"I'm a big fan of hers..." praised Academy Award and Emmy winner Kathy Bates of pop provocateur Lady Gaga during Tuesday's American Horror Story: Freak Show's PaleyFest. Of course such kind words could be viewed as politically correct Hollywood pleasantries, but the growing positive vibes surrounding the controversial high wire act is legit. Gaga, who is set to star alongside Bates and an ensemble cast in the latest creepy American Horror Story serial Hotel, is an officially revitalized superstar. This after just months before the singer's career was being toe-tagged as a mammoth comet spectacularly crashing to earth.

The commercial zenith of Gaga was downright frightening: the outrageous fashion spectacle (meat dress anyone?) towered over radio, social media and the record charts selling a ridiculous 1.1 million copies of her 2011 sophomore album Born This Way. Compared to her boxed-in, just-add-water peers she seemed to be a more self-contained performer/musician who could go from delivering infectious yet tortured dance anthems ("Pokerface," "Paparazzi," Bad Romance") to performing a spirited piano duet with celebrated music legend Elton John.

Then came the flame-out. Lady Gaga's 2013 follow-up Artpop sold a shockingly low 258,000 units upon its initial release. The wacky outfit wearing, stage-vomiting, overexposed exhibitionist was roundly ordered to sit down. Which is why Gaga's current return, highlighted by an improbable duet album with iconic vocalist Tony Bennett and a string of impressive award show appearances, is intriguing.

As Vogue.com's Alex Frank rightly stated, the "comeback" of Lady Gaga has been overstated a bit. "It was only six years ago that Gaga was the biggest pop star in the world, singing “Telephone” with Beyonce, getting interviewed by Oprah," Frank wrote in a February 25th piece. "This is a woman with six Grammys, two number-one albums, and, seven years into her career, more records sold than Bey, Nirvana, Aretha Franklin, and Bob Marley. Also? She is all of 28 years old."

That said, the Lady Gaga love fest is worth a discussion. Here's how the New York native is getting her groove back.

Step 1: Throw A Curve Pitch

The easy, no-brainer playbook would have been to pair Gaga up with the hit-making likes of Katy Perry's go-to studio conductors Dr. Luke and O.G. pop visionary Max Martin. Or how about locking down some recording time with hip-hop's ambitious mad man Kanye West. Even better? A two-fisted collaboration with Gaga's favorite emcee, the genre-pushing voice of the moment Kendrick Lamar. All would have been savvy chess moves, but Lady Gaga chose another route. She broke bread with jazz and pop standards king Tony Bennett, a larger-than-life vocalist 60 years her senior that had his biggest chart hits in the 50's and early '60s before his own '90s MTV-fueled comeback.

The unlikely, mismatched partners produced the acclaimed 2014 duet album Cheek to Cheek. For Gaga it was an artistic gamble. Would a skeptical public accept the usually outrageous headliner in a vastly toned down, traditional setting belting out Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and Irving Berlin classics? The answer: Yes. The chemistry between Gaga and Bennett was real and at times smile-inducing. Cheek to Cheek garnered positive reviews debuting at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 eventually going gold. A well-received theater tour followed as Gaga and Bennett traded spirited, crowd pleasing verses with a top shelf. white hot band. Who knew? There are even reports that Bennett will sing at his new best friend's wedding (Gaga is engaged to television star Taylor Kinney), further bringing the eccentric power back down to earth. Cute.

Step 2. Remind The World You Are A True Musician

In 2011 Gaga arrived at the 53rd annual Grammy's carried inside an egg shaped vessel. Such wild stunts has at times obscured the fact that the woman is a talented musician who served her time playing New York's cut-throat bar scene before getting her big break in 2007. For those who need a refresher, witness Gaga bringing Sting to tears during his December 2014 induction at the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors. There she was sitting at the piano delivering a powerful tribute the former Police frontman launching into his 1993 solo hit "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You."
But Gaga wasn't finished. Months later she would bring down the house singing and flexing her keyboard mastery at Stevie Wonder's all-star special in honor of his landmark '70s work Songs In The Key Of Life. It was a funky sight watching her catch the spirit as she rocked the classic single "I Wish."

Step 3: Do What Your Peers Can't

There are not too many modern-day pop acts that can stroll onstage and sing a medley of songs from one of the greatest musicals of all time. But that's what a very classy Lady Gaga achieved at last month's Oscars, pulling off a near flawless tribute to the 50th anniversary of The Sound of Music, the 1965 film that won five Academy Awards. After the much talked about showing, Gaga was hailed for her effortlessly glorious vocals even forcing her detractors to admit that she is indeed special. When you are able to impress the one and only Julie Andrews the world is yours.

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How, Pop, Got, Her, Music