Lady . . . Madonna? Who's that girl?

Lady Gaga isn't shy about paying homage to Madonna.

"There is really no one that is a more adoring and loving Madonna fan than me," Gaga told Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show. "I am the hugest fan personally and professionally."

That fandom doesn't just show in her current single "Born This Way" -- which owes a debt to The Material Girl's "Express Yourself" and "Vogue," as well as TLC's "Waterfalls" -- but in Ga's entire envelope-pushing persona.

Of course, she wouldn't be following her role model very well if she didn't look to surpass her with bigger controversies and broader successes.

In less than three years, Gaga has already taken the lead among celebrities for her work to end the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and raised the profile of the cause of gay rights with Middle America.

Though many have tried, at this point, only Gaga would have been able to push "Born This Way" and its strident, equality-driven lyrics to the No. 1 spot for six weeks. "No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I'm on the right track, baby, I was born to survive," has been blasting all across America for months now, as has "No matter black, white or beige, Chola or Orient made, I'm on the right track, baby, I was born to be brave."

To expand the impact of "Born This Way's" message, Gaga has even released country-flavored and Bollywood-targeted remixes. Even Madonna has had trouble gaining that kind of acceptance for her causes in recent years.

SEE PHOTOSLady Gaga through the years

Who knows what Gaga has planned for her new single "Judas," out Tuesday, and the upcoming "Born This Way" album, due May 23? She will launch that album with a free concert in Central Park May 27, as part of the "Good Morning America Summer Concert Series."

Of course, the question for Gaga, a self-described student of celebrity, is how long her ride at the top will last. She has cleverly stretched her current fame with an ever-changing mix of fashion statements (will anything ever top the raw meat dress?), publicity stunts (her Grammys arrival in an egg) and tending to her flock of Little Monsters with regular Twitter updates and YouTube videos.

How long can she keep that up?

Well, receiving Madonna's "blessing" for "Born This Way" certainly helped, allowing Gaga to pay homage to her role model, while still moving forward with her own plans.

"If the queen says it shall be, then it shall be," Gaga said.

WHO Lady Gaga

WHEN | WHERE 8 p.m. Saturday, Nassau Coliseum

INFO $49.50-$175; 800-745-3000; ticketmaster.com