USA TODAY Lifeline Biographies

As USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, noted, Lady Gaga is an "Overnight sensation who went from a Yonkers New York lounge act to, well, a fame monster." The meteoric rise of Stefani Germanotta, aka Lady Gaga, to the top of the pop charts surprised some. But Gaga spent years working, waiting, and honing her craft in the underground New York music scene, until her singles "Just Dance" and "Poker Face" launched her to international fame in 2008. She has developed such a large and loyal fan base that in 2011, Forbes magazine ranked her as No. 1 on their annual Celebrity 100 list of top moneymakers. An outspoken and avid supporter of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) rights, Gaga values inclusiveness: "To me there is nothing more powerful than one song that you can put on in a room anywhere in the world and somebody gets up and dances." From her sudden rise to the top to her musical integrity and social activism, Lady Gaga has the world under her control. And her orders? Just dance!

"The Hunger Games trilogy spread like wildfire," says Annmarie Powers, a teacher in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., in a statement to USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper. The teacher explained that the books, written by author Suzanne Collins, "deal with themes that teens are consumed with: 'fairness, relationships, plenty of violence and blood, greed, hypocrisy, subservience and rebellion.'" Collins came up with the storyline one night while channel surfing. Images of televised news coverage of the U.S.-led war in Iraq blurred in her mind with scenes from a reality show and sparked an exciting idea. What about a story that focused on teens in a fight-to-the-death battle, televised live from start to finish? Published in 2008, The Hunger Games riveted teens and adults alike. Followed by Catching Fire in 2009 and Mockingjay in 2010, each volume became an instant bestseller. The books evolved into major motion pictures, and Collins went behind the cameras to advise movie makers as her stories were translated onto the big screen. Discover the literary and personal influences that helped Collins create one of the most challenging visions of human nature.and rebellion.'"

Earning five World Series rings and a slew of other awards, New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is on top of the world. Few Major League Baseball players ever come close to this level of success or name recognition. As USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, puts it, Derek Jeter, best player on the best team, brightest light in the biggest city." Jeter had always wanted to play for the Yankees. When he was a senior in high school, the Yankees drafted him and his dream came true. In the next few years, he went from a homesick minor leaguer, to the American League Rookie of the Year, to the World Series Most Valuable Player. Jeter has also been team captain since 2003 and is the Yankees all-time leader in hits. Find out how a kid from Kalamazoo, Michigan, became a baseball sensation!

USA TODAY, The Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, perfectly captures the way fans feel about Adele and her music: "Adele doesn't just sing; she changes your life, makes you feel like you're not alone, almost like she wrote and sang each song for you and you only." When she was only 19 years old, Adele released her first single, "Hometown Glory." Two years, two albums, and a lot of heartbreak later, she swept the 54th Grammy Awards, winning all six categories for which she was nominated. In her short career, Adele has overcome a terrifying obstacle: a throat condition that many fans worried meant she would never sing again. This insightful biography follows the rise of Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, a girl from north London, into the megastar Adele, a skilled singer-songwriter who proves that "sublime talent and compelling songs can still draw the masses."

As USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, noted, "Google has infiltrated the daily lives of millions of people." But this giant company had very humble beginnings. In 1996 Sergey Brin and Larry Page were graduate students at Stanford University in California when they decided to invent a new way to search the information on the World Wide Web. Their technology project soon became a search engine and a company, Google, that changed the way information on the Internet is retrieved and controlled, making it easier, faster, and more relevant. Under Brin and Page, Google has become an international powerhouse, with an ever-widening scope of services-from Gmail to Google Earth to smart phones. It is also known for its fantasyland office complex, complete with gourmet chef and scooters. Sergey Brin and Larry Page continue to dream up exciting ventures for the future, and the world is waiting to see what's next.

Whether he's soaring through the air for a powerful slam dunk, threading the ball to a teammate for a key shot, or launching a new pair of Nikes, the Miami Heat's LeBron James is one of the most exciting athletes in the world. As USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, puts it, "He is hailed as the successor to Michael Jordan's marketing throne off the court. On the court, he is frequently compared to Magic Johnson because of his size, floor vision and passing ability." LeBron was a famous basketball player before he ever set foot on an NBA court. Predicted to be one of the game's best players since childhood, LeBron appeared on magazine covers as a teenager, and his high school games aired on national television. The hype rose to a new level when his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers chose LeBron with the first pick in the 2003 NBA draft. The high-flying forward played seven seasons in Cleveland before joining the Miami Heat in 2010, and LeBron immediately helped his new team reach the NBA Finals. Find out how a skinny kid from Akron, Ohio, became one of the NBA's biggest stars.

As USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, puts it about the television megahit Glee, "There have been few shows as rousing, promising, perplexing and potentially heartbreaking as this high school musical comedy....It's an outlandishly entertaining musical schoolhouse romp." Much of Glee's appeal comes from its cast of outsiders and misfits--singers and dancers almost as talented as the actors who play them. Viewers love Chris Colfer as the bullied gay Kurt Hummel, Amber Riley in the role of plus-size diva wannabe Mercedes Jones, Lea Michele's take on "Miss Perfect" Rachel Berry, Jane Lynch's unforgettable performances as nasty cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester, and Mark Salling's bad boy image in the role of jock football player Noah "Puck" Puckerman. And that's only some of the Glee talent readers will get to know in this entertaining biography. From Broadway veterans to virtual unknowns, these gifted performers all have one thing in common. They worked tirelessly to achieve their goals and never, ever gave up on their dreams.

As USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, puts it, "anyone who has followed Jay-Z's career knows that the superstar born Shawn Corey Carter has long defied anyone who tried to pigeonhole him." He left behind the dangerous life of a drug dealer and became one of the biggest names in music. He then achieved success as a businessman, an activist, and an author, while staying true to the spirit of hip-hop. Raised in Brooklyn, New York, Jay-Z grew up in a household full of music lovers. After hearing people rap for the first time, he also discovered the creative fire within himself. He began to make up rhymes nonstop-and made his way from financial hardship to the throne of a music empire.

As USA TODAY, The Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, puts it, The Beatles have never lost their standing as the world's most influential and popular band. They've sold more records than any act in U.S. history." But in the beginning, few people knew their names. The Beatles-John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr-began as an ambitious band out of Liverpool, England, that wanted to play rock 'n' roll music in the American style. Often rejected by music producers, they honed their sound in the grimy clubs of Hamburg, Germany, and in small venues throughout Britain. In 1962, their single Love Me Do" became their first hit, and by 1964 The Beatles were musically on top of the world. The group's look, sound, and musical approach influenced a generation and brought fame beyond the band's wildest dreams. But the stress of their fame and their individual career desires eventually broke up The Beatles in 1970. Yet, the band's popularity remained strong for decades and still shows no sign of waning.

As quarterback of the New England Patriots, Tom Brady is the most important player on the NFL's best team. As USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, puts it, Facts are facts. In winning three Super Bowls from 2001-04, among numerous other shining accomplishments, New England secured its place as the NFL's Franchise of the Decade." With three Super Bowl rings and a rich contract, Tom is on top of the world. But most people didn't expect Tom to be a big success in the NFL. Playing college football for the University of Michigan Wolverines, Tom sat on the bench until his junior year. After college Tom was taken by the Patriots in the 2000 NFL Draft-in the sixth round (199th overall). Expectations were low, but it didn't take Tom long to show that he was not just good enough to be in the NFL, he was good enough to be one of the NFL's best. Tom Brady went from a kid with an uncertain football future to one of the most celebrated quarterbacks in NFL history.

As USA TODAY, The Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, puts it, Nicki Minaj is a "hip-hop comet...a talented rhyme-spitter who fluidly shifts from hard-core grit to Barbie-doll cute." Growing up poor in Queens, New York, with a drug- and alcohol-addicted father, Minaj dreamed of being a soap opera star so she could afford to buy her mother a house. When Minaj was in her early twenties, a street mix tape got her noticed. Just a few years later, she blasted into the mainstream with seven singles in the Hot 100, beat out many of the boys with her ranking as MTV's No. 4 best Hip-Hop MC, and scored her second No. 1 album on the Billboard 200. And, says Minaj, she's just getting started!

People who knew Queen Latifah as a kid in Newark, New Jersey, would never have guessed at the fame in her future. But Latifah always dreamed big. Her dreams-and hard work-paid off. While still a teenager, Latifah became the first female solo rapper to sign with a major label and earn widespread popularity. She crafted a unique style full of positive messages, completely changing the rap landscape. That was just the beginning. Since 1989 Queen Latifah has made eight albums and thirty movies, starred in a top TV sitcom, hosted a talk show, launched business and charitable ventures, and won several prestigious awards. As USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, reports, it's ordinary people who inspire Queen Latifah: "A stranger once told me how much I meant to her and to women of color, and women in general. When I hear that, I know that I'm doing the right thing." What's next for Latifah? The world will be watching, eager to find out.

"Tim Tebow is a one-man cultural blitz," reports USA TODAY, The Nation's No. 1 Newspaper. A celebrity in the football world and a pop culture phenomenon, Tebow has become a household name. He both "polarizes and mesmerizes" fans with his "unconventional playing style and outspoken commitment to his Christian faith." For twenty years, Tebow was told that he didn't fit the quarterback mold. But fierce determination and an intense will to win earned him the coveted Heisman Trophy as a sophomore in college and a hard-won spot as a quarterback in the NFL. In a short time, Tebow has become a role model for millions of kids. Follow his rise to the NFL ranks in this exciting biography, and you'll find out why Tebowmania is sweeping the nation.

As USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, puts it, "Tupac Shakur saw himself as both artist and urban soldier, battling the media, the law, the courts and rival rappers." Tupac overcame poverty to become one of hip-hop's biggest stars. His life, death, and music were all surrounded by controversy. Raised by a single mother and ex-Black Panther in Harlem, Tupac grew up aware of the problems in society around him. His social conscience and creative talents made him a unique voice in rap music. He starred in several Hollywood films about the challenges of urban life. But Tupac also struggled with drug abuse, served time in prison, and faced extreme violence―including a shooting that took his life. Throughout Tupac Shakur's career, he outraged some and inspired many. He continues to be known as one of the greatest rappers in the history of hip-hop.

As USA TODAY, The Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, puts it, Stephenie Meyer is "one of those rare success stories that inspire unpublished writers." In 2003, Meyer was a 29-year-old mother of three in suburban Phoenix, Arizona. She had no thought of writing a book. Then one night she had a vivid dream of a teenage couple with one unusual problem―the young man was a vampire. Meyer decided to write down her dream. Within six months, she had turned her notes into anovel, Twilight, and secured a $750,000 deal with a publisher. Published in 2005, Twilight soon landed on a New York Times best seller list. Three sequels―New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn―thrilled teen and adult fans alike. Movie deals, merchandise, a clothing line, and Twilight-themed tourism followed. With more than 85 million copies sold worldwide, the Twilight books launched Meyer to fame and fortune. But she remains committed to family and to writing―as fans wait to see what Stephenie Meyer dreams up next.

As USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, puts it, Russell Simmons "helped found the hip-hop movement and turn it into a huge money-making machine." He co-founded Def Jam Records, one of the first successful hip-hop record labels. He also worked with many of hip-hop's earliest stars, such as Run-D.M.C. and the Beastie Boys. Raised in Queens, New York, Simmons grew up obsessed with music-and fought to make a life for himself in the music business. After helping push hip-hop into the mainstream, he took on fashion, film production, and advertising, among other projects. Later, he turned to activism, using his influence to aid different social causes. Throughout it all, Simmons has held onto his unique personal style and unmistakable attitude.

As USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, puts it, "Danica Patrick shattered several records...at the storied Indianapolis 500. Even more lasting will be the point she made." During the 2005 race that made her a superstar, Danica Patrick proved she could drive at racing's highest level―and inspired countless girls who picture themselves behind the wheel of an Indy car. Danica was a fierce competitor even before she was making headlines. As a teenager, she smashed records and won championships as a go-kart racer. Later, she struggled through a tough training period in England and fought to become part of the Indy Racing League back in the United States. Since then, she has handled on-track adversity and the media spotlight with the support of her family. Find out the story behind Danica's first Indy Racing victory in 2008, her decision to branch out into NASCAR, and more.

In 2010 Alex Rodriquez achieved a major milestone. He became the seventh person in Major League Baseball (MLB) history-and the youngest-to hit 600 home runs. The previous year had also been stellar-for both him and his New York Yankee team. As USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, puts it, "Rodriguez, baseball's richest and perhaps greatest all-around player with three MVP awards, finally got his proudest possession-a World Series championship." Known as A-Rod, the baseball phenom was born in New York but grew up in Miami. In 1993, at age 18, he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners and earned his first All Star selection three years later. He joined the Texas Rangers in 2000. In Texas he slugged home runs, stole bases, and won awards. A-Rod was traded to the New York Yankees in 2004, where he switched from shortstop to third base. Find out how a skinny kid with big dreams became one of the highest paid and most successful players in the big leagues.

On his record My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, hip-hop superstar Kanye West "unleashes an array of flavors-old school hip-hop, progressive rock, R&B, classical music-and mixes and matches them," says USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper. The paper describes Kanye's songs as "sonic jewels." Since releasing his first album, The College Dropout, in 2004, Kanye has taken the hip-hop world by storm. He raps, he sings, and he dances, dazzling audiences with his unique musical style. People cheer when he takes the stage, but his socially conscious lyrics also make listeners think about what the words mean. Kanye has caused controversy by speaking his mind on television and at award shows. But there's no controversy when it comes to his talent. In the music industry, he is known as a quadruple threat because he works in four different roles: producer, rapper, beat-maker, and record label executive. Tall, handsome, and always stylishly dressed, he is also a musical innovator, fashion icon, and all-around hip hop rock star. Learn how this award-winning entertainer created his own musical empire.

As USA TODAY, The Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, puts it, Johnny Depp "clearly has a blast transforming his handsome self into some strange cinematic characters." Depp's career took off in 1987 when he signed up to play a cop on the television series 21 Jump Street. His good looks earned him plenty of attention-and plenty of money. But Depp had no interest in being a TV star or a teen idol. He wanted interesting roles in challenging films. He disappeared into the title roles in Edward Scissorhands, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Donnie Brasco, and Ed Wood. Then in 2003, a new Depp character introduced the actor to a new generation of moviegoers. He became Captain Jack Sparrow-the gold-toothed, swaggering, and completely untrustworthy leader of the Pirates of the Caribbean. In his third decade as an actor, Depp is respected by critics and popular with a wide range of fans. He's at the top of his career-and still having a blast.