Lady Gaga submits 'The Dead Dance' from Wednesday to Emmy Awards
Synopsis
Lady Gaga's 'The Dead Dance' — already a Mayhem Ball Tour staple — is now in the Emmy race for outstanding original music and lyrics. Written for Wednesday Season 2's Venetian Gala scene and rooted in the personal experience of a breakup, the track blends emotional depth with dance-floor energy, making it one of the more distinctive contenders in the category.
Key Takeaways
Lady Gaga 's track 'The Dead Dance' has been submitted for the Emmy Award in the outstanding original music and lyrics category.
The song features in Episode 7 of Wednesday Season 2 , during the Venetian Gala scene with characters Enid and Agnes .
It was co-written and produced by Lady Gaga, Andrew Watt , and Cirkut (Henry Russell Walter).
Lady Gaga originally released the track in September and added it to her Mayhem Ball Tour setlist.
The singer described the song as being about empowerment after a breakup — 'I'm taking the power back.'
Lady Gaga's original track 'The Dead Dance', featured in the second season of the hit Netflix series 'Wednesday', has been submitted for consideration at the Emmy Awards in the outstanding original music and lyrics category, according to reports. The submission marks a formal push for awards recognition for one of the most talked-about musical moments in the show's sophomore run.
The Song and Its Role in Wednesday Season 2
'The Dead Dance' appears in Episode 7 of the Tim Burton-directed series, during a scene at the Venetian Gala where characters Enid (played by Emma Myers) and Agnes (played by Evie Templeton) perform a choreographed dance routine. The track was written and produced by Lady Gaga alongside her frequent collaborators Andrew Watt and Cirkut (whose real name is Henry Russell Walter).
How the Collaboration Came Together
Lady Gaga revealed she was already a fan of the series before being approached. 'I got a phone call that the show was looking for music. I immediately had a song in mind called 'The Dead Dance',' she told Netflix's fan platform Tudum. 'Once I knew it would be for 'Wednesday', I decided to work on it even more and made it extra special for the show.'
The singer had originally released the track in September and subsequently incorporated it into her ongoing Mayhem Ball Tour setlist — making the Emmy submission a convergence of her live and screen careers.
The Meaning Behind the Track
Despite its upbeat, dance-driven production, the song draws from a deeply personal place. Lady Gaga described it as being rooted in the experience of a breakup. 'It's about how we sometimes feel when it's over, how a relationship ending can kill our ability to feel hopeful about love,' she explained to Tudum.
She added that the song pivots from grief to empowerment: 'In the song, I say, 'I'll keep on dancing till I'm dead', meaning that I'm acknowledging that, and I'm going to keep going. I'm also saying, 'I'm taking the power back'.' The track's repeated refrain — 'Do the Dead Dance, the Dead Dance' — is, in her words, the moment the song transcends the personal and becomes 'about having fun with your friends when you've been through something tough and amazing.'
Emmy Prospects and Wider Context
The outstanding original music and lyrics category at the Emmys has historically rewarded songs that serve a clear narrative function within a series — a criterion 'The Dead Dance' arguably meets given its placement at a pivotal social event in the episode. Notably, 'Wednesday' has been one of the most-streamed English-language series on Netflix since its debut, giving the submission considerable visibility. Whether the Recording Academy and Emmy voters align on its merits remains to be seen when nominations are announced.
Point of View
Which is exactly what this category rewards. What is less discussed is how Wednesday's cultural dominance on streaming has effectively turned its soundtrack into a marketing vehicle for artists — and vice versa. Lady Gaga's Mayhem Ball Tour benefits from the show's audience; the show benefits from her star power. The Emmy bid formalises that symbiosis. Whether voters see it as a song that serves the narrative or a pop crossover dressed up for television will be the real test.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What Emmy category has Lady Gaga's 'The Dead Dance' been submitted for?
'The Dead Dance' has been submitted for the Emmy Award in the outstanding original music and lyrics category. The submission relates to the song's appearance in Season 2 of the Netflix series Wednesday.
Where does 'The Dead Dance' appear in Wednesday Season 2?
The song plays during Episode 7 of Wednesday Season 2, in a scene set at the Venetian Gala where characters Enid and Agnes perform a dance routine together.
Who wrote and produced 'The Dead Dance'?
The track was written and produced by Lady Gaga along with her frequent collaborators Andrew Watt and Cirkut, whose real name is Henry Russell Walter.
What is the meaning behind 'The Dead Dance' according to Lady Gaga?
Lady Gaga described the song as being about a breakup and the process of reclaiming power. She explained that the repeated refrain 'Do the Dead Dance' represents moving forward with friends after going through something difficult, transforming pain into celebration.
When did Lady Gaga originally release 'The Dead Dance'?
Lady Gaga released 'The Dead Dance' in September, prior to its inclusion in Wednesday Season 2. She has since added it to her ongoing Mayhem Ball Tour setlist.
