Lady Gaga was overcome by stage fright before a performance in New York on Monday, it’s been claimed.

The singer apparently refused to come out of her dressing room at the Costume Institute Gala, and was only eventually coaxed out by talk show host, Oprah Winfrey.

"She literally wouldn't come out," a source told the New York Post. "Friends tried, [Warner Music exec] Lyor Cohen tried, no dice.

“Eventually, Vito Schnabel came over and got [artist] Terence Koh on the phone to talk to her, which helped. Koh and Oprah were the ones who finally coaxed her out."

Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger and Katy Perry were also among guests at Monday's gala.

Meanwhile, Lady Gaga is due to return to the UK later this month as part of her Monster Ball world tour.

Tickets are on sale now.

(by Jason Gregory)