Lady Gaga set her piano on fire -- literally -- during her performance at this week's American Music Awards. In an awards show dominated by glitzy dance-pop pieces, Gaga's flaming baby grand easily bested a workout by a baggy-pants-clad Janet Jackson, a pugilistic piece by Jennifer Lopez, and rockier productions by Rihanna and a freaky Adam Lambert.
    
Gaga doesn't really have a dog in the fight for Pop Diva No. 1 -- she yearns to be more outre a la Gwen Stefani and Cher rather than adored as a pop princess a la Britney or Beyonce.
     
Yet, it's noteworthy that Gaga's new electro-pop dance album, "The Fame Monster," includes a guest shot by Beyonce on the track "Telephone." What better way to amp up your street cred as a bizarro pop chanteuse than to invite a Ms. Mainstream into your lair?
     
Lady Gaga's 15 minutes of fame has begun, now that "The Fame Monster" is in stores.