Lady Gaga Jazz Album Will 'Reaffirm She's One of the Best,' Says Tony Bennett

Lady Gaga With Tony Bennett

As if a new album ("Viva Duets"), book ("Life Is a Gift: The Zen of Bennett") and a movie also titled "The Zen of Bennett" aren't enough, Tony Bennett already has his next project in motion -- a jazz album with Lady Gaga.

Bennett, who recorded "The Lady is a Tramp" for his 2011 "Duets II" album, tells Billboard that Gaga's father, Joseph Germanotta, called him on his daughter's behalf while she was on tour in Australia.

"He said she told him that 'I want to do a jazz album with Tony Bennett, a jazz album,' " Bennett recalls. "So that will be the next album after ('Viva Duets')."

The two will be working with arranger/orchestrator Marion Evans, though Bennett says that the song list is "secret." Studio plans are still being determined.

"It's going to really reaffirm that she's one of the best jazz singers that anyone's ever heard," Bennett adds. The set will also let the ageless Bennett immerse himself once again in his very favorite musical genre.

"I'm a great lover of jazz, which is strictly an American art form that was invented out of the churches of New Orleans, and then it became elongated into improvised jazz," he explains. "I'm an entertainer, but I have a great affection for the great jazz artists that commit their life to just playing what they feel and being honest with what they're doing. It's a spectacular music that the world loves. We just finished three and a half months of touring all over Europe and we did quite a few big jazz festivals, and the people internationally just love American jazz and they show up and they walk away swooning over what they just heard."

With the Gaga collaboration in the offing, Bennett is busy promoting the just-released "Viva Duets" -- which pairs him with Latin singers such as Marc Anthony, Gloria Estefan, Christina Aguilera, Ricardo Arjona and more -- as well as the two "Zen" projects. The film, Bennett says, was the brainchild of his son and manager Danny Bennett; directed by Unjoo Moon, it will be released theatrically on Oct. 24 and will also be available on Netflix on Nov. 12. And as the titles suggest, both it and the book mix biographical details with the singer's "philosophy and how I feel about life."

Doing those, he says, "just reaffirmed how I feel about the power of nature and...everything I've felt about my life. I've been very successful wtih the fact that from 1950 to now the audiences have never let me down and they reaffirm that they love what I do, and that creates a tremendous contentment for me. When I can make people feel that good, I walk away saying, 'Wow...' It's just the art of giving; when you give you get and you don't take. You just get from giving."

The "Life is a Gift" book, which also includes images of some of Bennett's paintings, will be published Nov. 20. He has several dates booked in the U.S. through the end of the year including a Dec. 18 Haitian benefit in Grand Rapids, Mich., organized by author Mitch Albom, who wrote the foreword for "Life is a Gift."

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Lady Gaga likened to Isabella Blow

Lady Gaga is a “pop version” of late fashion icon Isabella Blow, Philip Treacy says.

The quirky singer recently opened the famous hat designer’s first catwalk presentation in a decade and paid homage to Blow by wearing one of her dresses.

Treacy revealed that the collaboration was the fashion-loving Born This Way star’s idea - and he was thrilled to have her on board.

"I went to see Lady Gaga backstage after seeing her at Twickenham [for the Born This Way Ball tour], and I was telling her about the show and then she just suggested it. It was all her idea. She was going to be in Dublin the night before, so she said that she'd fly over for it. Playing to 80,000 people on one night and then appearing in my show the next? Amazing. Of course I agreed,” he told Vogue. "She had this whole concept, she said she was feeling like Isabella. She rang me on her way to the show to apologise for being late - you never see that any more. She really is like a 21st Century pop version of Isabella Blow."

Treacy also praised Gaga for her unique take on fashion.

The singer is known for her eccentric outfits and her perception of style allowed the milliner to go all out with his designs.

"She's a really fun person to work with," he continued. "She has a different sensibility - a different idea of what's perfect and beautiful. She allows me to be really creative and brings my designs to a whole new audience."

© Cover Media


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Lady Gaga Manager, Photographer Terry Richardson Team Up to Launch Pop Water

Atom Factory's Troy Carter conceived of the healthier alternative to sugary soft drinks after discussing music initiatives with Coca-Cola and Pepsi. The new beverage will launch in early 2013.

Troy Carter, founder and CEO of entertainment company Atom Factory and manager of Lady Gaga, and photographerTerry Richardson are teaming up for a new consumer product, Pop Water, set for an early 2013 debut. The new beverage will be marketed as a healthier alternative to sugary soft drinks -- an 11.2 oz can will contain 30 calories and 7 grams of sugar. Initial flavors will include apple, orange, pineapple and grape.

Richardson, a fashion photographer whose sometimes sexually explicit work has stirred controversy, will serve as the brand's creative director.

Carter tells Billboard the idea for Pop Water resulted from the various conversations his company had with Pepsi and Coca-Cola over the years regarding their respective music initiatives. "We noticed none of the brands had music in their DNA," he says. "We felt we could build something with relevance to music and pop culture if we built something from scratch. Whether it's flying to Kentucky with food scientists or flying around the world sourcing the packaging, the last two years has been an education for us in the beverage space."

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Pop Water will start with a soft January launch in Southern California before expanding nationally later in 2013. Musicians are expected to play a part of the marketing as well, though Carter was light on details. "We're talking to a bunch of music and pop culture icons who've tasted the beverage. We're gonna have a lot of support behind this," he says.

Using musicians to launch a new beverage is an increasingly common practice in the spirits industry, where everyone from Diddy (Ciroc vodka), Kid Rock (Jim Beam's Red Stag) and Jay-Z (Ace of Spades champagne) have all lent their names, likenesses and even investments to help products get off the ground. But that trend was really sparked by 50 Cent's early 10 percent stake in Vitamin Water, which ballooned in value after the beverage was sold to Coca-Cola for $1.2 billion in 2007. The rapper eventually received a cashout worth an estimated $60 to $100 million.

Not every music-beverage pairing has been a hit, however. Jermaine Dupri's partnership with soy-based 3 Vodka fell apart, and Lil Jon recently folded his Little Jonathan Winery in 2011. Pharrell Williams' Qream vodka, a partnership with Diageo that launched in mid-2011, sold fewer than 200 cases by the end of the year, while the Pitbull-backed Voli Vodka sold about 300 cases in 2011 following the rapper's involvement (Fergie has sine come on as an investor and spokesperson.)

STORY: Lady Gaga Gets A New Plant Genus Named After Her

Though Pop Water will have celebrity faces, they won't be of the typical "sip-and ah!" variety. "The idea is not to be just an endorsement but to be a part of people's lives," Carter says. "Endorsements, where they're just one-offs feels like the artists just got a check for it. For us, we set out to make something that's a lot healthier than what's in the market. It's really hard to get 30 calories to taste good."

And ultimately, Carter feels the biggest opportunity for Pop Water is to market itself around the current healthy-food movement. "We see what's happening in New York with Mayor Bloombergand this consciousness throughout the country where people want to get healthier, looking for alternatives," he says. "When we saw what was happening with Subway and how they completely disrupted McDonald's…it's a bigger movement than what we expected."

Twitter: @billboardbiz

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Lady Gaga’s rant @ Calvin Harris

LADY GAGA woke up on the wrong side of the bed yesterday.

Or maybe she woke up on the wrong side of her egg? Or her hamster wheel?

She had a rant on Twitter and a dig at CALVIN HARRIS – after he said on BBC Breakfast yesterday morning that he turned down the chance to work with her.

Gaga took to the social networking site to write: “Seems to be trendy lately to talk s*** about lady gaga when your albums/singles drop.

“Y’all should live off your own hustle.

“Never even emailed you @calvinharris I guess it’s hard to believe I write + produce my music.

“Cuz I’m a woman I don’t know about EDM right?”

That’s Electronic Dance Music, by the way.

Calvin then replied to Gaga: “No, your label emailed me.

“I always make sure I say I’m a fan when asked about it, I apologise if I offended u, wasn’t 

the intention.”

Gaga later said she accepted the apology – then retired to an abattoir in a bath of pig 

blood.

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Lady Gaga Gets Peace Award From Yoko Ono in Iceland

Lady Gaga And Yoko

Lady Gaga has given a peace a chance, and Yoko Ono has taken notice.

John Lennon's widow, a rock legend in her own right, presented the 21st-century pop icon with the LennonOno Grant for Peace today in Iceland. The Imagine Peace Tower, whose construction was spearheaded by Ono in honor of her late husband, was unveiledin Kollafjörður Bay in 2007.

But Gaga didn't just get her hands on a puzzle-piece-shaped trophy for her social activism and philanthropic ways—the prize is a grant after all!

Lady Gaga's rough night in Barcelona

"I will be donating this grant to the Elton John AIDS foundation and I will be working closely with them to ensure that the money goes specifically to those orphans and disadvantaged youth in America born with HIV or AIDS," the Fame Monster artist said of the $50,000 that comes with the honor.

In addition to launching her own Born This Way Foundation advocating more empowerment, education and acceptance among young people, Lady Gaga contributed to earthquake relief in Haiti in 2010 and tsunami relief in Japan last year.

Fellow artists react to Pussy Riot sentence

"Lady Gaga is in a position of number one as a singer-songwriter," Ono told Reuters Television. "And when you are number one you don't want to risk yourself. And she did." 

"I dare you to be compassionate in a cynical age," Gaga said in accepting the honor—which she shares this year with Pussy Riot, the imprisoned Russian punk trio who are appealing their stiff sentence for staging an anti-Vladimir Putin protest at a Moscow church.

Ono ceremonially presented the award to band member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova's husband in New York last month.

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Azelia Banks Confirms Lady Gaga And Kanye West Collaborations

Azelia Banks

Azealia Banks has revealed that she's been busy working with Lady GaGa and Kanye West on new material.

The rapper, who is set to release her debut album next year, said she has recorded a number of songs with Gaga and West but hasn't revealed whose projects the new songs will feature on.

"I worked with Lady GaGa, but I worked with Lady GaGa from afar," Banks told Mix TV. "We worked via email and via internet.

"We have a song called 'Red Flame' and a song called 'Ratchet', but I don't know what she's doing with it. She's going to release it when she wants to release it."

Speaking about West, Banks added: "Working with Kanye was a lot of fun. I just kind of went out to Hawaii for vacation, and he has a studio out there.

"And he was just like, 'You should really come to the studio', so I went to the studio and just worked it out."

Azelia Banks became one of the hottest new talents of 2012 after releasing track '212', taken from her forthcoming debut album Broke With Expensive Taste.

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Lady Gaga ready for family life

Lady gaga Ready for family life

Lady Gaga is reportedly ready to get married and start a family.

The singer apparently feels it is the right time to move onto the next phase in her life as she has achieved her romantic and professional goals.

Not only has she become an established figure in the music industry, but she's met her soul mate in boyfriend Taylor Kinney.

"Gaga is crazy about Taylor and they really have a good thing going. He makes her so happy," an insider revealed to Radar Online.

"Lately all Gaga can talk about is settling down with Taylor. She's really eager to get married and start a family with him."

The 26-year-old and her actor beau started officially dating in September last year. The couple met on the set of Gaga's music video for You and I in late July. Apart from a brief split in May this year, they have been together ever since.

"Gaga gushes to everyone about how in love she is with Taylor," the source added. "She really thinks he's the one and would be willing to give up some of the focus on her career to marry him and have kids."

Earlier this week Taylor told The Today Show about his relationship with the mega star. In an interview to promote his new TV show Chicago Fire, Taylor explained how infatuated he is with Gaga.

"[Is it strange to date Lady Gaga?] I don’t know, because I don’t have that outside view. It’s normal, if you will, in that respect," Taylor revealed. 'I’m a happy guy. I’m a lucky guy."

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Lady Gaga Gets Her Own Plant Species

You might say these ferns were just born this way.

Scientists at Duke University announced Tuesday, October 23 that they have named a new species of the plant after Lady Gaga.

“We wanted to name this genus for Lady Gaga because of her fervent defense of equality and individual expression,” Kathleen Pryer, a professor of biology at Duke University said in a statement. “And as we started to consider it, the ferns themselves gave us more reasons why it was a good choice.”

The researchers discovered that the fern, which is found in Arizona, Texas, Mexico and Central and South America, not only had a DNA sequence of GAGA, but also had “somewhat fluid definitions of gender.” This means that when the plant reproduces it can be male, female or bisexual.

Since Gaga has always been a voice for those on the outside the scientists felt it was only fitting that they named this new fern after the pop star.

“We think that her second album, Born this Way, is enormously empowering,” Pryer said. “Especially for disenfranchised people and communities like LGBT, ethnic groups, women — and scientists who study odd ferns!”

While Beyoncé has a housefly in her name, Gaga boasts 19 species within this genus of ferns that share her name.

One is called Gaga germanotta as a nod to her birth name, Stefani Germanotta, while another was named Gaga monstraparva, which translates to little monster.

- Shannon Carlin, CBS Local....

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Lady Gaga fans must wait until 2013 for new music

Lady Gaga has confirmed that she will not be releasing her new single until 2013.

The Poker Face singer had previously revealed her new album would be out next year but it wasn't known whether she might unveil a new song before the end of 2012.

However, the star revealed during a Q&A on Twitter that her next song won't be available until 2013, telling fans: "Next year Don't worry!"

Gaga, 26, has already confirmed her third studio album, the follow-up to last year's Born This Way, will be out next year.

The singer announced the title would be ARTPOP by tweeting a picture of her new tattoo - the word ARTPOP on her arm - along with the message "New album, new ink".

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Lady GaGa Confirms 'Telephone' Sequel on New Album 'ARTPOP'

Lady Gaga creates yet another online buzz with her announcement of a detail on new album "ARTPOP" set for release in 2013. More hype follows as she reveals through an exchange with fans on Twitter that a sequel to the hit song "Telephone", which featuresBeyonce Knowles, is also in the works. 

A fan, who's curious about the new album, recently tweeted the Mother Monster, asking if there's a possibility of a continuation for "Telephone" from the album "The Fame Monster". Responding to the question, the eccentric singer replied, "fact." 

Whether it's fact or fiction, the continuation of "Telephone" and the possibility of GaGa collaborating again with Beyonce is very much a thrilling news for her devoted fans. She has also confirmed working once again with producers RedOne and Fernando Garibay. 

The "Born This Way" hitmaker has been busy pouring her songwriting and creative talents to her upcoming fourth studio album, "ARTPOP", which according to her will explore new themes for her music career. "I'm fascinated with the decay of the blonde pop icon and how culture loves to build and give birth to fantasies and then destroy them and what that means. It's something I want to explore on my next album," stated Gaga in an interview with Access Hollywood. 

The music talk aside, GaGa has also been engaging fans in discussion about the U.S. presidential debates and notes that the Republican's arguments over foreign policy were "weak." 

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Lady Gaga Gets 19 Species of Ferns Named After Her

Botanists are experts in plant culture, not pop culture. Or so you thought. Scientists at Duke University took steps today to dismiss such stereotypes by naming a newly found genus of plants after one of the biggest names in the world: Lady Gaga.

Mother Monster was bestowed the unlikely honor recently when Kathleen Pryer, a professor of biology at Duke and director of the school's herbarium, named not one but 19 new species of fern (all under one genus) after the pop star.

It isn't every day that a new species is discovered, so why classify them under a name that might outshine the discovery itself?

"Because of her fervent defense of equality and individual expression," Pryer explained in a statement to the New York Times. "We think that her second album, 'Born this Way,' is enormously empowering, especially for disenfranchised people and communities like LGBT, ethnic groups, women…"

As it turns out, an admiration for Gaga's work for equal rights wasn't Pryer's only reason.

The fern reproduces by spores that can grow into plants that could end up being male, female, or bisexual (apparently even plants can go both ways). In the past, Gaga has discussed her relationships with women, and she is a fervent supporter of anyone and anything bisexual -- fauna included. Also, a graduate student studying the base pairs of the genus' DNA discovered that the letters GAGA appear in the plant's sequence.

So, what names came about from this meant-to-be designation? "Gaga germanotta" borrows from the singer's real name (Stefani Germanotta), and another, "Gaga monstraparva", uses the Latin translation of "little monsters".

The announcement of Gaga's newest namesake comes little more than a month after researchers abroad named a new species of insect after her. Aleiodes Gaga, a new type of parasitoid wasp, was found in Thailand not long ago, and bears the singer's moniker as well.

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Glasvegas - Glasvegas Almost Landed Collaboration With Lady Gaga

Glasvegas Almost Landed Collaboration With Lady Gaga

Scottish rockers Glasvegas once came close to recording a collaboration with Lady Gaga after the pop superstar declared her admiration for the band.

Glasvegas guitarist Rab Allan recently let slip the news on Facebook.com after posting a link to a YouTube.com video featuring the Poker Face hitmaker gushing about the group.

When a friend commented on the clip and suggested they set up a duet, Allan revealed, "It nearly happened a while back. Funny story."

The musician stops short of expanding on the tale, but went on to claim that Gaga had sent the band a photo showing her dressed up in their trademarkleather jacket and sunglasses, with her hair styled into a quiff with a message asking if she could be Geraldine, the protagonist their 2008 single is named after.

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Lady Gaga working on water brand

She’s known for her music, she’s known for her out-there fashion and she’s now known for her perfume! But reports suggest that Lady GaGa is to launch her own brand of water in the “near future".

The ‘Born This Way’ singer will release her own “healthy drinking water brand” that will be supported by a multimillion-dollar global advertising campaign, the New York Daily News reports.

A source revealed: “GaGa has been at the centre of a lot of attention over her weight increase. Losing her weight in such a short time and launching a healthy water drink may be part of the plan.”

It is rumoured that Haus of GaGa, the star’s creative team, are currently putting finishing touches to the drinks bottle. The ‘Bad Romance’ singer is said to want the design to be kept top-secret until the launch.

“We know that the water drink is due out in the near future,” said the insider. “No one has seen prototypes of the bottle.

“GaGa water is something that has been in the pipeline for a few months, and now things are really gearing up to an announcement and high-profile launch.”

Lady GaGa recently launched her first perfume ‘Fame’ with a high-profile party at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. The perfume has sold six million bottles in its first week.

What do you think about GaGa Water? Will you be buying it?

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Lady GaGa Kisses Boyfriend After 'Chicago Fire' Premiere

Star took to Twitter after supporting Taylor Kinney's new US TV show...

Lady GaGa took to Twitter last night (10th October) to support boyfriend Taylor Kinney for the premiere of his new show, Chicago Fire.

Mother Monster attended a party with Kinney - who she has been dating for over a year - to mark the start of the NBC series, tweeting a snap of herself, Taylor and his co-star Jesse Spencer.

She accompanied the image with the caption: "Me & my two boys Taylor and Jesse", with the pic showing GaGa planting a smacker on Kinney's cheek as she poses wearing a very low-cut black dress.

Lady G also urged her fans to watch her man in action, writing: "My bf Taylor is on TV TONIGHT!!! for the premiere of CHICAGO FIRE on NBC at 10/9c in America. Monsters, wanna watch it with me+chat online?"

The Marry The Night singer uploaded a series of images of her at the premiere party, as well as retweeting messages from fans who were watching the show.

One of her Little Monsters even suggested that she should guest star on Chicago Fire, to which GaGa replied: "Only if Taylor rescues me!"

She then added: "Time for bed. Thanks for watching. The cast works so hard and are great friends.x"

Kinney recently opened up about his romance with Lady G, stating: "Everything is great!"

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Lady GaGa Recording New Material With Zedd

Lady Gaga MTV

Dance producer tells MTV they've been working on fresh songs...

Lady GaGa has been working on new material with Zedd, the dance music producer and DJ has revealed to MTV News.

The 23-year-old German has been touring with GaGa over the summer and the pair have been working together on music in the wake of that experience, he told us.

"Every time you work with another artist you learn new things," said Zedd. "You obviously learn about the person you're working with. And we'd just been touring for almost two months and we both love nothing more than making music, so it was just kind of natural for us to just work on music."

But he confessed that he was unsure if or when the new music would be released - and whether or not it might appear on GaGa's forthcoming ARTPOP album.

"I don't know, actually. I've made a lot of songs which I'm not even sure if we're going to use it for her or not," he continued.

"And, you know, at the same time it's totally possible that some things she wrote might end up being for me. We literally just made songs and songs and songs and you'll see what will happen with it."

We told you earlier today how GaGa has reportedly been offered £3m to appear in a sequel to Zoolander.

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Lady Gaga offered £3million to star in next Zoolander film

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga has reportedly been offered £3million to star in the next Zoolander film.

Ben Stiller, who directed and starred in the original 2001 comedy, is said to be keen for Gaga to take a role in the sequel, in which Stiller will reprise his role as male model Derek Zoolander, while Owen Wilson will return as Hansel McDonald. 

An unnamed source told The Sun: "Gaga is top of their wish-list. She has the talent and attitude – and an amazing sense of humour."

The paper also reports that Kate Moss, Kate Upton, Heidi Klum and Adriana Lima are also being considered for the part. 

Gaga recently made a cameo in Men In Black 3 and is set to make her big screen acting debut in Robert Rodriguez's new filmMachete Kills, playing a character called La Chameleon. It is the sequel to Rodriguez's 2010 action exploitation movie Machete.

The singer is also reportedly working on a track for the soundtrack to the new The Great Gatsby film. The movie – directed by Baz Luhrmann – stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan and will be released in May next year. Prince is also reported to be penning a track for it.

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Lady Gaga eaten by lion in new Die Antwoord video

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — South African gross-out rap group Die Antwoord take on Lady Gaga in their new music video, released this week.

"Fatty Boom Boom" features a Lady Gaga look alike on a trippy tour of Johannesburg,wearing her infamous meat dress and riding in one of the city's ubiquitous mini-bus taxis.

Her tour guide, played by South African comedian David Kibuuka, points out the sights: hyenas eating garbage in downtown Johannesburg, a vendor with his pet black panther, a lion "chilling" in the street (eventually eating Gaga).

Quick note to people who don't know South Africa: we don't have lions and hyenas and such roaming the cities. And, uh, black panthers don't live here.

More from GlobalPost: Rappers make Afrikaans hip

Moving on, "Lady Gaga" and her rickety mini-bus taxi are carjacked shortly after passing by Die Antwoord ("The Answer," in Afrikaans), who are setting up to perform on the sidewalk.

In a particularly yucky scene that references a work by South African cartoonist Anton Kannemeyer, comedian Kagiso Lediga plays a gynecologist who pulls an insect from Lady Gaga's nether regions.

The revolting-looking insect, a type of king cricket, is yet another South African reference: dubbed a "Parktown Prawn," these little monsters actually live in Johannesburg gardens and were the inspiration for the aliens in the 2009 film "District 9."

The real Lady Gaga will be performing two upcoming shows in South Africa, including one at Johannesburg's FNB Stadium (formerly known as "Soccer City," and the main venue for the 2010 soccer World Cup).

Die Antwoord frontman Ninja claimed in an MTV interview in March that "Lady Gaga asked us to tour with her and we were like, um, no thanks."

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Lady Gaga Admits She 'Misses Fans' & Can't Wait To 'Tour Again'

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga has told her fans that she's missing them so much and is looking forward to touring again so she can be reunited with them.

The 'Judas' singer is on a mini break from herBorn This Way world tour and will resume her remaining dates at the end of the month, picking up in South America.

Taking to Twitter the the 26-year-old star told her followers: "I miss my fans so much, the show too. Listening to music and cooking, thinking of you all."

The fiesty singer may be missing her little monsters but will no doubt be relishing some downtime after a hetic month, which has seen the workaholic launch her new perfume fragrance, Fame, and pose with her new bestie Donatella Versace for a nipple-baring shoot.

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