Biden Appoints Lady Gaga as Co-Chair of Prominent Arts and Humanities Committee
U.S. President Joe Biden has appointed pop icon Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, as co-chair of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities (PCAH).
The announcement was made on the committee's official Twitter account, which also welcomed Bruce Cohen as another co-chair: "We look forward to partnering to positively impact the arts, libraries, museums, and humanities work across the country." Lady Gaga expressed her gratitude in response, tweeting, "Thank you @POTUS @PCAHgov."
The PCAH, founded in 1982, serves to advise the President on cultural policy. The President personally selects committee members, who are typically prominent artists, philanthropists, and scholars dedicated to the arts and humanities.
In addition to Lady Gaga and Bruce Cohen, the committee includes Jon Batiste, Constance M. Carroll, George Clooney, Philip J. Deloria, M. Angélica Garcia, Jennifer Garner, Nora Halpern, Steve Israel, Marta Kauffman, Ricky Krishner, Troy Kostur, Katie McGrath, and more.
Lady Gaga's appointment as co-chair of the PCAH can be attributed to her history of collaborating with the government and her commitment to philanthropy, especially in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Previously, the Academy Award-winning singer partnered with President Biden on the "It's On Us" campaign, which aimed to end campus sexual assault. Lady Gaga has also been an advocate for mental health awareness and equality.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Grammy Award-winning artist organized a virtual concert for the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, raising $128 million. Although Lady Gaga and government officials have not yet revealed her initial plans as PCAH co-chair, her past experience and dedication to the arts and humanities suggest a promising tenure.
This announcement follows recent reports that Lady Gaga was scheduled to perform at the White House with globally renowned K-Pop group BLACKPINK. The "Shallow" singer and the girl group – comprising Rosé, Lisa, Jennie, and Jisoo – were invited by First Lady Jill Biden to perform at a state dinner. However, the performance was canceled after the South Korean president expressed his disapproval of not being informed by National Security Advisor Kim Sung-Han, who subsequently resigned from his position.