Lady Gaga didn’t even release a proper album in 2010, and somehow, she managed to become an even bigger star. This had as much to do with the fact that she kept working with what she had — the endless tour, the incomparable videos — as it did with her harnessing her hard-fought stardom and attempting to become a force for social change. She spoke out loudly and proudly in support of gay rights and in opposition to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, and, in the process, she became the kind of star we haven’t seen in decades: One unafraid to offend, no matter how much she stood to lose.
And that fearlessness — coupled with her continued chart success and her envelope-pushing event videos — is why we’ve chosen Lady Gaga as MTV News’ Woman of the Year. It’s the second-consecutive year she’s taken home the honor, which is sort of fitting. After all, no one has dominated both the musical and pop-culture landscapes quite like she has over the past 24 months. This year, she just dominated differently. And so, in honor of her reign, here’s a look back at Lady Gaga’s 2010, a year in which she moved from pop icon to genuine social force.
2010 Highlights: Gaga began 2010 much like she ended 2009: on tour. In January, she wowed audiences with a triumphant four-night run at New York’s Radio City Music Hall and then stole the show at the Grammys with her Elton John duet and appropriately outrageous attire. She teamed with Cyndi Lauper for the MAC AIDS Fund VIVA Glam campaign and paid tribute to the late Alexander McQueen with a performance at the Brit Awards. In February, she began teasing both her revamped Monster Ball Tour and her upcoming “Telephone” video, which would catapult her to even greater fame.
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