Quick Read
- Lady Gaga swept the 2026 Gold Derby Music Awards, winning Album of the Year for “Mayhem,” Record of the Year for “Abracadabra,” and Solo Artist of the Year.
- She has received seven Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year for “Mayhem” and Song of the Year for “Abracadabra.”
- Gaga released a Super Bowl commercial featuring her cover of Fred Rogers’ “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” in collaboration with Rocket Mortgage and Redfin.
- A “making-of” teaser for the Super Bowl ad highlights the message of kindness and community, recorded at Shangri-La Studios.
- Alexander Skarsgård, who will host SNL on Jan 31, 2026, starred in Lady Gaga’s early music video for “Paparazzi.”
LOS ANGELES (Azat TV) – Lady Gaga has commenced 2026 with a powerful statement of her enduring impact across the music industry and pop culture, sweeping the 2026 Gold Derby Music Awards, securing seven Grammy Award nominations, and unveiling a poignant Super Bowl commercial featuring her cover of the classic “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” This flurry of activity solidifies her position as a leading force in contemporary music, blending critical acclaim with broad commercial appeal as the awards season intensifies.
Awards Sweep and Grammy Nominations Highlight Critical Acclaim
Lady Gaga achieved a clean sweep at the 2026 Gold Derby Music Awards, winning every category for which she was nominated. The 14-time Grammy Award winner took home the coveted Album of the Year for her latest studio effort, Mayhem, and Record of the Year for the single “Abracadabra.” She was also recognized as Solo Artist of the Year, triumphing over formidable competitors like Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Ariana Grande, whose soundtrack for the first Wicked film was a distant second for Album of the Year.
These victories arrive just ahead of the 2026 Grammy Awards, where Lady Gaga is a strong contender with seven nominations. Her album Mayhem is up for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, while “Abracadabra” earned nominations for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Dance Pop Recording. Additionally, her 2024 album Harlequin, a filmed version of a one-night performance, is in the running for Best Traditional Pop Album, showcasing her versatility across genres. Rolling Stone noted that Mayhem represented “months and months and months of rediscovering everything that I’d lost,” according to the singer.
A Heartfelt Super Bowl Commercial Champions Kindness
Beyond her musical accolades, Lady Gaga captured widespread attention by reimagining Fred Rogers’ iconic theme song, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,” for a Super Bowl commercial. The heartfelt rendition, recorded in collaboration with financial services company Rocket Mortgage and real estate company Redfin, aims to promote kindness, compassion, and community.
A ‘making-of’ teaser released by the sponsoring companies offers a glimpse into the recording process at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu. Gaga’s long-time collaborator and producer Benjamin Rice discussed the profound simplicity and complex musicality of Mr. Rogers’ original composition. Gaga herself explored different vocal approaches, ultimately delivering a tender, balladic interpretation that Variety described as making the song feel “more like an undervalued entry from the Great American Songbook than a kids’ song.” The campaign has also sparked the hashtag #BeAGoodNeighbor, encouraging social media engagement around its central message. Rocket Mortgage has a history of successful Super Bowl ads, having won the Ad Meter twice in 2021-22 with commercials featuring celebrities like Anna Kendrick and Tracy Morgan, and last year’s ad featuring John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
A Career Defined by Evolution and Daring
Lady Gaga’s current achievements underscore a career trajectory marked by constant evolution and a willingness to take artistic risks. From her groundbreaking debut album, The Fame, and its avant-garde music videos, she has consistently pushed boundaries. An early example of this daring spirit was her appearance in the music video for “Paparazzi,” filmed just as her career was ascending. In 2019, she recalled to Jimmy Fallon how Swedish director Jonas Åkerlund convinced her to cast actor Alexander Skarsgård in the video, describing the intricate plot where Skarsgård’s character throws her off a balcony, only for her to return and poison him. Skarsgård, who is set to make his Saturday Night Live hosting debut on January 31, 2026, also recounted the story, noting he “didn’t know who [Lady Gaga] was” at the time but was captivated by the “beautiful, beautiful story.” This collaboration, early in both their careers, highlights Gaga’s history of working with diverse talents and her consistent pursuit of compelling narratives within her art.
The combination of her sweeping success at the Gold Derby Awards, significant Grammy recognition, and a high-profile Super Bowl campaign signals that Lady Gaga is not merely maintaining her status but actively expanding her cultural footprint in 2026, demonstrating an unparalleled ability to blend artistic integrity with mainstream appeal.