Lady Gaga named Billboard’s ‘Woman of the Year’

Lady Gaga has been named Billboard’s woman of the year and will be the focal point for the first national telecast of the magazine’s annual “Women in Music” crowning of the 50 most powerful female executives in the music industry.

“From her show-stopping performance at the Oscars, to her co-headlining tour [with Tony Bennett], to her philanthropic outreach and foundation promoting youth well-being and empowerment, to her new role as TV star, there is no woman dominating popular culture tastes and its evolution as much as she is today,” said Janice Min, co-president and chief creative officer of Guggenheim Media’s Entertainment Group, which includes Billboard and the Hollywood Reporter, in a statement issued Wednesday.

Min referred to Gaga’s forthcoming leading role in FX’s “American Horror Story” series that is scheduled to premiere Oct. 7.

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On partnering with Billboard to cablecast the ceremony, Lifetime executive vice president and head of programming Liz Gateley said: “Lady Gaga is an extraordinary artist, emblematic of the strength, courage and fortitude that Lifetime celebrates, and we are thrilled to offer our platform to recognize her in every way she deserves.”

Previous woman of the year honorees include Taylor Swift, who has been given the award twice, Katy Perry, Pink and Beyoncé.

The “Women in Music” event will take place Dec. 11 in New York and the Lifetime cable channel will air a special on Dec. 18.

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