Lady Gaga | Shutdown & Dirty

Summary

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Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert
Episode: Lady Gaga | Shutdown & Dirty
Date: October 3, 2025
Host: Stephen Colbert
Guest: Lady Gaga

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Late Show Pod Show intertwines sharp political satire about the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, media coverage of Trump-era politics, and an in-depth, intimate conversation with pop superstar Lady Gaga. Colbert’s signature humor frames current events, before transitioning into a reflective interview with Lady Gaga, covering her artistic persona, early career, recent engagement, and creative outlook. The episode is rich with anecdotes and insights from Gaga’s personal and professional life, concluding with reflections on happiness, love, and creative empowerment.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Political Satire and The Government Shutdown (01:18–13:27)

• Colbert opens with jokes about the government shutdown, lampooning Trump’s use of the situation for political gain and the blame game with Democrats.
  • “It’s not a shutdown, it’s a shutportunity.” (Stephen Colbert, 02:19)
  • Satirizes the fear-mongering rhetoric around issues like health care for undocumented immigrants and climate policy.
  • Mocks the Trump administration’s selective targeting of blue and purple states for funding cuts.
  • Critique of the use of AI and memes in political discourse, referencing an AI-generated offensive meme of Hakeem Jeffries.
• Recurring theme: The absurdity and partisanship of U.S. politics, with playful "responses" from non-existent characters (like “the deadwood”).

Lady Gaga Interview: Identity, Persona, and Artistry

The Persona of Lady Gaga (16:16–21:30)

• Gaga’s real name is Stephanie Germanotta, and she distinguishes between Stephanie and Lady Gaga:

  • “Stephanie is like me, the artist, the creator, and Lady Gaga is my creation.” (Lady Gaga, 16:54)

• Gaga views her stage persona as both artistic liberation and creative armor to navigate a hostile, male-dominated industry.

  • “If I thought I made it weird and creative, it wouldn’t be sexy to anyone. And then I felt as a woman protected in a very male dominated industry.” (Lady Gaga, 19:23)

• She reflects that she created Lady Gaga after tough personal and professional experiences, as a “new beginning.”

• Integration of identities: Now, Stephanie sometimes disagrees with the "always fighting" Gaga. “She can put her sword down, you know.” (Lady Gaga, 20:14)

Early Career and The Bitter End (22:44–28:24)

• Gaga reminisces about performing at The Bitter End at age 14, expressing gratitude for the support and community she found there.
  • “When I would come here to play, this was, like, the most joyous and the most warmth that I ever felt, because I would walk in, and it was like an instant family.” (Lady Gaga, 25:45)
• Shares stories of original gigs, first record deal at 19 (with Island Def Jam), and subsequent heartbreak after being dropped.
  • “I got dropped a few months later, but that was my first record deal.” (Lady Gaga, 24:49)
• Highlights the challenge of not fitting in at school and feeling embraced in the Lower East Side’s music scene.

New York City Lightning Round (26:52–27:52)

• Fun, lighthearted moment as Gaga chooses NYC favorites:
  • Mets or Yankees? — Yankees.
  • Knicks or Nets or Liberty? — Knicks.
  • Best NYC corner: “72nd Street, Gray's Papaya.”
  • Worst subway line: “I think it’s the L. Why does it take so long?”
  • Bagel order: “Toasted butter bagel” or “lox, cream cheese, tomato, salt and pepper.”

Explosive Fame & Creative Evolution (28:24–33:56)

• Reflects on the overwhelming success of her debut album The Fame (2008) and the tough, often daunting music industry.
• Discusses “white knuckling” her way through early fame and the challenge of integrating her two personas.
• Colbert asks about breaking the attendance record in Rio (2.5 million people):
  • Gaga asserts the core of performance is connection, regardless of audience size. “My job is the same...to connect to people.” (Lady Gaga, 30:41)
• The “magic trick”: Inspired by Bruce Springsteen, Gaga strives for that transcendent audience connection—a "goal of the soul.”

Love, Happiness, and Personal Growth (34:41–40:43)

• Rejects the idea that artists must suffer to create great work.
  • “It’s not a burden you have to carry. You don’t have to carry trauma in order to speak to it.” (Stephen Colbert, 34:44; Gaga agrees)
• Discusses her engagement to Michael Polansky:
  • He is her "best friend…brilliant and kind…fights for me every day."
  • Stories of meeting via her mother and a unique proposal involving a blade of grass fashioned as a ring, which inspired a song.
  • Polansky is also a creative collaborator—executive producer on Mayhem and co-writer on songs.

Motherhood and Artistic Fulfillment (38:58–40:41)

• Gaga reveals she hopes motherhood is her “next starring role.”
• Asserts that with her new album Mayhem, she returns to her musical roots, feeling empowered as a woman and artist for the first time in nearly twenty years.
  • “Being empowered as a woman in music is something that took me nearly 20 years to experience.” (Lady Gaga, 39:51)
• Credits her sense of community, partnership, and love for her newfound happiness.

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On creative persona:
  • “Stephanie is like me, the artist, the creator, and Lady Gaga is my creation.” (16:54, Lady Gaga)
• On armor and protection:
  • “If I thought I made it weird and creative, it wouldn’t be sexy to anyone. And then I felt as a woman protected in a very male dominated industry.” (19:23, Lady Gaga)
• On integrating identities:
  • “She can put her sword down, you know. She’s always fighting.” (20:14, Lady Gaga)
• On community at The Bitter End:
  • “This was, like, the most joyous and the most warmth that I ever felt, because I would walk in, and it was like an instant family.” (25:45, Lady Gaga)
• On creative motivation:
  • “My job is the same…to connect to people.” (30:41, Lady Gaga)
• On happiness and creation:
  • “It’s not a burden you have to carry. You don’t have to carry trauma in order to speak to it.” (34:44, Stephen Colbert; Gaga agrees)
• On engagement and collaboration:
  • “He’s my best friend in the whole world…fights for me every day…Executive producer on Mayhem and…co-wrote songs.” (35:26, 37:12, Lady Gaga)
• On artistic empowerment:
  • “Being empowered as a woman in music is something that took me nearly 20 years to experience.” (39:51, Lady Gaga)
• On future dreams:
  • “What I really want is to be a mom. That’s my next starring role, I hope.” (39:08, Lady Gaga)

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Memorable/Lighthearted Segments

• Colbert and Gaga riffing on iconic looks (20:44–21:30):
  Colbert jokes about wearing bleached eyebrows, getting the Gaga look.

• New York City preferences (26:52–27:52):
  Gaga’s answers: Yankees, Knicks, Gray's Papaya, L train, lox bagel.

• Unique marriage proposal story (36:52–37:05):
  Polansky proposed to Gaga with a blade of grass fashioned into a ring; it became a song.

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:18–13:27: Monologue on shutdown, political lampooning, and AI in politics
• 16:16–21:30: Introductions, persona discussion
• 22:44–28:24: The Bitter End memories, early career struggles
• 28:24–33:56: Fame, artistry, and lessons learned
• 34:41–40:43: Happiness, engagement, collaboration, empowerment
• 38:58–39:51: Hopes for motherhood and reflection on growth

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Closing

Lady Gaga’s latest album, Mayhem, is out now. The episode closes with mutual appreciation and acknowledgment of Gaga’s growth, artistry, and joy.

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Transcript

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[A]

In the app, online and in stores. Welcome, welcome, friends, Romans, countrymen, to the late show. I'm your host, Stephen Colbert. Ladies and gentlemen, as I speak, as I speak, we are on day two of the government shutdown. There's no end in sight. Services are closed. Federal workers are going without pay. Things are so rough. Uncle Sam is already selling feet pics. Those little piggies now. Pretty good. Yeah. Give him a 4.3 on WikiFeet. Donald Trump, of course, has tried every possible option to end the shutdown. He's blamed Democrats not only, not only, but also not only is Trump not trying to negotiate an end to the shutdown, he's now using it as a way to squash things he doesn't like. Touting his shutdown as an unprecedented opportunity to cut more democratic priorities. Yes. Yeah. No, it's not a shutdown. It's a shutportunity. You know what they say. When God closes a food inspection program, he opens a listeria outbreak. Or words to that effect. Or words to that effect la Scaria outbreak. Now, this isn't the first government shutdown. This has happened many times before. Even since we've been doing this show. There's a process that you Follow. When a shutdown starts, people are what's called furloughed. Okay? They don't come to work, they're not paid. But when the shutdown's over, everyone gets their job back, often with back pay. But now Trump is threatening to use this excuse to fire a whole bunch more people from the federal government posting. Republicans must use this opportunity of Democrat free forced closure to clear out deadwood. And I'm told. Is this true? I'm told we have a response from the deadwood. Morning. Best time of day to go yourself. Yeah, that's true. That's true. Best part of waking up is in your cup. Keep in mind, my friends, Republicans control all three branches of government, including both chambers of Congress. But somehow, somehow, none of this is their fault.

[B]

The Democrats should know that they put the White House and the President in this position. And if they don't want further harm on their constituents back home, then they need to reopen the government. It's very simple. Pass the clean continuing resolution and all of this goes away.

[A]

Wow, that is weirdly threatening. Can we. Can we. Can we see that from another angle?

[B]

Pass the clean continuing resolution and all of this goes away.

[A]

I got it. I still got it. Not AI. Ted Cruz also weighed in to say how fun he thinks it is that only Democrats would be affected. President Trump is going to use that as an opportunity not to tell people you're furloughed for a few days, but instead to send pink slips and to get rid of left wing bureaucrats who are imposing left wing priorities that are contrary to President Trump's priorities. Yes, we need to get rid of people who are contrary to President Trump's priorities. And. And what are those priorities again, Ted? Let's stop attacking pedophiles. Okay, thank you. I thought that's what the. I think that's. That fits. That fits. Oh, I'm sorry, Ted. One more thing. No more Beardos. Thank you. Trump administration is using this shutdown really to punish anyone who didn't vote for him. They're cutting funding for Federal projects in 16 states, all of which voted for Kamala Harris in last year's election. For instance, here in New York, they froze $18 billion in federal funds for New York City's mass transit system. You think you can scare New Yorkers? Really? You think. Come on, man. And you think you can scare New Yorkers by making the subways worse? I once saw a man on the F train crack open and eat an entire aluminum tray of Chicken alfredo. It was 7am Nobody blinked. They've also frozen $8 billion in climate projects across 16 blue and purple states. Oh, so just the blue and purple states. That's good, because if we know anything about climate, it doesn't cross state lines. You ever see a tornado go through the Holland Tunnel? No. Case closed. Wait, hold on, hold on one second. Million dollar movie idea. Tornado goes through Holland Tunnel finds love. Question mark. Title? Tunnel twister. Call Mark Wahlberg. Could you get this to Wahlberg? Just send Wahlberg the phone. Just send him the phone. Or Donnie. Either one. CBS now, folks, in case you're wondering just how one sided all of this retribution is, the Office of Management and Budget has not publicly announced cuts that affected a state that backed Trump in 2024. Well, that is good news. Look, that is good news for federal projects in red states like North Dakota's Ronald Reagan oiled field and memorial whorehouse. You know their slogan, drill baby drill. That's also from deadwood. I think that's in deadwood too. The sticking point of the shutdown negotiations has been health care. The Democrats want to restore some of the Affordable Care act benefits the Republicans cut earlier this year in the big beautiful bill. Or as the Republicans describe it, they.

[B]

Want to give taxpayer funded health care benefits to illegal aliens.

[A]

We won't agree to return to restore health care to illegal aliens. The Democrats are demanding free health care for illegal aliens. The Democrats. Their whole argument is we, we are going to shut down the government unless you give a trillion dollars for medical benefits for illegal aliens. No, it's not their argument. Beardo. It's not. That's. No one's proposing that.

[B]

That's true.

[A]

That's not true. Right, TV peoples. That is not true.

[B]

Illegal immigrants are not eligible for federal health care programs. Undocumented immigrants cannot sign up for. For the Affordable Care act coverage. To be clear, this is not true. Undocumented immigrants are banned from federally funded health care programs.

[A]

Yeah, and if you're just going to completely make up stupid fear mongering arguments, at least make them fun. Ladies and gentlemen, Democrats are spending trillions of dollars so they can Jurassic park your children. It's shocking. They're going to trap your child in amber, suck out the baby blood, and then turn your child into little T. Rexes. The worst part is the worst part, ladies and gentlemen, they'll never be able to hug you. Acting not AI Trump. He's so desperate to tell the lie. The Democrats want to throw a medical money party at the undocumented that he has spent the past few days posting. AI generated racist memes depicting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wearing a sombrero and a mustache. This is how. This is now our level of political discourse. This is worse than the Lincoln Douglas debates when Abe said, here's a drawing I did of Mr. Douglas eating horse droppings. Don't vote for poopy, Doug. No, they don't teach you that in school. Now, the White House has got a lot of blowback for such infantile bigotry, but at least J.D. vance did the right thing and doubled down. Is it helpful to post pictures of Leader Jeffries and sombrero if you're trying to have good faith talks with him? Oh, I think it's funny. The President's joking and we're having a good time. I'll tell Hakeem Jeffries right now. I make this solemn promise to you that if you help us reopen the government, the sombrero memes will stop. Okay. Okay. I didn't know that. If that's how we're doing it, J.D. then we here at the Late show also enjoy humor. We've created our own funny good time animation based on something that isn't real to help end the shutdown. Enjoy. We're joking. We're joking. We're having a good time. Come on. It's a joke. We're having a good time.

[B]

It's.

[A]

It's funny. I'll tell you what. Here's the deal. If you resign as vp, I won't keep showing that every chance I get. And, And. And I definitely won't put it on all of our socials so people can share it and maybe roll a loop during their holiday parties this year. Trump is not the only politician turning to high tech these days. So is former New York governor and mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo, who just released this AI generated ad. I'm Andrew Cuomo, and I could pretend to do a lot of jobs, but I know what I know, and I know what I don't know. And I do know how to make. There are a lot of jobs I can't do, but I'm ready to be your mayor on day one. Wow. I gotta say, it is really brave to make your campaign message. Andrew Cuomo would suck at most things. We got a great show for you tonight. I'll be talking to Lady Gaga.

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[A]

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[B]

Come on.

[A]

Come on, man. Bar none.

[B]

Come on, man.

[A]

Guys, Anybody over there? We're about to go on. We're about to go on. A very brief fall break. Anybody over there got any big plans? Anybody going to Mexico? You're going to Mexico. Is this for work or for play? Oh, for. Okay. Is it for your wedding? No. All right, just checking because I didn't get you anything. Oh, that's fantastic. Yeah. Do not try to bring CBD into Mexico. Oh, it is legal here in the United States. Yeah. It is not legal in Mexico. And I did not know that. Oh, my God. Funny story that I will never tell in front of a judge. Okay. All right, folks. A few weeks ago, I had the rare opportunity to sit down with Lady Gaga. The pop Superstar, fashion icon, LBGTQ advocate, movie star who has sold over 170 million records and won 14 Grammys. Now right now, Gaga is on a sold out tour, playing the world's most famous venues, including, including the Ed Sullivan theater for our 10th anniversary.

[B]

Saw your face and my eyes and.

[A]

A picture to be in.

[B]

Vanish you come, I vanish in you.

[A]

The next morning, Lady Gaga met me in Greenwich Village at the Bitter End, the storied venue where Stephanie Germanotta first performed as Lady Gaga. And coincidentally, where I also first performed as Lady Gaga. Watch yourself. Watch yourself. Hey. Took me forever to teach her that choreography. We sat down to discuss her art, her career, and her newfound happiness. Thanks so much for being here.

[B]

I am so happy to be here. It's my pleasure.

[A]

Before we begin, do you prefer I call you Lady Gaga or Stephanie?

[B]

That's a good question.

[A]

Well, what do you think of yourself as? Like if somebody Wakes you up, slaps you across the face in the middle of the night and says, what's your name?

[B]

Stephanie.

[A]

Stephanie.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I always feel weird saying that. Cause I'm like, what do you want to call me? Well, because I feel like sometimes I make people uncomfortable when I'm like, call me Stephanie. They're like, whoa.

[A]

Is there a difference between Stephanie and Lady Gaga?

[B]

Yeah. Okay, well, yes. Yes. Sort of. Yes.

[A]

Is it a stylistic difference or is it an amplification of who Stephanie is?

[B]

I would say that I. Stephanie, is like me, the artist, the creator, and Lady Gaga is my creation.

[A]

That your creation that you get to ride around in?

[B]

Yes. And I get to wear her out.

[A]

What does it do for your art to have a Persona to inhabit as a performer? And does that ever get in the way of something else you want to do?

[B]

I would say that creating Lady Gaga was a way for me to become something that I felt I didn't already have inside of me. Sort of like the star I always wanted to be. That I knew that I had musical talent and I had things I wanted to say, but I was like, just deeply insecure my whole childhood. So I, like, created this other thing to give me wings. And it was also kind of born after some really tough experiences in New York.

[A]

Professional experiences.

[B]

Yeah. And personal. It was so hard that I changed my name and it was like a new beginning. But I created something that felt exciting and artistic and creative and imaginative, but also safer than I think the way I felt.

[A]

Why safer? Because gagawa was the one who was pursuing and experiencing fame and not Stephanie.

[B]

I think it was kind of like this thing where I could safely leave behind all the hard stuff that I went through and inhabit like a new Persona of someone that was really strong and resilient and tough that you wouldn't want to mess with.

[A]

Also, lady has status.

[B]

Yeah, A lady does have status. And also manners.

[A]

Yes. Yeah.

[B]

Right. And Gaga doesn't.

[A]

And how old are you when you become Gaga?

[B]

19.

[A]

That's really early to know that you need that.

[B]

Yeah, well, it was really early that some messed up things happened.

[A]

So is Gaga in some way like a. This sounds pejorative, but it's not. Is it protect? Is it a creative armor that allowed you to walk back onto what you perceived as a hostile territory, but with ownership?

[B]

That is a beautiful way of saying it, actually. Yeah. It was kind of like a way that I could feel safe because I felt like. I think if I thought if I made it weird and creative, it wouldn't be sexy. To anyone. Mmm. And then I felt as a woman protected in a very male dominated industry that was hard to navigate.

[A]

Could you write a biography of Gaga that's entirely different than yours?

[B]

No.

[A]

No. So there's not a separate background, there's not a separate backstory to Gaga that exists that we don't know about?

[B]

No, I think we share a backstory story. Yeah. It's kind of like we share a soul. So weird to talk about myself this way.

[A]

Is there any way in which you disagree with Lady Gaga that Stephanie disagrees with Lady Gaga?

[B]

Yes. Now.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah, I just feel like she can put her. Her sword down, you know, she still.

[A]

Has the sword up and you like.

[B]

I feel like she's always fighting, you know. Yeah. There's always like something tough. But I think in a way that is what this tour has been about. It's this kind of battle between intensity and, you know, what it means to be the jockey and the horse.

[A]

You're known for your iconic looks and I'm wondering whether you think I could pull off any of them. This is. I think this is. Do you think I could do the dark bangs?

[B]

It's the brows. It's the eyebrows.

[A]

Well, you've got the bleached eyebrows and I thought maybe. This is excellent.

[B]

I really like this look. It's pretty great.

[A]

It's not a bad look.

[B]

Why not?

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

When in Rome. Oh, here's another one. Here's another one.

[A]

You know.

[B]

Thank you. Thank you.

[A]

It's a nice casual accessory.

[B]

Thank you so much.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

It's really bleached eyebrows really do make people uncomfortable, don't they?

[A]

It does.

[B]

I apologize.

[A]

When we come back, Stephanie talks about her earliest performances as Gaga. The holidays have arrived at the Home Depot and we're here to help bring the excitement with decor for every part of your home. Check out our wide assortment of easy to assemble pre lit trees so you can spend less time setting up and more time celebrating. And bring your holiday spirit outdoors with unique decor like one of our Santa inflatables. Whatever your style, find the right pieces at the right prices. This holiday season at the Home Depot. For a limited time at McDonald's, get a Big Mac Extra Value meal for $8. That means two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun and medium fries. And a drink. We may need to change that jingle. Prices and participation may vary. Welcome back to all the little monsters watching tonight. We now return to my interview with Lady Gaga. Ah, we're here at The Bitter End in Manhattan. And I understand this place has a special meaning to you.

[B]

Very special. I think the first time I performed here, I was 14.

[A]

Just. Was it with a band, you and the piano?

[B]

I was by myself. I just. I just played it. I believe it's that piano that's right there. They tuned it for me. I remember. I couldn't believe they did that for me.

[A]

Do you remember what your set was?

[B]

It was all original songs that I had written. I think I did about maybe eight to ten songs.

[A]

What night of the week?

[B]

I bet it was like a Tuesday, because there was just no way they were gonna give me a Friday or a Saturday. But I performed here until I was. I don't know, I guess I was at least 17. I was still playing here. I have. My mom kept these. They're flyers that I made. I used to go to the copy shop and make those.

[A]

Oh, that's great.

[B]

When I became Lady Gaga, people would then come see the show, and if they liked it, they would leave their name and their email and her number. And that's actually a very important piece of paper that has some people on it.

[A]

You still physically have this?

[B]

Yeah, I do. My mom said that she kept the pen. This is the clipboard and the pen from the video. Sorry, we took the clipboard. And then here is the same clipboard. I drew like a. Like a hit list of who I wanted to talk to.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Island Def Jam, Universal and UK Universal. And then I. There's little flowers and hearts.

[A]

And how long before this happened for you, between this piece of paper and you talking to those people?

[B]

I'd say a couple years. And then this is when I signed my first record deal. Oh, my God.

[A]

So what are you. How old are you?

[B]

I was 19, I believe. Yeah, I was 19.

[A]

That's a very Cyndi Lauper kind of, you know.

[B]

Thank you. This was with Island Def Jam, and I got dropped a few months later, but that was my first record deal.

[A]

Wow. Well, what's that? So that excitement right there, and a couple months later you get dropped. Do they say why?

[B]

I just think at the time they just didn't totally get it.

[A]

But then how do you feel? So where are you? If you got this excitement there and then a few months later you get dropped.

[B]

It was one of the hardest things. Things that ever happened. I mean, it was a very crazy experience. A lot was happening at once. Yeah, it was really hard.

[A]

How far are we from where you grew up?

[B]

I grew up uptown. We're quite a ways away from There.

[A]

West side.

[B]

Upper west side.

[A]

Upper west side. Okay.

[B]

But I moved when I was 17 to about 20 blocks from here, just on the east side.

[A]

For non New Yorkers, can you compare the vibe of. Of the Lower east side and the Upper west side?

[B]

Very different. Very different vibes. The Upper west side will always be a special place in my heart because it's where I grew up. But I just. You know, I didn't really, like, fit in at school. And when I moved to the Lower east side here, I just, like, found my people. And when I would come here to play, this was, like, the most joyous and the most warmth that I ever felt, because I would walk in, and it was like an instant family. And when you build community like that with people, you start to believe you've got something and you feel held by them, you know? And that was very powerful. I'm very humbled sitting here with you, you know, because it's like, this is where it just all started. And my love of music and my love of community, my love of musicians, my love of writing songs and producing, like, it's as old as. It's as old as this carpet.

[A]

All right, Mets or Yankees?

[B]

Yankees.

[A]

Yankees. Okay. Knicks or Nets or Liberty?

[B]

Knicks.

[A]

Knicks. Best corner of New York City.

[B]

72Nd Street. Grace. Papaya.

[A]

Best slice, race. Worst subway line.

[B]

I think it's the L. Why does it take so long? The L takes forever. Forever I spent on the L bagel order. Okay, okay, so there's, like, two bagel orders, because there's the tbb, there's the toasted butter bagel. Just, like, easy walk in tbb.

[A]

Sure, sure.

[B]

Or, like, lox, cream cheese, tomato, salt and pepper.

[A]

All right, I dare you to rank the boroughs. No one's gonna be upset.

[B]

Not a chance.

[A]

No one will be inside the.

[B]

This is a trap.

[A]

Just start with Staten Island.

[B]

That is a trap.

[A]

Forget it. When we return, Lady Gaga talks about performing to 2.5 million people in Brazil. And now, the next chapter of the Stephen Colbert Lady Gaga interview. Which one is me and which one is her? Keep watching to find out. Your debut album, the Fame came out in 2008.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's hard to overstate what a splashy debut that was. Did you have any idea what you were getting yourself into at the ripe old age of 21?

[B]

No, no, no.

[A]

What was most shocking about it?

[B]

The music industry was, like, very, very challenging. And I don't mean just, like, the process of trying to get discovered. It was. The system was very daunting. It felt really scary.

[A]

But at this point, you're already a Lady Gaga. So you've had experiences that led you to create, as we said, this creative armor that empowered you.

[B]

That's right. So I was really tough. I mean, I white knuckled my way through a very long period of my career. I just had my head down and I just worked and worked and worked all the time, and I just did what I had to do to have my music be heard by an audience. I would say that I sort of had this reckoning with myself that the real battle that I was going through was with me and not with being famous.

[A]

Who won?

[B]

I mean, I think ultimately I'm okay. I'm doing good now, but fame was like a huge challenge for me. But I think also the duality of being Stephanie and being Lady Gaga was the bigger challenge. And, like, figuring out how to integrate those two things, like, psychologically for me was. That was like my big forever work.

[A]

You're currently on tour in support of your latest album, Mayhem. In May, you even broke a record for the highest attended concert in Rio by a female artist. And the top five most attended concerts of all time with 2.5 million people. What changes or doesn't change about a show of this size versus when you play places like the Bitter End? Like, what did you learn here that's applicable to 2.5 million people?

[B]

When you open your mouth to sing a song, it is your job to reach right into the heart of the audience. Whether there is 20 people that you begged to come so that you could play at the Bitter End, or if it's millions of people, my job is the same. And I've always known that. I think that's always why I wanted to make music, was to, I think, to connect to people. And what a special moment that was. Never could have prepared myself for that feeling. But I'll tell you something. I remember being just as nervous for the performance in Brazil as I was the first time I sat at that piano. And I was just. I used to just, you know, I was not a performer that usually sang flat. If I was off, I was sharp because I was so anxious. Yeah, I never. I mean, the minute I got on stage and I saw all those people, I was like, over. I thought I was going to pass out. I was overcome.

[A]

I interviewed Bruce Springsteen about his biography, which is very beautiful. And one of the things he talks about and we talked about on the show was what he calls the magic trick. And that there's a magic trick that happens with the audience and there's a moment of transcendent connection. And he goes, it can happen at various parts of any concert, but it's a successful moment for him and that's his goal. Do the songs. Yes. But the trick, the magic trick is the goal.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Do you have a similar moment of feeling where, you know, okay, I am performing for 2.5 million people, but I know that I can reach out and touch the shoulder of the person in the last row?

[B]

Yes. I think that I'm always striving for that moment. And, you know, it's funny you bring up Bruce because I think Bruce in a way, like, taught me about that moment from his music and from my father. Because listening to Bruce, especially his live recordings, you know, he had this way of putting himself and you just so close together. I just, I felt like I knew him. I remember the first time I met him, I was so. I couldn't believe he came to my show and I was so overcome with emotion because I felt like I knew him and I felt like he had narrated my childhood, my life. I felt like I understood my father because of Bruce's music, because my dad grew up in Jersey. That magic trick that he's talking about, I think what he's trying to say is like, we've all got this like goal of the soul when we're on stage and it's to touch somebody and hopefully move them and move them in whatever way they need. You know, it's not for me to decide what somebody in the audience needs from me. It's just, I think, for me to try to offer it.

[A]

When we come back, Lady Gaga talks about her recent engagement and now the thrilling conclusion of what historians are already calling my interview with Lady Gaga. There's a theory that artists have to suffer in order to create great art. And it's one of the aspects of human experiences. Therefore there's a way to connect with other people. Since life itself can be a form of suffering for many people. You seem like you're in a very good place right now. And is a happy artist as productive as the one who is what would be perceived of as tortured?

[B]

Without a doubt. I mean, I think so.

[A]

It's not a burden you have to carry. You don't have to carry trauma in order to speak to it.

[B]

No, no, no. But I understand why people feel this way. This is an age old tale of this, this tortured artist suffering for their art. I think my long time friend Sarah Tano and makeup artist today, she said to me, she said, you know, when I see You. I see how much love has changed your life.

[A]

Well, how much of the good place you're in right now has to do with your recent engagement to Michael Polanski? What has this man done for you?

[B]

I mean, he's my best friend in the whole world. I mean, what can you say about your best friend?

[A]

How'd you guys meet?

[B]

We met through my mom.

[A]

Well, that's nice.

[B]

Yeah, my mom met him, and she said, I think I met your husband. He just blew me away from the minute that I met him. And he always, I think, really saw me, and I think I always really saw him. And I felt that right away, and it was very powerful. It was something that I don't think I'd ever felt with anyone before, especially at that time in my life. And he's just, like, incredibly brilliant and sweet and kind, and he just, like, fights for me every day. And I think I felt for a long time like I was navigating this thing on my own. And it was hard, and it's not anymore. And I'm very lucky. I feel really grateful.

[A]

How did he propose?

[B]

We went rock climbing. We were in Utah, and after we got back, he proposed to me, and it was the happiest day of my life.

[A]

I see the engagement ring. Wow. Thank you. Was this the rock you were climbing?

[B]

No, but actually, he proposed to me with a blade of grass.

[A]

Tied into a ring.

[B]

He made it into a ring, and then we made a song about it.

[A]

Well, that's what people may not know is that he's not just your romantic partner and your husband to be and doesn't just support your career. He's a creative partner.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

As well. Executive producer on Mayhem and Pair of you co wrote songs. Yes, on that. Did that make you nervous at all to. To work with your loved one? I mean, my wife, Evie and I, we always want to do something together, but I was always very nervous because what if we didn't like it? What. What do you do then? What if it wasn't a good, you know, professional? Because not every personal relationship is a professional relationship. Does it make you nervous at all?

[B]

No, because it was just so natural. And he has so much to offer as a poet, as a writer, as a creative thinker. And when we're working together, he also. He can push me in ways that I can't push myself. I'm sure you've experienced this with your wife, but they know things about me.

[A]

They give me notes other people do not get.

[B]

Yeah, they know things about you that you maybe don't always want to admit in your work. And, you know, he'll say, like, is that really what you mean? Or do you mean this? Or, you know, is this really how you feel about that? Or I thought that that made you angry. That didn't make you feel happy, and, like, it's kind of like someone that's able to help you confront things and go deeper.

[A]

In 2018, I had the pleasure of gushing at you about your performance in A Star Is Born, and that was your film debut. Since then, you've continued to act. You've just popped up in the series Wednesday, and is that something you want to continue to pursue? Would you like to do Broadway?

[B]

I. I would like to do many things. Yeah. I mean, all of these things are open. But what I really want is to be a mom. That's my. That's my next starring role, I hope.

[A]

Good luck.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

Well, you're already a mother monster.

[B]

That is true.

[A]

Is it still the Little Monsters? Your fans still have a relationship?

[B]

Well, whatever they want me to call them Little monsters monsters.

[A]

Is there a Lady Gaga action figure?

[B]

Probably, but that's it. It's like at this stage in my life, I don't feel like a product anymore. And what a change that has been. And I think that Mayhem was me circling back. This album was me circling back to all of the music that I fell in love with. My production style, my songwriting, my love of this, like, dark poetry and celebrating that it's mine and I'm making it, you know, for me. And then I can feel empowered as a woman in music with a beautiful partner that has my back every day. Being empowered as a woman in music is something that took me nearly 20 years to experience. And I just feel so grateful to still be here. And I'm so aware with that piano so close to us, how long it took and what it took.

[A]

Thanks so much for talking to me today.

[B]

Thank you so much.

[A]

It's always lovely.

[B]

Thank you. Thank you for having me. And I just love you so much. And I'm just so happy to have had this talk with you today.

[A]

Lady Gaga's latest album, Mayhem, is out now. You can catch her live on the Mayhem Ball Tour. Thank you again, Stephanie. Thank you for listening to the Late Show POD show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. If you want to see more of me, come to The Late Show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives.

[B]

Hey, girl. This is a matching set. Emergency. Ugh. My favorite Lululemon leggings and defined jacket. You know, the set you got me years ago. The one you've seen me wear at every yoga class. Well, I just got back from a weekend trip and had left my gym bag at the B and B. Girl, I need to replace this outfit. Could you send me the link to where you got it I needed asap? I don't know what I'll do without it. Thanks, girl. Looking for your newest go to's shop. Lululemon's best sellers now at lululemon.com October 7th on Paramount plus witness an intimate look at Ozzy Osbourne's fights.

[A]

I should take pills for fun. I would like to stay alive to reclaim the magic.

[B]

I took dad to the studio every day.

[A]

God, he's having a great time.

[B]

Well, of course he's making music.

[A]

I think that that's fuel for my dad.

[B]

One last time. What do you think about big farewell show?

[A]

I'm not good at being sick. I'd belong up there, you know?

[B]

Had a brilliant career and it ended in a brilliant way. Ozzy no escape from now new documentary streaming October 7th on Paramount Plus.