Lady Gaga’s recent revelation has sent shockwaves through the entertainment world: she filmed A Star Is Born while on lithium, a medication that ultimately led to a devastating psychotic break. But here’s where it gets even more startling—this crisis unfolded during one of the most successful periods of her career, leaving fans and critics alike grappling with the stark contrast between her public triumphs and private struggles. In a candid Rolling Stone cover story published on November 13, the pop icon opened up about her battle with mental health, revealing that her breakdown occurred during the Joanne world tour, which began in August 2017 but was abruptly canceled by February 2018.
At just 39, Gaga shared that her mental health spiraled after completing A Star Is Born, the film that later earned her an Oscar for Best Original Song with Shallow and a Best Actress nomination. And this is the part most people miss—despite her professional highs, she was silently grappling with the side effects of lithium. ‘I did *A Star Is Born on lithium. There was one day that my sister said to me, ‘I don’t see my sister anymore,’* she recalled, shedding light on the isolating nature of her struggle.
The crisis also shadowed her iconic Super Bowl LI halftime performance in February 2017. A year later, she canceled the European leg of her tour with just 10 dates remaining, citing ‘severe pain’ from fibromyalgia. But in her Rolling Stone interview, Gaga went deeper, revealing, ‘I canceled the tour. There was one day I went to the hospital for psychiatric care. I needed to take a break. I couldn’t do anything. I completely crashed. It was really scary. There was a time where I didn’t think I could get better.’
Today, Gaga reflects on her journey with a profound sense of gratitude. ‘I feel really lucky to be alive,’ she shared, acknowledging the gravity of her experience. ‘I know that might sound dramatic, but we know how this can go.’ She credits her recovery to her support system, particularly her fiancé, entrepreneur Michael Polansky, whose unconditional love played a pivotal role in her healing. ‘Being in love with someone that cares about the real me made a very big difference,’ she explained. But she also posed a thought-provoking question: ‘How do you learn how to be yourself with someone when you don’t know how to be yourself with anyone?’
Here’s where it gets controversial—while Gaga’s openness about her mental health has been widely praised, it also raises questions about the pressures of fame and the toll it takes on artists. Is the entertainment industry doing enough to support its stars? Or are we, as fans, complicit in a culture that glorifies success while ignoring the human cost?
On a brighter note, Gaga’s resilience shines through in her latest project, Mayhem, which recently earned her seven Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year. She described the record as a journey of rediscovery, a testament to reclaiming what she had lost. ‘It was a crazy journey to get it back,’ she admitted, offering a glimpse into her transformative process.
As we applaud Gaga’s triumphs, her story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of mental health awareness. But here’s the question we can’t ignore—how many other artists are silently struggling behind the curtain of fame? And what can we do to ensure they receive the support they need? Let’s keep the conversation going—share your thoughts in the comments below.
