Lady Gaga didn’t have it easy.
Since her breakthrough 16 years ago, the songstress has continuously shocked and entertained the world, carving out her place as one of the most iconic pop stars.
However, the pressures of maintaining that fame came at a cost, leading the singer to self-medicate with alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis—a habit she has since left behind.
In a candid interview with The Sun, Gaga revealed how she once sought solace in her vices.
“I used to drink a lot and smoke a lot, and I was always looking for an out,” she shared. “I used to call it the trap door. I used to be like, ‘I need an escape route.’ I stopped doing that. And I actually started feeling it — being present.”
Now 38, the Born This Way star is embracing a quieter, more grounded life alongside her fiancé, entrepreneur Michael Polansky, 46.
Gaga admits that her shift in lifestyle might be what her fans are used to, but she’s found peace in the change
“Sometimes I worry people will say I’m boring these days, but honestly, thank God I’m boring. Because I was living on the edge,” she said.
“I don’t know what was going to happen to me living that way. So the fact that I have these answers… On the one hand, I’m like, ‘Oh man, snooze-fest!’ But, actually, I’m so grateful. Because I found a sense of happiness and joy that is true to me.”