Lady Gaga Is Named Woman of the Year by Billboard

— -- Each year, in conjunction with its annual Women in Music issue, Billboard magazine names one female star its Woman of the Year at a star-studded gala.

This year, Lady Gaga is getting the honor -- and for the first time, fans will be able to watch the event on TV.

Back in 2009, Gaga received the Rising Star award at this same event, but now she's moved up to the big honor. It's been quit a year for the singer: she won a Grammy for her album with Tony Bennett and embarked on a well-received joint tour with him, she performed at the Oscars, and capped it off with a lead role in American Horror Story: Hotel." Plus, her fifth album is set to drop next year.

Gaga and other female artists who'll be named in the coming weeks will receive their awards December 11 in New York City. Cable's Lifetime channel will air the festivities December 18 as a special called "Women in Music."

Last year's Woman of the Year was Taylor Swift. Past winners have included Pink, Katy Perry and Beyoncé.