Lady Gaga's Music Drove 'Bachelor in Paradise' Star Carly Waddell to the Edge in College
Lady Gaga's mesmerizing singing and captivating piano playing during their time at NYU College drove 'Bachelor in Paradise' star Carly Waddell to sheer madness
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Despite Lady Gaga's immense popularity as a singer, her classmate Carly Waddell from Bachelor Nation was not particularly fond of her during their time studying musical theater at New York University.
In 2005, they both attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. The reality star, 38, shared how the 13-time Grammy winner, 37, would irritate the students with her music while they were having their meals. According to Waddell's interview on Jason Tartick's "Trading Secrets" podcast on Monday, November 6, there was a piano in the dance studio where they would have lunch, and she would sit at the piano every day, belting out songs from Wicked at the top of her lungs. This would disrupt their break time and force everyone to listen to her.
Waddell made appearances in season 19 of The Bachelor and seasons 2 and 3 of Bachelor in Paradise. She emerged as the winner in season 3 and accepted a proposal from Evan Bass. The couple tied the knot in 2017 but eventually divorced after separating in December 2020.
Waddell acknowledged Gaga's talent, but she wasn't interested in hearing her sing during lunchtime.
"I simply desired to enjoy my sandwich," Waddell conveyed. "Consequently, I would consume it in the hallway to escape her irritating behavior."
Gaga's distinctive fashion sense has gained recognition, as she was bestowed the Fashion Icon award by the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2011. Nonetheless, during their time as classmates, Waddell did not find her style impressive.
Waddell recalled how Gaga used to don these incredibly snug leotards, with her breasts barely contained. She found it rather preposterous, yet still admired Gaga's music during their college days.
Her classmate remembered, "She had talent in everything, but she excelled particularly in her own endeavors. I would often find her mesmerized at the piano, passionately playing her own melodies... she truly was a prodigy."
Eventually, both students made the decision to leave the Tisch School of the Arts. Gaga departed after a year to embark on her journey as a musician, whereas Waddell transferred to the University of Oklahoma where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in fine arts. After delving into reality television, she now aspires to achieve stardom as a pop-country singer.
Gaga achieved immediate success when her first album, The Fame, was released in 2008. The album received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Album and won in the category of Best Electronic/Dance Album.
Her third single, "LoveGame," achieved triple-platinum certification. Gaga later reminisced that she had penned the song during her freshman year of college.
During a radio interview with Ryan Seacrest in February 2017, she revealed, "This is something I've never shared with anyone before, but 'LoveGame' was actually written in the library at NYU." The renowned artist, known as Stefani Germanotta, explained that while she was diligently doing her homework, her attention was captivated by an exceptionally attractive man, sparking the creation of a song that embodied her sexual fantasy.
Gaga recounted how she was engrossed in her writing, only to be interrupted by the security guard's insistence that she either vacate the premises or relocate to the basement. Despite having devoted several hours to her craft, she remained resolute in her belief that the composition was one of her finest works.
Additionally, Gaga confessed to Seacrest, aged 48, that she engaged in numerous sexual encounters in the library bathrooms.
"It wasn't just me - it was happening with everyone," the singer chuckled. "I would find myself seated in the library, typing away, catching the gaze of a guy or girl. We shared that knowing nod that everyone does, and before we knew it, we were engaging in intimate encounters in the restroom."
Gaga humorously remarked that these impromptu hookups felt organic to her. "I genuinely relished the excitement of it all, and some might argue that I was simply destined to be this way," she joked.
