Lady Gaga’s immense fame has made fans wonder more about her personal life and family. Here is everything about the couple who raised the multi-talented pop star and actress.
Cynthia and Joe Germanotta are Lady Gaga’s parents. Born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta on March 28, 1986, the Grammy and Oscar winner was raised by Cynthia and Joseph “Joe” Germanotta. Cynthia is a philanthropist and businesswoman, while Joe is an internet entrepreneur. In 2012, Cynthia and Joe opened Joanne’s Trattoria, their family’s Italian restaurant off Columbus Avenue in New York City.
Despite its name, Lady Gaga isn’t as involved in the business as her parents. Cynthia also founded the Born This Way Foundation with her famous daughter in 2012.
Gaga and her younger sister, Natali Germanotta, grew up in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The Germanotta family has strong Italian roots in the hometown of Naso, located in northeastern Sicily. Cynthia is from West Virginia and is of half-Italian and half-French, English, German, and Scottish ancestry.
Joe Germanotta made headlines in 2023 as he led the charge against migrants living near his home and restaurant. He said they were flooding the ritzy Upper West Side neighborhood with a “constant stream of hookers and bad behavior.”
He compiled a list of local residents’ concerns to take to lawmakers, the NYPD, and homeless services in protest. The Stratford Arms Hotel, a residence hall for the American Musical and Dramatic Academy down the block from Joe’s home, was transformed into a shelter for hundreds of migrants.
Joe expressed concerns about the impact on the neighborhood’s quality of life, including block parties, prostitution, and reckless behavior on the streets. He also claimed the chaos had led to the depreciation of local property values.
In 2020, Gaga’s dad faced criticism for asking the public to pay for his restaurant staff’s wages after laying off 30 employees due to the coronavirus pandemic. He was also part of a group of restaurateurs suing Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio for damages related to the ban on indoor dining.
Cynthia and Joe are also parents to Gaga’s younger sister, Natali, who has worked as a fashion designer and stylist on Gaga’s projects. Natali founded the fashion label Topo Studio in 2011 and played a role in styling for Gaga’s film “A Star Is Born.”
