico and her free concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro marked historic milestones. Billboard noted that the Rio show drew an estimated 2.5 million attendees, setting a record for the largest concert ever by a female artist. The launch of The Mayhem Ball tour in July further cemented her dominance, with Billboard Boxscore reporting over $100 million in ticket sales from the tour’s first North American leg alone.
