Madonna

Madonna

Who Is Madonna?

Madonna is a renowned pop music singer and actress who embarked on her solo career in 1981, rapidly ascending to prominence in the male-dominated music scene of the 1980s. By 1991, she had achieved an impressive 21 Top 10 hits in the United States and sold over 70 million albums worldwide. In January 2008, Forbes magazine recognized her as the world’s wealthiest female musician.

Early Life

Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone was born on August 16, 1958, in Bay City, Michigan, to Silvio “Tony” Ciccone and Madonna Fortin. Her father, the son of Italian immigrants, was the first in his family to attend college, earning a degree in engineering. Madonna’s mother, an x-ray technician and former dancer, had French Canadian roots. After marrying in 1955, the couple moved to Pontiac, Michigan, to be near Tony’s job as a defense engineer. Madonna was born three years later during a visit with family in Bay City. As the third of six children, she learned early how to navigate her role as a middle child, often using her charm to influence those around her.

Madonna’s upbringing was significantly shaped by her parents’ strict adherence to Catholicism. She described her mother as a “religious zealot,” noting that their home was frequently visited by priests and nuns. The Catholic iconography that surrounded her—such as her mother’s Sacred Heart statues and the rituals at their family altar—would later inspire some of her most provocative artistic expressions.

Family Tragedy: Death of Mother

A pivotal influence in Madonna’s early life was the loss of her mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer during her pregnancy with Madonna’s youngest sister. Due to the advanced stage of her illness, treatment was postponed until the baby reached full term, but by then, the disease had progressed too far. On December 1, 1963, at the age of 30, Madonna’s mother passed away, leaving Madonna just five years old. This profound loss deeply impacted her adolescence. Haunted by memories of her mother’s fragility, Madonna developed a fierce resolve to assert her own identity. She reflected, “I think the biggest reason I was able to express myself and not be intimidated was by not having a mother. For example, mothers teach you manners, and I absolutely did not learn any of those rules and regulations.”

Madonna’s relationship with her stepmother, Joan Gustafson, whom her father married after Madonna’s mother’s death, further fueled her rebellious spirit. Gustafson often required Madonna to care for her younger siblings, a responsibility Madonna resented. She later likened her situation to that of Cinderella, stating, “I think that’s when I really thought about how I wanted to do something else and get away from all that.” In defiance of her traditional upbringing, she transformed her conservative clothing into more revealing outfits, frequented underground gay nightclubs, and distanced herself from her religious roots.

Music and Dance: Late 1970s

Madonna emerged as a multifaceted artist in the late 1970s, balancing her rebellious spirit with a relentless pursuit of excellence. An academically accomplished individual, she graduated high school a semester early and was recognized as a straight-A student, cheerleader, and disciplined dancer. Her dedication culminated in a full scholarship to the University of Michigan’s dance program in 1976.

While studying at Michigan, Madonna received a six-week scholarship to train with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City in 1977. This was followed by a unique opportunity to perform with choreographer Pearl Lang in 1978. Encouraged by her dance instructor, Madonna left college after just two years to pursue her dance career in New York. There, she supported herself through various odd jobs, including nude art modeling, serving at the Russian Tea Room, and performing at the American Dance Center.

In 1979, she began a relationship with Dan Gilroy, a founding member of the ska-influenced pop-punk band Breakfast Club. Gilroy introduced Madonna to the head of a vaudeville review in Paris, where she worked as a showgirl, further igniting her passion for singing and performance. Upon returning to the United States in 1980, she joined Gilroy’s band as a drummer and later took on the role of lead singer. Over the next few years, she formed several bands, including Madonna & The Sky, The Millionaires, and Emmy.

Rise to Pop Stardom

‘Everybody’

In 1981, Madonna embarked on a solo career, enlisting manager Camille Barbone of Gotham Records to guide her through the male-dominated music industry. Barbone assisted in assembling a studio band that complemented Madonna’s emerging style. With the help of her friend Stephen Bray, who wrote her debut hit “Everybody,” Madonna leveraged her assertive business acumen to connect with producer Mark Kamins. This collaboration resulted in a record deal with Sire Records, and “Everybody” ascended to the No. 1 spot on the dance charts in 1982.

‘Madonna’ Album: ‘Borderline,’ ‘Lucky Star,’ and ‘Holiday’

Building on her initial success, Madonna convinced Sire Records to release her debut album, Madonna, in 1983. The album gradually gained traction and featured hit singles such as “Borderline,” “Lucky Star,” and “Holiday.” Her distinctive fashion sense, characterized by fishnet stockings, lace lingerie, fingerless gloves, and large crucifix necklaces, inspired countless fans across the nation. The success of “Holiday” earned her a notable appearance on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand in 1984, where she expressed her ambition to “rule the world.”

‘Like a Virgin,’ ‘Material Girl,’ and ‘Angel’

Madonna’s intense drive was evident in her 1985 follow-up album, Like a Virgin, which topped the Billboard charts and achieved platinum status within a month. The title track, produced by Nile Rodgers, is celebrated as one of her most significant pop hits, maintaining its position at the top for six consecutive weeks. The album also featured two other Top 5 hits: the empowering anthem “Material Girl” and the upbeat dance track “Angel.”

‘Crazy for You’

In addition to her music career, Madonna made her film debut in Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) and released the soundtrack’s single, “Into the Groove,” which reached No. 1 on the U.S. dance charts. Her subsequent single “Crazy for You,” featured in the film Vision Quest, also topped the charts. This period marked the beginning of her first music tour, The Virgin Tour, during which 17 consecutive songs climbed into the Billboard Top 10, and she created a series of iconic music videos that continuously reinvented her image.

Movies and More Hit Songs from the 1980s and 1990s

Madonna’s life became a whirlwind of activity throughout the late 1980s. On August 16, 1985, she married actor Sean Penn and co-starred with him in Shanghai Surprise (1986). Over the next few years, she appeared in three additional films: Who’s That Girl (1987), Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989), and Dick Tracy (1990). Her soundtrack album, I’m Breathless: Music From and Inspired by the Film Dick Tracy, produced two Top 10 hits: “Vogue” and “Hanky Panky.” In addition, she released four more hit albums: True Blue (1986), Who’s That Girl (1987), You Can Dance (1987), and Like a Prayer (1989).

Controversies

‘Like a Virgin’ MTV Video Music Awards Performance

Madonna’s pursuit of success was often accompanied by controversy. This was epitomized by her provocative 1985 performance of “Like a Virgin” at the MTV Video Music Awards, where she provocatively writhed onstage in a wedding dress. Her tumultuous marriage to Penn was marred by reports of domestic violence, culminating in a very public divorce.

‘Like a Prayer’ Music Video

In 1989, the music video for “Like a Prayer,” which aired on MTV as part of a lucrative Pepsi endorsement, sparked significant controversy due to its themes of interracial relationships, burning crosses, and a blend of sexual and religious imagery. In response, Pope John Paul II urged fans to boycott her concerts in Italy, prompting Pepsi to withdraw their endorsement.

Despite the backlash, Madonna’s popularity surged. The Like a Prayer album yielded the No. 1 title track along with hits such as “Express Yourself,” “Cherish,” “Keep It Together,” and “Oh Father.” By 1991, she had achieved 21 Top 10 hits in the United States and sold over 70 million albums globally, generating $1.2 billion in sales. Demonstrating her commitment to artistic control, she co-founded Maverick Records under the Warner Music Group in April 1992.

‘Truth or Dare’ Documentary

Madonna continued to challenge social norms with projects like Truth or Dare (1991), a revealing documentary about her Blonde Ambition tour. This was followed by the release of Sex (1992), a controversial coffee-table book featuring explicit imagery of the pop star. Despite its provocative content, Sex sold 150,000 copies on its first day in the United States and quickly became the most successful coffee table book ever published.

The album Erotica (1992) was released concurrently and also achieved significant success, reaching double-platinum status by the end of 1993. She followed this with Bedtime Stories in 1994, featuring hit singles like “Secret” and the poignant “Take a Bow.”

Movies and Music: Late 1990s – Present

Evita, Immaculate Collection, and Music

By 1996, Madonna had established herself as a versatile star in both film and music. She starred in the critically acclaimed adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Evita (1996), alongside Antonio Banderas. For her performance, she received a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. The film featured the song “You Must Love Me,” which earned an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

In 1990, Madonna released The Immaculate Collection, a greatest hits album, followed by Something to Remember (1995), a compilation of her ballads that included the new track “You’ll See.” In 1998, she ventured into electronica with Ray of Light, a critically acclaimed album produced with William Orbit that explored themes of spirituality. It featured hits such as “Frozen” and “The Power of Good-Bye,” earning Madonna three Grammy Awards—two for the title track and one for the album itself.

The year 2000 marked the release of Music, another successful electronic project characterized by its dance-oriented sound, largely produced by French producer Mirwais. Collaborations with Orbit continued on several tracks, including the Grammy-winning “Beautiful Stranger,” featured in the film Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

American Life

Madonna transitioned from the big screen to the London West End stage in the play Up for Grabs (2002) and published her first children’s book, The English Roses, in 2003. This was also the year her album American Life was released. In 2004, she was inducted into the inaugural U.K. Music Hall of Fame, and her subsequent album, Confessions on a Dancefloor, released in 2005, further solidified her status. During this period, she became the artist with the most gold-certified singles in the United States, surpassing a longstanding record held by The Beatles.

In January 2008, Forbes magazine named her the world’s wealthiest female musician. A significant portion of her income stemmed from her H&M clothing line, a deal with NBC to air concert footage, and her Confessions tour, which became the highest-grossing tour for a female artist. She also ventured into documentary filmmaking, serving as writer and executive producer for I Am Because We Are, which focused on the lives of AIDS orphans in Malawi, and the art-house film Filth and Wisdom, both released in 2008. Her album Hard Candy followed in April of that year, with her Sticky and Sweet tour marking her first collaboration with concert promoter Live Nation.

Celebration

In 2009, Madonna released her fourth greatest hits album, Celebration, which became her eleventh No. 1 album in the United Kingdom, tying her with Elvis Presley for the record of most No. 1 albums by a solo act in the U.K.

W.E., Film, and Super Bowl XLVI

Madonna’s 2011 film project, W.E., focused on the romance between American divorcée Wallis Simpson and Britain’s King Edward VIII, interspersed with a contemporary love story. Despite receiving mixed reviews, she garnered a Golden Globe for the original song “Masterpiece,” which she co-wrote and performed for the film.

In February 2012, Madonna performed at Super Bowl XLVI, although her selection as halftime entertainment sparked some controversy. Ultimately, she delivered a stunning performance featuring her new single “Give Me All Your Luvin’.” However, the spotlight shifted when her musical guest, M.I.A., made headlines for an obscene gesture during the live show.

MDNA

Madonna’s studio album, MDNA, released in March 2012, ignited further controversy during her tour in support of the record. She provoked backlash for occasionally flashing her audience and using Nazi imagery during a performance in France. Additionally, her outspoken support for LGBT rights in Russia led to legal trouble, as she faced a lawsuit exceeding $10 million for allegedly violating laws against promoting homosexuality to minors, though the charges were ultimately dismissed.

Tumultuous Road to Rebel Heart

Throughout 2014, Madonna worked on her next album, rumored to feature collaborations with producers such as Avicii and Diplo. However, in December, over a dozen tracks intended for her 2015 album Rebel Heart were leaked online, leading to the arrest of an Israeli singer implicated in the theft. In response, Madonna released six songs online before Christmas, which quickly climbed the iTunes charts globally.

More controversy ensued in January when she shared altered portraits of prominent figures like Nelson Mandela and Bob Marley on Instagram, reflecting the artwork for her upcoming album. In February 2015, another leak occurred, coinciding with her live performance of the lead single “Living for Love” at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, which featured a dramatic bull and matador theme. Shortly after, she performed at the Brit Awards, where a wardrobe malfunction caused her to fall down a short flight of stairs, resulting in whiplash.

Rebel Heart, Madonna’s thirteenth full-length album, was officially released on March 10, 2015. The deluxe version comprised 19 tracks, showcasing a stylistically diverse sound that traversed topics from overt sexuality to introspective reflection.

Madame X

After confirming the development of new music in early 2018, Madonna announced in an April 2019 video that her fourteenth studio album would be titled Madame X. In this announcement, she described Madame X as a multifaceted character—“a secret agent…a dancer…a mother…a child.” Following this revelation, Madonna released the single “Medellín,” a collaboration with Colombian singer Maluma, which they performed together at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.

Personal Life and Children

Madonna was married to actor Sean Penn from 1985 to 1989. She became a mother in 1996, giving birth to Lourdes Maria (Lola) Ciccone Leon, whom she had with her personal trainer, Carlos Leon. In 2000, she married British director Guy Ritchie, welcoming their son, Rocco John Ritchie, the same year. The couple divorced in 2008.

As she approached her 50th birthday, Madonna faced personal challenges, including allegations of circumventing traditional Malawian laws to adopt her son, David Banda. Critics accused her of using her wealth to expedite the process, a claim she vehemently denied. In May 2008, the Malawi high court granted her full adoption rights. Shortly thereafter, she adopted Mercy James in June 2009, after navigating another legal battle. In February 2017, Madonna announced her adoption of twin girls, Estere and Stelle, from Malawi, sharing a photo of them on Instagram.

In 2017, Madonna sought to halt the auction of personal items held by her former assistant, Darlene Lutz, but a judge ruled against her, citing a prior release. Among the items was a break-up letter from Tupac Shakur, in which he expressed his concerns about their relationship and its implications for both their reputations.

In August 2018, Madonna generated headlines during her tribute to the late Aretha Franklin at the MTV Video Music Awards. Her speech, which focused on her own career rather than Franklin’s contributions, drew criticism for its self-centered tone.