Die with a Smile

"Die with a Smile" brings together two of pop's most magnetic voices, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, for a sweeping ballad that landed on August 16, 2024, via Interscope Records. The track began as a Mars idea, developed with Dernst "D'Mile" Emile II and James Fauntleroy back in 2021. When Mars played it for Gaga three years later, the pair clicked instantly, finishing the song that same day with Andrew Watt joining the writing and production team. The result is a soft rock and pop-soul blend with a country tinge, evoking the warmth of 1970s ballads and echoes of Gaga's Joanne era and Mars's Silk Sonic project. Critics praised the vocal interplay and the emotional weight of the lyrics, which capture a desperate need to hold onto love in the face of uncertainty.

Commercially, the single was a juggernaut. It spent 18 weeks atop the Billboard Global 200 and reached number one in over 30 countries, including the US, Canada, and New Zealand. On Spotify, it set records as the longest-reigning daily number-one song and the fastest to surpass three billion streams, ultimately becoming the platform's most-streamed song of 2025. Certifications piled up, with multi-diamond status in Brazil and diamond in France and Poland. The accompanying music video, directed by Mars and Daniel Ramos, features the duo performing in a retro 1970s TV studio, with Gaga on piano and Mars on guitar. They debuted the song live at a Mars concert in Los Angeles in August 2024, and it later became a staple in both artists' solo shows, including Gaga's Mayhem Ball tour and the Super Bowl LX halftime show. At the 67th Grammy Awards, "Die with a Smile" won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and earned a nomination for Song of the Year. [edit]