![Nile Rodgers, left, and Lady Gaga, right, perform during the 58th GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/lady-gaga-nile-rodgers-grammys.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
After her showstopping tribute to the late David Bowie at this month’s Grammy Awards, Lady Gaga is in the midst of a major comeback. The star, who just two years ago faced the threat of the public losing interest in her work, has once again become one of the most-talked-about recording artists on the planet—and she’s done so without actually releasing an album of new material. Gaga’s dominance, proven on this month’s Grammy Awards and to be ratified yet again at the upcoming Oscars, is often credited to her old-fashioned showmanship, comparable to anyone from Elton John to Cher to Bette Midler to Bowie himself. Yet it’s also proof of an increasingly rapid press cycle that Gaga has mastered better than anyone else.
The strategy, since before last year’s Oscars, has been straightforward: To create a series of easily digestible, uncontroversial moments that show the performer to her best advantage. Her tribute to Bowie, for instance, was presented as “edgy” but took no greater risk than arranging a set of familiar songs in a key amenable to Gaga’s big, bold voice. That it was all wrapped into an ad for Intel praising Gaga’s own wild innovation led to some critiques that the whole act was a bit self-serving. But then, it’s hard to think of a pop career built on altruism, and Gaga’s focus on keeping the spotlight proved she was Bowie’s heir—if not the best-equipped to deliver “heartfelt emotion.”
Grammys 2016: See Celebrities Hit the Red Carpet
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals Taylor Swift attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-7.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![US-GRAMMY-ARRIVALS Lady Gaga attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-30.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals Adele attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-12.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Skrillex, left, and Diplo, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-251.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Selena Gomez attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-9.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sam Smith attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-27.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals From left: Johnny Depp, Joe Perry and Alice Cooper of The Hollywood Vampires attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-13.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Ellie Goulding attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-8.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![George Clinton, left, attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-11.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![US-GRAMMY-ARRIVALS Kacey Musgraves attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-10.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals Josephine de la Baume, left, and Mark Ronson, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-6.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Janelle Monáe attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-32.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Dave Grohl, left, and Jordyn Blum, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-14.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals Justin Bieber attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-29.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals Ariana Grande attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-241.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![US-GRAMMY-ARRIVALS Chrissy Teigen, left, and John Legend, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-221.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Florence Welch attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-19.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Red Carpet Jack Antonoff attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-3.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals The Weeknd, left, and Bella Hadid, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-15.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Carrie Underwood attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-4.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Demi Lovato attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-17.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals Simone Smith, left, and host LL Cool J, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-231.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Buddy Guy attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-1.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Bonnie Raitt attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-20.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals Nazanin Mandi, left, and Miguel, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-35.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![DJ Khaled attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-2.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![US-GRAMMY-ARRIVALS Travis Barker and his children attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-211.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals Common attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-18.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Don Cheadle, left, and Bridgid Coulter, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-43.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals Nile Rodgers attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-16.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pharrell Williams, left, and Helen Lasichanh, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-36.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals Wiz Khalifa attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-31.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sam Hunt attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-5.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals From left: Nick Simmons, Sophie Simmons, Gene Simmons, and Shannon Tweed attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-37.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals Gary Clark Jr., left, and Nicole Trunfio, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-34.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Jane Seymour attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-41.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Meghan Trainor attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-33.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Justine Simmons, left, and Joseph "Rev Run," right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-46.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals Alessandra Ambrosio attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-42.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals Victoria Shaffer, left, and Paul Shaffer, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-45.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Julia Carey, left, and James Corden, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-44.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals Gary Sinise attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-39.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Z LaLa attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-40.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The 58th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals Anna Kendrick attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/grammys-2016-red-carpet-38.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
It’s likely that her Oscars performance of “Til It Happens to You,” a nominated song taken from the campus-rape documentary The Hunting Ground, will walk a similar tightrope: Meant to honor a tragedy but simultaneously serving as a career-shaping diva moment. (Its vocals are as soaring as the song’s message is dismaying.) To a certain degree, though, Gaga is operating at an unusual enough level that she can no longer be meaningfully accused of opportunism. With no new music to promote, she’s a sort of national bard of music: Whether it’s celebratory (the national anthem at the Super Bowl, the Kennedy Center Honors) or sad, her career now consists of subordinating whatever we think of as her own image in service of some other message.
Gaga’s hold on the public imagination has, recently, been even more complicated, and provides a good reason for her to have removed herself from the pop-music conversation. Gaga’s last album of original material, 2013’s Artpop, indicated Gaga had, if only temporarily, lost her balance on the tightrope of provocation. It was a series of ideas and philosophical statements with little musicianship; the album sold poorly (if only by Gaga’s own standard) and created more headlines for a botched and never-released Terry Richardson music video than it did for any songcraft. This was a long time coming: Gaga’s 2011 album Born This Way, in many ways her masterpiece, was too long by a third and had as many unfulfilled ideas as it did great ones. In her musical life, Gaga has long lacked the ability to edit.
By contrast, her recent live performances have played things remarkably straight and short. At last year’s Oscars, it was just a medley of songs from The Sound of Music sung full-throatedly and well. Despite the late hour it aired, viewers could be forgiven for wanting more. This followed Cheek to Cheek, her album of unimaginative but credibly restrained jazz covers with Tony Bennett, and was followed by a role as a vampire queen on American Horror Story last fall, notable less for Gaga’s Jessica Lange-caliber thespianship than for the way it perfectly positioned her. As the rest of the cast spun their wheels, Gaga would pop up for a few scenes an episode, styled within an inch of her life, and carefully enunciate a few perfectly calibrated bons mots. It was a performance, like all of her recent television appearances, that she was set up to slay.
That she won a Golden Globe for her performance may have been overstating the case (she was good within the very constrained framework of an extended diva cameo), but the occasion proved just how much star wattage Gaga can bring to bear on a tight timeframe. In a brief acceptance speech, her artifice (gushingly comparing her emotions in the moment to Cher’s performance in “that John Patrick Shanley movie Moonstruck”) was delicious. Indeed, her purposeful march to the podium generated the night’s most memorable moment: Leonardo DiCaprio startled by her oddity, or her earnestness, or just the fact that she was there.
Lady Gaga can only be able to maintain her title as the first lady of Sunday night televised events for so long. Eventually, there will have to be a new justification to invite her to perform at things, in the form of new original music. But that reckoning may not come for a long time; Rihanna only became more interesting to her fans in her three-year-plus hiatus before the release of Anti, while Beyoncé has generated pandemonium with the drop of a single, “Formation,” unconnected to any news about a new album. And Kanye West generated far more news through Twitter pronouncements and beefs in the lead-up to the release of his album The Life of Pablo than he did through the actual songs.
Who needs new material in a media environment where everything—every individual cover song on an awards show, every sickeningly perfect outfit on the red carpet or on a TV show—can generate copy? At this point, to release a full-length album of new songs—songs that viewers could judge on their own merits outside the overheated environment of awards-show Twitter—is the most dangerous thing Gaga could do. Her career beached itself because she was too intent on telling us her big ideas about fame. Now, she’s close to regaining her throne by showing us that she understands fame’s often-substanceless nature better than anybody, to be perceived as a risk-taker by risking nothing.
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