Lady Gaga Thanks Fans After Hip Surgery

After Lady Gaga had surgery yesterday to repair her damaged hip, the singer thanked her fans in a letter posted on her Little Monsters fan site. “Monsters, You really gave me a lot of strength today. Everything happened so fast, but when it came time to face it I reflected on the many stories and experiences you’ve shared with me about your lives,” Gaga began. “Meeting you backstage, reading your letters, watching you communicate with fans from around the globe to form a community that supports one another – You have completely blown my mind.”

2013’s Hottest Tours: Lady Gaga

Gaga was forced to cancel the remaining dates on her Born This Way Ball tour last week after suffering a labral tear of her right hip. Reports indicate the canceled tour could cost more than $30 million in refunds, though the time she’ll spend recovering from the operation could give Gaga a chance to work on her upcoming album ARTPOP, for which she has already written around 50 tracks. She’s also putting together an ARTPOP documentary with photographer Terry Richardson. Full text of Gaga’s letter follows below.

Monsters, You really gave me a lot of strength today. Everything happened so fast, but when it came time to face it I reflected on the many stories and experiences you’ve shared with me about your lives. Meeting you backstage, reading your letters, watching you communicate with fans from around the globe to form a community that supports one another – You have completely blown my mind. As they wheeled me into surgery today, I thought about all of your pain and perseverance, your unique family situations, school environments, health issues, homelessness, identity struggles – sometimes you are so brave that it terrifies me. I wonder how it’s even possible. So I thought to myself, I’m alive, I’m living my dream and this is just a bump in the road. I’m grateful because this is temporary, and for some it is not. You have changed my life. I love you and am proud to be a part of your lives. If you can do it, I can do it too, and if we stick together we can get through anything. Love, Gaga