At tonight’s Grammy awards Lady GaGa will pay tribute to the late David Bowie, with what’s promised to be a show-stopping performance celebrating his legendary career. But just hours before she’s due to take the stage Gaga got a more permanent tribute to her idol, with an Aladdin Sane tattoo on her ribcage.

Lady GagaLady Gaga has a new tattoo, honouring David Bowie.

Gaga documented the experience on Snapchat, sharing pictures from the session with fans. "This was the image that changed my life," she captioned one picture. The tattoo was done by West Hollywood artist Mark Mahoney and is a portrait of Bowie from his Aladdin Sane album cover.

Earlier this month it was announced that Gaga would pay tribute to Bowie at the awards ceremony, with a performance directed by Chic’s Nile Rodgers. In a statement, the Grammy’s described the performance as ‘a multisensory testament to the icon's incredible artistry and limitless creativity.’

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"We had already booked Lady Gaga on this year's show, but when David passed — almost in a single moment — we knew we had to change direction," said Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of the awards.

"We immediately spoke and agreed that she should be the one to honour David. She's perfect for it. So I reached out to Nile and, before long, we were on our way to creating what we believe will not only make a great Grammy moment, but one befitting of David.”

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Prior to Bowie’s passing on January 10th, Gaga had opened up to the Hollywood Reporter about the huge influence his music had on her creativity. "When I fell in love with David Bowie, when I was living on the Lower East Side, I always felt that his glamor was something he was using to express a message to people that was very healing for their souls," she recalled.

"He is a true, true artist and I don't know if I ever went, 'Oh, I'm going to be that way like this,' or if I arrived upon it slowly, realising it was my calling and that's what drew me to him.” Gaga is also up for her seventh Grammy at tonight’s ceremony, for Best Song Written For Visual Media for ’Til It Happens To You’ with Diane Warren.