Lady Gaga has been voted ‘AP Entertainer of the Year’ by the Associated Press. The quirky pop star has become the fourth consecutive woman to clinch the title, after Betty White in 2010, Taylor Swift in 2009, and Tina Fey in 2008.
The honor is bestowed on the individual who 135 editors and broadcasters at the AP feel influenced entertainment and culture in the previous 12 months. The 25-year-old pop star just edged out late Apple founder Steve Jobs by a miniscule three votes.
Other contenders for this year’s gong included actor and drunk Charlie Sheen, Adele ( yawn ), the cast of Harry Potter and former champ Taylor Swift ( snore ).
Lady Gaga, real name Stefani Germanotta, has had a busy (and indeed entertaining) 2011. In February she turned up to the Grammys in an egg, released her Born This Way album in May, performed in drag at the VMAs in August, met Obama in September , and rocked up at the White House this month to push her anti-bullying campaign.
In between all that, the performer launched her ‘Born This Way’ foundation, a nonprofit charity designed to deal with “issues like self-confidence, well-being, anti-bullying, mentoring and career development.” The Grammy Award-winning singer co-directs the foundation with her mother, Cynthia Germanotta.
And only this week, Gaga posed nude for Tony Bennett to allow him to draw her. The resulting charcoal sketch was auctioned for charity, with bidding ending on $26,900.
So let’s hear it, people – Lady Gaga, your choice for entertainer of 2011? Or not so much?