A veteran interviewer knows the importance of easing into a Q&A session, typically pitching some softballs before attempting to coax anything sensitive from their subjects.
So forgive us for being a little taken aback when lobmeister extraordinaire Larry King decided to kick off his interview with Lady Gaga with this query:
"You look great…There was a story about lupus or something, do you have lupus?"
As if a little thing like prying into her medical history would trip up a Lady.
"You know, lupus is in my family and it is genetic," she said. "It's funny, cause my mother told me the other day that my fans were quite worried about me because I did talk about the fact that I was tested for lupus.
"The truth is I don't show any signs, any symptoms of lupus, but I have tested borderline positive for the disease, so as of right now I don't have it. But I have to take good care of myself."
Speaking of superstars and ailments, King also delved into talk of Michael Jackson, whose death last June is fast approaching the one-year anniversary mark.
"I was actually asked to open for Michael on his tour and we were going to open for him at the O2 and we were working on making it happen," Gaga spilled.
"Michael's death was devastating for me regardless of whether or not I was supposed to go on tour with him. He's such an inspiration and remarkable human being. I guess I suppose some of my fascination with death and the demise of celebrity goes along with me watching these hugely iconic and amazing people that I have heralded and admired my whole life become destroyed. Whether self-destroyed or destroyed by the media."
Never one to miss going on record about a hot-button issue, Gaga also talked about the military's don't-ask-don't-tell policy, telling King that she hoped it would soon be repealed.
"There's so many archaic things floating around in the government right now that are so misinformed and so wrong," she said.
"I just think that in terms of education—sexual education, political education and social education in schools—I think it's important to be specific about civil rights and a person's worth.
"No person's worth any less than another human being based on their sexual orientation."
Is she a Lady or what?
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What's the latest on Gaga's faux feud with Christina Aguilera? Funny you should ask...