Famous Stage Names 2

Marilyn Monroe, one of the most iconic actresses of the 20th century, was born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926. Her rise to fame in the 1950s transformed her into the quintessential Hollywood blonde bombshell, and her mysterious, tragic death in 1962 at a young age only added to her legendary status.

Known professionally as Jay-Z, Shawn Corey Carter is an iconic figure in the world of hip-hop. Besides being a successful rapper, he's also an influential entrepreneur, having founded Rocawear and Roc Nation, and acquired entertainment agency Tidal. Married to Beyoncé, they form one of the music industry's most powerful couples. 

 Born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, Lady Gaga's stage name originated from the 1984 Queen song "Radio Ga Ga". According to her former producer Rob Fusari, the name evolved from a text message that autocorrected the word "Radio" to "Lady".

Cornelius Crane Chase, more famously known by his stage name "Chevy Chase", rose to fame as a key member in the original cast of "Saturday Night Live" (1975).  The name "Chevy" was a childhood nickname, stemming from the medieval English song "The Ballad of Chevy Chase", about an ancient battle on the Scottish-English border.

Garth Brooks took an unusual career detour in 1999 with the release of an album by an alter ego named Chris Gaines. This character was crafted as a rock star with a troubled past. The album, titled "Garth Brooks in... The Life of Chris Gaines", was intended to precede a movie about Gaines, but the film was shelved, and the public reception to this project was lukewarm.