Meeting Michael Polansky has brought changes to Lady Gaga’s life, as she reflects on their journey together. At the Los Angeles premiere of her upcoming film Joker: Folie à Deux on Monday, Sept. 30, the Grammy-winning artist, 38, shared her experience of collaborating with Polansky on her latest studio album, Harlequin, which also complements the upcoming film. Polansky, 41, took on the role of co-executive producer alongside Gaga for this project.
“It felt like the perfect moment for us to dive in and fully commit to the project,” Gaga told PEOPLE, expressing the ease and excitement they felt working together. “We were both incredibly thrilled,” she continued, noting how prepared and energized they were for the collaboration.
In addition to their professional partnership, Gaga expressed her deep affection for Polansky. “I love my fiancé so deeply,” she shared. “He’s not only my partner but also my best friend, and being with him has truly transformed everything.”
The couple first became publicly linked in 2020 after being spotted sharing a kiss at a New Year’s Eve celebration in Las Vegas. Their relationship became Instagram official during the 2020 Super Bowl in Miami. In July 2024, Gaga revealed their engagement to French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal at the Paris Olympics.
Polansky has been instrumental in co-writing several tracks on Harlequin, such as “Good Morning,” “Get Happy,” “Oh, When the Saints,” and “If My Friends Could See Me Now.” His contributions helped modernize these classic standards and show tunes, both lyrically and sonically.
The 13-track album primarily features cover songs, with the exception of two original tracks, “Happy Mistake” and “Folie à Deux.” While working on what Gaga refers to as her “LG 6.5” album, she mentioned in an interview with Vogue in early September that Polansky had inspired her next pop record.
“Michael was the one who encouraged me to make another pop album,” she revealed to the magazine. “He told me, ‘Babe, I love you, and you need to make pop music.'”
The couple recently made their red carpet debut at the Venice Film Festival, and on Sept. 26, they attended the London premiere of House of Gucci together.
Just days before the London premiere, Gaga spoke to Buzzfeed Canada, sharing her hopes of starting a family with Polansky in the future. “Being in love makes me so happy, and I can’t wait to have a family,” she said. “That’s definitely a top priority.”
During the Sept. 27 episode of The Graham Norton Show, Gaga recounted how she initially thought Polansky’s proposal was an April Fool’s prank. “He proposed on April 1st, so at first, I assumed it was a joke,” she shared, reflecting on their engagement.