On what was arguably Lady Gaga's most important day, the singer left the lavish home on Memorial Drive where she had been living over the past week and stopped in at St. Martin's Episcopal Church for the 8 am Sunday service. While her bodyguard remained outside, she slipped into a back pew for the Holy Eucharist service conducted by the Rev. Sarah Condon.
There is no music at this service, only a sermon and communion, so Gaga did not have to worry about straining her voice. But if she was there to ask for divine intervention, she surely received it with a Super Bowl halftime performance that has been generally recognized as one of the best ever.
After her show stopper at NRG Stadium (where Donatella Versace was backstage to help her get ready), the singer showered, got dressed and went up to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft's suite with her parents to say hello. She greeted good friends singer Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, and Houston social icon Lynn Wyatt. Wyatt had become pals with Gaga while attending John's White Tie and Tiaras Ball in England in 2010. (Also in the suite were John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, while in the next door box were Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall.)
"You just knocked it out of the park," Wyatt told Gaga, who also accepted congratulations from everyone in the suite.
Although John spends part of his time in Atlanta, where he has a home, he was rooting for the Patriots, and, in fact, had performed at a private party for Kraft in Houston Saturday night at the Marriott Marquis. Earlier on Sunday afternoon, John and Furnish had stopped by Wyatt's home for a visit and to change clothes before heading to the game.
Gaga arrived in the suite just about the time that fortunes turned for the Patriots, who won the thrilling game in overtime. On the way out of the stadium, Wyatt, John, and Furnish were in their car and looked over and saw Gaga in a black Lamborghini Huracan. The singer struck a pose from her expensive car as they drove by.
On her way out of Houston Gaga left the Lamborghini behind, along with the keys to the $7.5 million 5-bedroom, 6-bath mansion at 8802 Memorial Drive that had been her home during her Houston stay. The 10,000-square-foot Mediterranean-style residence by Robert Dame rents for $10,000 a night on Airbnb, but the company gave the temporary home to her rent free. The publicity is, no doubt, priceless. Her thank you to the online homestay network on her Instagram page has drawn 492,052 likes.
The home, which has been on the market for close to two years, has "sumptuous amenities throughout, sheltered outdoor living and dining, resort-inspired pool surrounded by bluestone terraces, Venetian plaster walls and Artisan painting," according to a listing on Zillow. "Other features include walnut, alder and cypress wood cabinetry, honed limestone and walnut floors, enormous fireplaces in gathering kitchen and great room, first-floor master wing with onyx/marble-clad bath, plus an exercise room."
Lady Gaga had a Super Sunday.
Clandestina is now open in downtown Houston. Courtesy of Clandestina