Madonna Louise Ciccone[a] (/tʃɪˈkoʊni/chih-KOH-nee; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Dubbed the "Queen of Pop", she is regarded asone of the most significant cultural figures of both the 20th and 21st centuries. Madonna is known for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, and visual presentation, with works that incorporate social, political,sexual, andreligious themes and have generated both controversy and critical acclaim. She is often deemed one of the greatestpopular musicians in history.
Madonna Louise Ciccone was born inBay City, Michigan, on August 16, 1958.[2] Her father, Silvio "Tony" Ciccone, worked as anoptics andmilitary engineer and physicist forChrysler Defense and laterGeneral Dynamics Land Systems; her mother, Madonna Louise (née Fortin), was anX-ray technician.[3] Tony's parents were Italian emigrants fromPacentro, while her mother was ofFrench-Canadian descent.[4] Since Madonna shared her name with her mother, family members referred to her as "Little Nonnie".[5] Madonna was raised in the Detroit suburbs ofPontiac and Avon Township (nowRochester Hills), alongside her two older brothers, Anthony and Martin, and her three younger siblings, Paula,Christopher, and Melanie.[6][7]
When Madonna was five years old, her mother died ofbreast cancer on December 1, 1963.[8] In 1966, she adopted Veronica as aconfirmation name upon receiving thesacrament in the Catholic Church.[9] That same year, Tony married the family's housekeeper, Joan Gustafson. They were married for 58 years until Joan's death in 2024, and had three children: Joey (who died shortly after his 1967 birth from aheart defect), Jennifer, and Mario.[10][11] Madonna attended St. Frederick's and St. Andrew's Catholic elementary schools, as well as West Middle School.[12] She earned high grades—her father gave her aquarter for everyA—and was notorious for her unconventional behavior. Madonna performed cartwheels and handstands in the hallways between classes, hung upside down from the monkey bars during recess, and lifted her skirt in class to amuse the boys.[13]
In retrospect, Madonna described herself as a "lonely girl who was searching for something", explaining: "I wasn't rebellious in a certain way. I cared about being good at something. I didn't shave under my arms and I didn't wear makeup like normal girls do. But I studied and I got good grades[...] I wanted to be somebody."[14] Her father initially enrolled her inclassical piano lessons, but she eventually persuaded him to let her studyballet instead. Her ballet teacher, Christopher Flynn, inspired her to pursue a career in dance.[15] While attendingRochester Adams High School, Madonna was a straight-A student and a member of the cheerleading squad.[16] After graduating in January 1976, she received a dance scholarship to theUniversity of Michigan and spent the summer studying at theAmerican Dance Festival inDurham, North Carolina.[17]
In 1978, Madonna left college and moved to New York City.[18] She called the decision "the bravest thing [she'd] ever done"; it was the first time she had ever flown on a plane or taken a taxi, and she arrived with "$35 in [her] pocket".[19] She settled in theAlphabet City area of the East Village and supported herself with limited means by working various jobs—including as a hatcheck girl at theRussian Tea Room, an elevator operator atTerrace on the Park, and a member of modern dance troupes.[20][21] Madonna took classes at theAlvin Ailey American Dance Theater, performed with thePearl Lang Dance Theater, and studied under dancer and choreographerMartha Graham.[22] One night, while returning from a rehearsal, two men held her at knifepoint and forced her to performfellatio. She later found the incident to be "a taste of my weakness, it showed me that I still could not save myself in spite of all the strong-girl show. I could never forget it."[23]
1979–1983: Career beginnings, rock bands, andMadonna
In 1979, Madonna entered a romantic relationship with musicianDan Gilroy.[24] During this period, she searched for job opportunities in such publications asVariety,Backstage, andShow Business, leading to a successful audition to perform in Paris as a backup singer and dancer for French disco artist Patrick Hernandez.[25] During her little time with Hernandez's troupe, she also traveled to Tunisia and several disco-oriented European countries before returning to New York that same year.[26] Madonna relocated to an abandonedsynagogue inCorona, Queens, where Gilroy and his brother Ed resided and practiced.[27] The group slept in the basement and used its meeting space both to rehearse and record music for their band,Breakfast Club, for which Madonna sang and played drums and guitar.[28]
Madonna made her acting debut in the low-budget indie filmA Certain Sacrifice, which was shot in two parts during 1979 and 1981. She unsuccessfully attempted to block its 1985 release through legal action against director Stephen Jon Lewicki. The film was primarily criticized for its explicit sexual and violent content.[29] In 1980, after leaving the Breakfast Club and ending her relationship with Gilroy, Madonna reunited with drummerStephen Bray, whom she had previously dated in Michigan, and together they formed the band Emmy.[30] By 1982, she and Bray lived and rehearsed atthe Music Building in Manhattan, where they wrote songs and recorded a four-track demo tape.[31] After leaving Emmy, Camille Barbone, who ranGotham Records in the Music Building, signed Madonna to a contract with the label in March 1981, working as her manager until February 1982.[32] Her creative partnership with Bray continued for many years.[33]
In 1982, Madonna visited nightclubs to persuadedisc jockeys (DJs) to play her demo, leadingMark Kamins atDanceteria to take an interest in her music and begin a romance with her.[34] He arranged a meeting withSeymour Stein, president ofSire Records—a subsidiary ofWarner Bros. Records—after which she signed a two-single deal.[35] Kamins produced her debut single, "Everybody", which was released in October 1982 and promoted with television and nightclub performances.[36][37] Her second single, thedouble A-side "Burning Up" / "Physical Attraction", was released in March 1983. Both "Everybody" and "Burning Up" / "Physical Attraction" reached number three on theBillboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.[38] During this period, Madonna was in a relationship with artistJean-Michel Basquiat and living in hisSoHo loft.[39] Basquiat introduced her to art curatorDiego Cortez, who had managed severalpunk bands. Cortez declined to manage Madonna when she requested for him to do so.[40]
Warner hiredReggie Lucas to produce her debut studio album,Madonna.[41] Madonna was dissatisfied with many of the tracks, prompting her to seek additional support. She enlisted DJJohn "Jellybean" Benitez to help complete the album, and the two began a brief romantic relationship.[42] Benitez remixed most of the songs and produced "Holiday", her breakthrough song.[43]Madonna was released on July 27, 1983, to generally favorable reviews, and peaked at number eight on the USBillboard 200.[44][45] The album generated two USBillboard Hot 100 top-ten singles: "Borderline" and "Lucky Star". In late 1983, Madonna's new manager,Freddy DeMann, arranged a meeting with film producerJon Peters, who offered her the role of a club singer in the romantic dramaVision Quest (1985).[46]
1984–1987:Like a Virgin, first marriage,True Blue, andWho's That Girl
In January 1984, Madonna gained further exposure with performances onAmerican Bandstand andTop of the Pops.[47] Wanting the material on her second studio album,Like a Virgin, to be "stronger" than that of her debut, she selected all of the songs herself, five of which she wrote or co-wrote.[48] Adance andsynth-pop record,Like a Virgin was released on November 12, 1984,[49] and became her first number-one album in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, the UK and the US.[50] Within the lattermost nation, the album remained atop theBillboard 200 for three weeks and is the first album by a woman to sell over five million copies.[51][52]Like a Virgin has sold over 21 million copies worldwide, making it one of thebest-selling albums of all time.[53][54]
The album's title track, "Like a Virgin", was selected as its lead single.[55] It was her first number-one on theBillboard Hot 100, topping the chart for six consecutive weeks.[56][57] "Like a Virgin" attracted the attention of conservative organizations, who complained that the song and its accompanying video promoted premarital sex and undermined family values;moralists sought to have the song and video banned.[58] Madonna had already attracted significant media attention for her performance of the song at the inauguralMTV Video Music Awards in 1984. Dressed in a wedding gown and white gloves, she appeared atop a large wedding cake before moving across the stage in a provocative manner.[59]MTV News later described the performance as one of the most iconic in pop music history.[60]Like a Virgin's next single, "Material Girl", peaked at number two in the US.[61]
Madonna began a relationship with actorSean Penn while filming the music video for "Material Girl" and the two married on her twenty-seventh birthday in 1985.[62][63] The soundtrack ofVision Quest (1985) included "Crazy for You"—her secondBillboard Hot 100 number-one single.[64] That same year, she starred as the titular character in the comedyDesperately Seeking Susan, depicting a free-spiritedbohemian drifter whose path intersects with a bored housewife through personal ads.[65] The film introduced "Into the Groove", her first number-one single on theUK Singles Chart.[66]Desperately Seeking Susan was named one of the ten best films of 1985 byVincent Canby, aThe New York Times film critic.[67] In April 1985, Madonna began her first North American concert series,the Virgin Tour.[68] The tour coincided with the height of theMadonna wannabe phenomenon, as many of her young female fans adoptedher fashion style.[69] Styled byMaripol, her look—which included lace tops, skirts overcapri pants,fishnet stockings,crucifix jewelry, stacked bracelets, and bleached hair—became widely associated with 1980s female fashion trends.[70][71]
Around this time, Madonna released two additional singles, "Angel" and "Dress You Up", both of which reached the top five of theBillboard Hot 100.[72] In July 1985,Penthouse andPlayboy published nude photographs of Madonna taken in 1978, when she worked as anart model.[73] She had posed for the images for modest pay, reportedly $25 per session; the photographs were later sold for up to $100,000.[74] The publication caused significant media attention, though Madonna remained unapologetic.[75] At the 1985Live Aid concert, she referenced the controversy, remarking that she would not remove her jacket when believing that the media "might hold it against me ten years from now".[76]
For her third studio album,True Blue, Madonna co-wrote and co-produced every track on the record.[77] Inspired by and dedicated to her husband Penn, the album was released on June 30, 1986, to critical acclaim.[78] It topped the charts in an unprecedented 28 countries worldwide, including the US, where it remained at number one on theBillboard 200 for five weeks.[79][80]True Blue made Madonna the second female artist—followingWhitney Houston—to score three USBillboard Hot 100 number-one singles from one album: "Live to Tell", "Papa Don't Preach", and "Open Your Heart".[81] Its two other singles, "True Blue" and "La Isla Bonita", peaked within the top five.[82]True Blue was the best-selling album of 1986, the best-selling of the 1980s by a female artist, and one of the best-selling albums of all time, with 25million copies sold globally.[83][84]
Madonna made herBroadway theatre debut in the playSpeed-the-Plow at theRoyale Theatre, running from May to August 1988.[93] According to theAssociated Press, she filed an assault report against Penn following an alleged incident at theirMalibu residence over the New Year's weekend.[94] Madonna filed for divorce on January 5, 1989, and reportedly requested the following week that no criminal charges be pursued.[95] That month, Madonna signed an endorsement agreement with soft-drink companyPepsi.[96] In a commercial for the company, she premiered "Like a Prayer", whose accompanying music video featuredCatholic imagery such asstigmata andcross burning, as well as a dream sequence depicting intimacy with a saint, prompting condemnation from theVatican.[97][98] Religious organizations called for a boycott of Pepsi products, leading the company to withdraw the commercial and terminate her sponsorship deal.[99]
"Like a Prayer" was released as the lead single from her fourth studio album, also titledLike a Prayer. It became her seventh number-one single on theBillboard Hot 100 and spent three weeks atop the chart.[100] Madonna drew inspiration from her turbulent relationship and divorce from Penn to create the album, co-writing and co-producing the album alongsidePatrick Leonard, Stephen Bray, andPrince.[101] In the US,Like a Prayer was released on March 21, 1989, to universal acclaim from critics.Rolling Stone'sJ. D. Considine described it as "proof not only that Madonna should be taken seriously as an artist but that hers is one of the most compelling voices of the Eighties".[102]Like a Prayer spent six weeks atop theBillboard 200—the longest of any of her albums—and eventually sold 15 million copies worldwide.[103][104] The singles "Express Yourself" and "Cherish" both peaked at number two in the US, while "Keep It Together" peaked within the top ten.[103] By the end of the 1980s,Billboard andMusician had named her "Artist of the Decade".[105][106]
In April 1990, Madonna launched theBlond Ambition World Tour.[107] Described byRolling Stone as an "elaborately choreographed, sexually provocative extravaganza", the tour was named the best of 1990 by the magazine.[108] It drew criticism from religious organizations, particularly for her performance of "Like a Virgin", in which she simulatedmasturbation while being caressed by two male dancers.[89] Madonna defended the show, stating that it was intended for "open minds" and encouraged audiences to view sexuality differently.[109]The live recording of the tour earned Madonna theGrammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video.[110] Her first documentary film,Truth or Dare (titledIn Bed with Madonna outside North America), was released in May 1991.[111][112] Chronicling her Blond Ambition World Tour, it became the highest-grossing documentary ever at the time, a record it held until it was surpassed eleven years later byMichael Moore'sBowling for Columbine.[113]
Madonna portrayedBreathless Mahoney in the filmDick Tracy (1990), directed by and starringWarren Beatty in the title role. The filmtopped the US box office for two consecutive weeks, andOwen Gleiberman ofEntertainment Weekly praised Madonna's performance, saying that he wished she had been given more screen time.[114][115] To accompany the film, she released the soundtrack albumI'm Breathless, with songs largely inspired by 1930s music.[116] It spawned the single "Vogue", which topped the charts in more than 30 countries, including the US, where it peaked at number one on the Hot 100 for three weeks.[117][118] During production, Madonna and Beatty began a relationship that ended shortly after the film's premiere.[119] In October 1990, she recorded aPublic Service Announcement supportingRock the Vote's voter registration campaign.[120]
Madonna's firstgreatest-hits compilation album,The Immaculate Collection, was released in November 1990.[121] The album has sold 30million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling compilation album by a solo artist and one of the best-selling albums of all time.[122][123] The set included two new songs, "Justify My Love" and "Rescue Me".[124] ModelTony Ward, Madonna's then-boyfriend, co-starred in the music video for "Justify My Love", which included imagery ofsadomasochism,bondage, same-sex intimacy, and brief nudity.[125][126] Considered too sexually explicit, the video was banned by MTV.[127] The resulting controversy contributed to the song reaching number one on theBillboard Hot 100, becoming her ninth chart-topping single.[124]
1992–1997: Maverick,Erotica,Sex,Bedtime Stories,Evita, and motherhood
In 1992, Madonna appeared in the filmA League of Their Own as Mae Mordabito, a member of an all-women's baseball team.[128] The film reachednumber one at the US box office in its second weekend of release.[129] Madonna also recorded its theme song, "This Used to Be My Playground", which became her tenthBillboard Hot 100 number-one single, the most of any woman at the time.[130][131] In April 1992, Madonna established the entertainment companyMaverick, which included a record label, film production unit, and divisions for music publishing, television, book publishing, and merchandising. The venture was a joint partnership withTime Warner and provided her with a $60 million advance and a 20 percent royalty rate—the highest in the industry at the time.[132]
Maverick went on to become one of the most successfulartist-run labels in history, signing multi-platinum acts such asAlanis Morissette andMichelle Branch.[133] Later in 1992, Madonna co-sponsored the first museum retrospective of her former partner, artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, at theWhitney Museum of American Art in New York.[134] She released her fifth studio album,Erotica, on October 20, 1992, in the US, and published hercoffee table bookSex a day later.[135][136]Sex featured sexually provocative and explicit images photographed bySteven Meisel and drew strong negative reactions from both the media and the general public; initial interest propelled the book to the top ofThe New York Times Best Seller list.[137] AWashington Post writer described it as an "oversized, overpriced, [and boring] coffee table book of hardcore sexual fantasies".[138]
The widespread backlash overshadowedErotica, which became her lowest-selling album at the time.[139] It debuted and peaked at number two on the USBillboard 200, and received favorable reviews from critics.[135] Two of its singles—"Erotica" and "Deeper and Deeper"—reached the top ten of theBillboard Hot 100.[140] During this period, Madonna was in a relationship with rapperVanilla Ice, to whom she proposed.[141] The pair separated following the release ofSex, with Vanilla Ice claiming he had been included in the book without his consent.[142] Madonna extended her provocative themes in the 1993 erotic thrillerBody of Evidence, which featured scenes of sadomasochism and bondage and was poorly received by critics.[143]
In September 1993, Madonna played an abused wife in a troubled marriage to a filmmaker inDangerous Game, though her performance in the film was met with negative reception.[144][145] She launchedthe Girlie Show that month, during which she appeared as a whip-crackingdominatrix and performed alongside topless dancers.[89] She madea highly publicized appearance on theLate Show with David Letterman in March 1994, using profanity that required broadcast censorship and handing Letterman a pair of her underwear while urging him to smell it. The sexually explicit releases ofSex andErotica, along with her film roles and controversial Letterman appearance, prompted commentators to question her dependence on provocative imagery.[146] Madonna briefly dated rapperTupac Shakur and basketball playerDennis Rodman around this time.[147]
This is the role I was born to play. I put everything of me into this because it was much more than a role in a movie. It was exhilarating and intimidating at the same time. And I am prouder ofEvita than anything else I have done.
In February 1996, Madonna began filming the musicalEvita in Argentina.[155] Having long aspired to portray Argentine political leaderEva Perón, she wrote to directorAlan Parker to express her interest in the role. After being cast, she undertook vocal training and studied Argentina's history of and Perón's life. During production, Madonna experienced several bouts of illness related to pregnancy and the emotional demands of the film.[156] Upon its release in December 1996, her performance was met with positive reviews from critics.[157][158][159]Richard Corliss, writing forTime, described the film as well cast and visually impressive and lauded Madonna's ability to exceed expectations.[160] Her portrayal earned her theGolden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.[161]
TheEvita soundtrack, which peaked at number two on theBillboard 200, contained songs primarily performed by Madonna. These included "You Must Love Me" and "Don't Cry for Me Argentina", the latter of which topped theEuropean singles chart.[162][163] At the 1996Billboard Music Awards, Madonna was presented with the Artist Achievement Award.[164] On October 14, 1996, she gave birth to her daughter,Lourdes "Lola" Maria Ciccone Leon, with fitness trainer Carlos Leon.[165] According to biographerMary Cross, Madonna—who had expressed concern that her pregnancy might jeopardizeEvita—fulfilled significant personal goals: "Madonna had at last triumphed on screen and achieved her dream of having a child, both in the same year[...] reinventing herself and her image with the public".[166] Her relationship with Carlos ended in May 1997, and she stated that they were "better off as best friends".[167]
1998–2002:Ray of Light,Music, second marriage, and touring comeback
After the birth of Lourdes, Madonna developed an interest inEastern mysticism andKabbalah, introduced to her by actressSandra Bernhard.[168] Her seventh studio album,Ray of Light, reflected this change in her perception and image.[169] She collaborated withelectronic music producerWilliam Orbit to create a fusion of dance,pop, andBritish rock styles.[170][171] Music criticAnn Powers said Madonna sought "a kind of lushness" for the album rather than the party-oriented sounds of 1990stechno andrave genres, opting instead for a more singer-songwriter approach that Orbit helped her achieve.[171]Ray of Light was released on February 22, 1998,[172] to acclaim from critics.[173]Slant deemed it "one of the great pop masterpieces of the '90s",[174] andLos Angeles Times'sRobert Hilburn called it her most satisfying record.[175]Ray of Light debuted at number one in 17 countries.[176] In the US, it opened at number two on theBillboard 200 and yielded the highest first-week sales for an album by a woman at the time.[177]
On September 18, 2000, Madonna released her eighth studio album,Music, to critical acclaim.[185][186] She collaborated with French producerMirwais Ahmadzaï, saying that she preferred working with unconventional, lesser-known artists who "have raw talent and who are making music unlike anyone else out there", and describedMusic as "the future of sound".[187][188] The album reached number one in over 20 countries and sold four million copies within its first ten days of release.[189] In the US,Music debuted atop theBillboard 200, becoming her first number-one album in eleven years sinceLike a Prayer.[190] The singles "Music" and "Don't Tell Me" peaked at numbers one and four on theBillboard Hot 100, with the first becoming her twelfth song to peak atop the chart.[57][191]
Madonna met directorGuy Ritchie in mid-1998 and gave birth to their son, Rocco John Ritchie, in Los Angeles on August 11, 2000.[192] She and Rocco experienced complications during the birth due to herplacenta praevia.[193] He was christened atDornoch Cathedral in Scotland on December 21, 2000, and Madonna married Ritchie the following day at nearbySkibo Castle.[194] After an eight-year hiatus from touring, she launched theDrowned World Tour in June 2001, which visited cities across the US and Europe, becoming the highest-grossing tour of the year by a solo artist with $75 million in revenue.[195][196] That same year, she released her second greatest-hits album,GHV2, featuring a selection of her successful songs from the 1990s onward. It debuted at number seven in the US and sold seven million copies worldwide.[197][198]
In 2003, Madonna worked with fashion photographerSteven Klein on an exhibition installation titled X-STaTIC Pro=CeSS. The project was presented from March to May at New York'sDeitch Projects gallery and was later shown internationally in a revised version.[209] She reunited with Ahmadzaï to produce her ninth studio album,American Life—a reflection of her views on American society. The record, released on April 21, 2003, was met with mixed reception and debuted atop the USBillboard 200.[210][211][212] By 2005, it had become her lowest-selling release, with worldwide sales of four million copies.[213] Itstitle track was its only song to enter theBillboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 37.[211]
The original music video of "American Life" caused controversy due to its violence andanti-war imagery, and was withdrawn after the2003 invasion of Iraq started. Madonna voluntarily censored herself due to the political climate of the country.[214] She kissed singersBritney Spears andChristina Aguilera while performing "Hollywood" in a highly publicized at the2003 MTV Video Music Awards.[215][216] She then releasedRemixed & Revisited, anextended play featuring new remixes of songs fromAmerican Life and the unreleased "Your Honesty".[217] Madonna signed a contract withCallaway Arts & Entertainment to write five children's books. The first, titledThe English Roses, was published in September 2003 and tells the story of four English schoolgirls struggling with envy and jealousy. The book became the fastest-selling children's picture book at the time, with all proceeds donated to a children's charity.[218][219]
In March 2004, Madonna and Maverick filed a lawsuit againstWarner Music Group and its former parent company, Time Warner, alleging financial mismanagement and poor accounting practices that resulted in significant losses. Warner countersued, claiming Maverick had incurred substantial losses independently. The dispute was settled when Warner acquired the Maverick shares held by Madonna and Ronnie Dashev, making the company a wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Music. Madonna remained signed to Warner under a separate recording contract.[220][221] She launched theRe-Invention World Tour in May, performing across North America and Europe.[222][223] The tour became 2004's highest-grossing, earning over $120 million, and was later chronicled in her documentaryI'm Going to Tell You a Secret (2005).[224] In November 2004, she was inducted into theUK Music Hall of Fame as one of its five founding members.[225]
While touring, Madonna founded the charitable organizationRaising Malawi and helped fund an orphanage in the country.[237] There, she decided to adopt a boy named David Banda in 2006. The adoption provoked public debate, as Malawian law required prospective parents to reside in the country for one year before adopting, a condition Madonna did not meet.[238][239] Malawi's Minister of Women and Child Development,Kate Kainja, had also blocked officials from traveling to meet Madonna and Ritchie as potential adopters.[240] Speaking onThe Oprah Winfrey Show, Madonna explained that Malawi had no formal adoption laws for foreigners and described how Banda had been suffering frompneumonia after survivingmalaria andtuberculosis.[241][242] Banda's father, Yohane, defended the adoption, saying he understood and supported the arrangement. The adoption was finalized in May 2008.[243][244]
2007–2011: Filmmaking,Hard Candy, and business ventures
In July 2007, Madonna released and performed the song "Hey You" at the LondonLive Earth concert.[245] She subsequently announced her departure from Warner Bros. Records and signed a ten-year, $120 million360 deal withLive Nation.[246] She produced and wroteI Am Because We Are (2008), a documentary directed by Nathan Rissman that addressed social issues in Malawi.[247] That same year, she directed her first feature film,Filth and Wisdom, which follows three friends pursuing their ambitions.[248] Reviews were largely negative,[249] withThe Times describing it as a commendable debut andThe Daily Telegraph calling it a promising but imperfect first effort.[250][251] On March 10, 2008, Madonna was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame during her first year of eligibility.[252] She did not perform at the ceremony but invitedthe Stooges to perform her songs "Burning Up" and "Ray of Light".[253]
Madonna worked withJustin Timberlake,Timbaland, andPharrell Williams to produce her eleventh studio album,Hard Candy.[254] Released on April 29, 2008,[255]Hard Candy debuted atop the charts of 37 countries, including the USBillboard 200.[256][257] The lead single, "4 Minutes", peaked at number three on theBillboard Hot 100, becoming her thirty-seventh top-ten entry in the US and surpassingElvis Presley's record for the most top-ten songs.[258] In the UK, "4 Minutes" extended her record as the female artist with the most number-one singles.[259]Rolling Stone's Caryn Ganz describedHard Candy as "an impressive preview of her upcoming tour",[260] whileBBC correspondent Mark Savage criticized it as "an attempt to capture the urban market".[261] She launched theSticky & Sweet Tour in August 2008, her first major venture with Live Nation. Grossing over $408 million, it became the secondhighest-grossing tour of all time and the highest-grossing tour by a solo artist.[262][263]
In July 2008, Madonna's brother Christopher published the bookLife with My Sister Madonna, which created a rift between the two due to its unauthorized release.[264] In October, Madonna filed for divorce from Ritchie, citingirreconcilable differences.[265] Two months later, her spokesperson confirmed that a settlement had been reached, granting Ritchie between£50–60 million ($68.49–82.19 million), including the couple'sLondon pub, residence, andWiltshire estate.[266] The marriage was formally dissolved through adecree nisi at the Principal Registry of the Family Division inHigh Holborn, London. Custody of their sons, Rocco and David, then aged eight and three, was shared between Ritchie's London home and Madonna's residence in New York, where they lived alongside Lourdes.[267][268] In May 2009, Madonna applied to adopt Chifundo "Mercy" James from Malawi, but the country's High Court denied the request on the grounds that she was not a resident.[269] She appealed the decision, and in June, the Supreme Court overturned the ruling and granted her permission to adopt her.[270]
Madonna concluded her contract with Warner Records with the release of her third greatest-hits album,Celebration, in September 2009. The compilation included two new tracks, along with thirty-four songs spanning her career with the label.[271] The album reached number one in multiple countries, including Canada, Germany, Italy, and the UK.[272] She appeared at the2009 MTV Video Music Awards to deliver a tribute to the deceased pop artistMichael Jackson.[273] By the end of the decade, Madonna was recognized as the best-selling solo artist of the 2000s in the US and the most-played artist of the decade in the UK.[274][275]Billboard ranked her as the third highest-grossing touring artist of the 2000s, with earnings exceeding $801 million, over 6.3 million attendees, and 244 sold-out performances out of 248 shows.[276] In January 2010, Madonna performed atHope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief concert.[277]
Madonna's third live album,Sticky & Sweet Tour, was released in April 2010, debuting at number ten in the US.[278] That year, she authorized the television seriesGlee to feature her entire music catalog, leading toan episode composed exclusively of her songs.[279] She also collaborated with her daughter Lourdes to launch theMaterial Girl clothing line, inspired by her 1980spunk-inspired fashion.[280] In October 2010, she founded the global fitness chainHard Candy Fitness, and in November 2011 introduced a second lifestyle brand,Truth or Dare, offering footwear, fragrances, lingerie, and accessories.[281][282] Her second directorial feature wasW.E. (2011), a biographical drama about the relationship betweenKing Edward VIII andWallis Simpson.[283] The film received unfavorable critical and commercial response.[284]Its soundtrack included theballad "Masterpiece", which earned Madonna a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.[285]
2012–2016: Super Bowl XLVI halftime show,MDNA, andRebel Heart
In February 2012, Madonna headlined theSuper Bowl XLVI halftime show atLucas Oil Stadium inIndianapolis, Indiana.[286] Produced in collaboration withCirque du Soleil and choreographerJamie King, the performance featured guest appearances byLMFAO,Nicki Minaj,M.I.A. andCeeLo Green. The broadcast drew 114 million viewers, making it the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show at the time, surpassing the viewership of the game itself.[287][288] Madonna primarily produced her twelfth studio album,MDNA, with Orbit andMartin Solveig.[289] It was released on March 26, 2012, to generally favorable critical reception.[290][291]MDNA was Madonna's first release under a three-album agreement withInterscope Records, signed as part of her 360 deal with Live Nation, which could not distribute recorded music.[292][293]
MDNA became her fifth consecutive studio album to debut at number one on theBillboard 200.[294] "Give Me All Your Luvin'" was released as album's lead single, and became her record-extending thirty-eighth top-ten single on theBillboard Hot 100.[295] She promoted the album withthe MDNA Tour, which began in May 2012 and addressed themes such as violence, human rights, and politics. Grossing over $305 million from 88 sold-out shows, it was the highest-earning tour of 2012 and was one of the most profitable concert tours at the time.[296][297][298] Madonna collaborated with Steven Klein and directed a seventeen-minute film,secretprojectrevolution, which was released onBitTorrent in September 2013.[299] With the film, she launched the Art for Freedom initiative, which promotes art and free speech to combat global persecution and injustice. The project's website garnered over 3,000 submissions by January 2014, with Madonna frequently overseeing it and recruiting guest curators likeDavid Blaine andKaty Perry.[300]
By 2013, Madonna's Raising Malawi had built ten schools educating 4,000 children in Malawi at a value of $400,000.[301] During her April visit, presidentJoyce Banda accused her of exaggerating contributions, prompting Madonna's saddened rebuttal that she would not be distracted by the "ridiculous allegations", later revealed to be unapproved by Banda herself.[302][303] In May 2014, she donated to herbankrupt hometown of Detroit, and that year launched herMDNA Skin care line in Tokyo.[304][305] Madonna released her thirteenth studio album,Rebel Heart, on March 10, 2015, three months after thirteen demos leaked online.[306] She collaborated with a large range of producers, includingAvicii,Diplo, andKanye West.[307][308] She explored introspection on the record, along with "genuine statements of personal and careerist reflection".[309]
Madonna explained toJon Pareles ofThe New York Times that, although she has never looked back at her past endeavors, revisiting it felt appropriate forRebel Heart.[310] Music critics responded positively towards the album, calling it her best effort in a decade.[311] Madonna began herRebel Heart Tour in September 2015, which visited North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and grossed $169.8 million from the 82 shows.[312][313][314] While touring, Madonna became involved in a legal dispute with Ritchie regarding custody of their son Rocco. The conflict arose when Rocco chose to remain in England with Ritchie rather than continue traveling with Madonna. Court proceedings were held in both New York and London, but after several hearings, Madonna withdrew her custody application and opted to settle the matter privately.[315]
In October 2016,Billboard named Madonna itsWoman of the Year. Her candid and outspoken speech addressingageism andsexism garnered extensive media attention.[316][317] The following month, she performed an impromptu acoustic concert atWashington Square Park in support ofHillary Clinton's2016 presidential campaign.[318] AfterDonald Trump's election victory, Madonna delivered a speech at the2017 Women's March on Washington, where a remark about "blowing up the White House" drew controversy.[319][320] She later clarified that her comments had been taken out of context and emphasized that she was not advocating violence.[321]
2017–2021: Move to Lisbon andMadame X
In February 2017, Madonna adopted four-year-old twin sisters, Estere and Stella, from Malawi, and relocated toLisbon, Portugal, later that year with her children.[322][323] That July, she inaugurated theMercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care in Malawi, a hospital established by her Raising Malawi foundation.[324] Her live albumRebel Heart Tour was released in September 2017 and won Best Music Video for Western Artists at the 32ndJapan Gold Disc Awards.[325][326] That same month, she launched her skincare brand MDNA Skin in selected US stores.[327] Earlier in the year, the auction house Gotta Have Rock and Roll attempted to sell Madonna's personal items, including letters from Tupac Shakur and other belongings. Although she sought legal action to halt the sale, the court ruled in favor of art dealer Darlene Lutz due to a 2004 agreement authorizing the sale of the items.[328]
While residing in Lisbon, Madonna met Portuguese musicianDino D'Santiago, who introduced her to local artists performingfado,morna, andsamba music. She frequently attended their informal "living room sessions", which inspired her fourteenth studio album,Madame X.[329] The album was released on June 14, 2019, and Madonna produced it with various musicians, primarily her longtime collaborator Mirwais andMike Dean.[330][331]Madame X debuted at number one on theBillboard 200, her ninth to do so.[332] Its four singles—"Medellín", "Crave", "I Rise" and "I Don't Search I Find"—each reached number one on theBillboard Dance Club Songs chart, further extending her record for the most chart-topping entries.[333]
Madonna appeared as the interval act at theEurovision Song Contest 2019 and performed "Like a Prayer", and then "Future" with rapperQuavo.[334] HerMadame X Tour, an all-theater concert series held in select cities across North America and Europe, began in September 2019 and grossed over $51.4million in revenue.[335][336] That December, Madonna began a relationship with dancer Ahlamalik Williams, who had previously joined her Rebel Heart Tour in 2015.[337] The tour later faced multiple cancellations due to Madonna's recurring knee injury and concluded prematurely on March 8, 2020, after the French government prohibited large gatherings because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[338][339] Later that month, she drew criticism for posting a now-deleted video onInstagram andTwitter that was regarded as insensitive.[340][341]
2022–present:Finally Enough Love and the Celebration Tour
In August 2021, coinciding with her 63rd birthday, Madonna announced her return toWarner Records—the rebranded successor to Warner Bros. Records—in a global partnership granting the label rights to her entire recorded music catalog, including her three most recent albums originally released under Interscope. As part of the agreement, she began a series of catalog reissues in 2022 to mark the fortieth anniversary of her recording career. The remix albumFinally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones was released in August, following a 16-track abridged edition made available for streaming two months prior.[350] Featuring her 50 number-one songs onBillboard's Dance Club Songs chart, the album celebrated Madonna's long-standing connection to dance music and became her 23rd top-ten entry on theBillboard 200.[351][352]
Between 2022 and 2023, Madonna issued several standalone singles, including "Back That Up to the Beat", a previously unreleased demo from theRebel Heart sessions that went viral on social media.[353][354] She also contributed to three tracks onChristine and the Queens' albumParanoïa, Angels, True Love (2023), and collaborated withthe Weeknd andPlayboi Carti on the single "Popular", featured on the soundtrack to the television dramaThe Idol.[355][356] In January 2023, Madonna announcedthe Celebration Tour, her first greatest hits concert tour.[357] The tour was to begin in July, but a month prior, she was hospitalized after being found unresponsive at her New York City residence.[357][358] She spent five days in intensive care, and later disclosed being placed in a medically induced coma for 48 hours due to a serious bacterial infection following a low-grade fever.[359][360]
The Celebration Tour commenced in October 2023 in London, receiving widespread critical acclaim.[361][362][363] It concluded the following May with a free concert onCopacabana Beach inRio de Janeiro, which drew an audience of 1.6 million—setting records for both thelargest standalone concert in history and the highest attendance ever for a female artist.[364][365] The tour grossed over $225million across eighty shows, making Madonna the first woman to surpass $100million in earnings from six separate concert tours.[366] Around this time, Madonna experienced the deaths of several family members, beginning with that of her eldest brother, Anthony, in February 2023.[367] Her younger brother, Christopher, died in October 2024, two weeks after that of their stepmother, Joan.[368]
In July 2024, Madonna resumed development on the biopic but later expressed frustration with producers who urged her to downscale the project. She began considering adapting it into a television series instead.[369][370] Around the same time, Madonna began refocusing on music, collaborating with Price. In December 2024, she described the creative process as "medicine for my soul" and said that songwriting allows for full artistic freedom without having to "ask anyone for their permission".[371] In February 2025, she confirmed that she was working on a follow-up toConfessions on a Dance Floor (2005), also produced by Price, scheduled for release in 2026 through Warner Records.[372][373] That May,Deadline Hollywood reported that Madonna had partnered with Netflix and producerShawn Levy to develop a separate television series based on her life.[374]
Throughout 2025, she released the remix album,Veronica Electronica, which included original versions of songs unreleased from theRay of Light era,[375] and the extended play,Bedtime Stories: The Untold Chapter, which commemorated the 30th anniversary of the parent album,Bedtime Stories (1994).[376] In January 2026, Madonna was announced as the new face of the One, aDolce & Gabbana fragrance. She coveredPatty Pravo's 1968 single "La bambola" as part of the campaign, which included a short film and photographs.[377][378]
Artistry
Musical style and composition
[Madonna] is a brilliant pop melodist and lyricist. I was knocked out by the quality of the writing [duringRay of Light sessions]... I know she grew up onJoni Mitchell andMotown, and to my ears she embodies the best of both worlds. She is a wonderful confessional songwriter, as well as being a superb hit chorus pop writer.
Madonna's work has been the subject of critical analysis and debate.Robert M. Grant, author ofContemporary Strategy Analysis (2005), observed that her musical career is a continual process of experimentation with new sounds and images.[380] InPop Goes the Decade: The Eighties, Thomas Harrison described her as "an artist who pushed the boundaries" of what a female performer could achieve, both visually and lyrically.[381] Professor Santiago Fouz-Hernández observed that, while not possessing a particularly powerful or wide-ranging voice, Madonna expanded her artistic range through diverse musical, lyrical, and visual styles, "all with the intention of presenting herself as a mature musician".[382]
Rolling Stone included Madonna at number thirty-six on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" (2004).[383] She has managed all aspects of her career; she writes and produces most of her recordings.[384][385] Her desire for control in creative decisions was evident as early as her debut album, during which she reportedly disagreed with producer Reggie Lucas over the final mixes. Warner Bros. Records later allowed her to produce her third studio album independently.[386][387] According to Stan Hawkins, author ofSettling the Pop Score, Madonna is among the few female artists to have entered the male-dominated space of music production, saying that she is aware of the historical exclusion of women and actively "has set out to change this".[388] Producer Stuart Price similarly remarked that "you don't produce Madonna, you collaborate with her[...] she has her vision and knows how to get it".[389] Although often described as a "control freak", Madonna has stated that she values creative input from those she works with.[390] She further explained:[391]
I like to have control over most of the things in my career but I'm not atyrant. I don't have to have it on my album that it's written, arranged, produced, directed, and stars Madonna. To me, to have total control means you can lose objectivity. What I like is to be surrounded by really talented, intelligent people that you can trust. And ask them for their advice and get their input.
Madonna developed her early songwriting skills while performing with the Breakfast Club in 1979, and was the sole writer of five tracks on her debut studio album.[392][393][394] As a songwriter, Madonna has registered more than 300 works with theAmerican Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, including 18 written entirely by herself.[395]Rolling Stone deemed her "an exemplary songwriter with a gift forhooks and indelible lyrics",[396] and said that her compositions, though shaped by collaborations with producers across various genres, are consistently shaped by "her own sensibility and inflected with autobiographical detail".[397] Patrick Leonard, who co-wrote many of her songs, lauded her grasp ofmelodic structure and said that "many times she's singing notes that no one would've thought of but her".[398]Spin's Barry Walters similarly credited her songwriting for the consistency of her music.[399] Madonna was nominated forinduction into theSongwriters Hall of Fame in 2014,[400] 2016,[401] and 2017,[402] and was ranked number fifty-six onRolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time" (2015).[397]
Madonna wrote all the lyrics and partial melodies of "Live to Tell", anadult contemporary ballad, which was noted as her first musical reinvention.[403]
Madonna's discography is often categorized as pop,[405]electronica,[406][407] and dance.[408] Her earliest work began with rock-oriented projects through the bands Breakfast Club and Emmy.[409] With the latter, she recorded tracks that reflected thepunk rock style of the early 1980s.[410] She left rock before signing with Gotham Records, which dropped her because of their dissatisfaction with her shift tofunk.[411] In his bookAmerican Pop,Arie Kaplan referred to Madonna as "a pioneer" ofdance-pop.[412] Fouz-Hernández further observed that Madonna's consistent use of dance idioms and her connection with gay and sexually liberated audiences have often been undervalued in contrast to the perceived authenticity ofrock and roll, noting that her music "refuses to be defined by narrow boundaries of gender, sexuality, or genre".[382]
The "cold and emotional" ballad "Live to Tell" and its parent albumTrue Blue (1986) are regarded as Madonna's first significant musical reinvention.[413][414]PopMatters critic Peter Piatkowski described the song as a "deliberate effort to present Madonna as a mature and serious artist".[413] Although she continued to record ballads alongside her more upbeat material, some of her albums, such asMadonna (1983) andConfessions on a Dance Floor (2005), are composed entirely of dance tracks.[57][415][416] WithRay of Light (1998), critics credited her with popularizing electronica and integrating it into mainstream pop music.[417][418] Her other stylistic departures include 1930sbig-bandjazz onI'm Breathless (1990);[419] smoothR&B arrangements onBedtime Stories (1994);[420]operaticshow tunes onEvita (1996);[421]guitar-basedfolk music onAmerican Life (2003);[422] and multilingualworld music influences onMadame X (2019).[423]
Influences
From left to right: Madonna has been inspired by film stars such asMarilyn Monroe (pictured in 1953), artists such asFrida Kahlo (1926), and musicians likeDavid Bowie (1990).
Historians, musicians, and anthropologists trace her influences—from African American gospel music to Japanese fashion, Middle Eastern spirituality to feminist art history—and the ways she borrows, adapts, and interprets them.
Madonna also drew inspiration from thevisual arts, particularly from Mexican painterFrida Kahlo.[443] The music video for "Bedtime Story" (1995) incorporated imagery influenced by the works of Kahlo andRemedios Varo.[444] A collector ofTamara de Lempicka'sArt Deco paintings, Madonna has featured them throughout her music videos and stage productions.[445][446] Her video for "Hollywood" (2003) paid tribute to the photography ofGuy Bourdin, though it later prompted a lawsuit filed by Bourdin's son over the unauthorized use of his father's images.[447] Thesadomasochistic motifs inpop artistAndy Warhol'sunderground films were echoed in the videos for "Erotica" and "Deeper and Deeper".[448]
Madonna's Catholic upbringing has remained a consistent influence throughout her career, from her use of therosary as a fashion piece to the her musical inputs, including albums such asLike a Prayer (1989).[449] During 2011, she attended meetings and services at anOpus Dei center, a Catholic institution that promotes sanctity through daily life.[450] Her study of Kabbalah has also influenced her creatively, prominently on the albumRay of Light (1998).[451] In a 2015 interview withRolling Stone, Madonna remarked that she has always felt an "inexplicable connection" to Catholicism and stated that it consistently manifests throughout her work.[452]
Madonna possesses amezzo-sopranovocal range and is self-conscious about her singing voice.[454][455]Mark Bego, author ofMadonna: Blonde Ambition, described her as "the perfect vocalist for lighter-than-air songs" despite not being a "heavyweight talent".[456] According to Tony Sclafani ofMSNBC, her vocal delivery reflects her "rock roots", explaining that, unlike most pop singers who perform songs "straight", Madonna incorporates subtext,irony, aggression, and other vocal idiosyncrasies similar to that of John Lennon andBob Dylan.[409] In her early recordings, Madonna employed a bright, girlish timbre that she later tried to abandon after critics compared her voice to "Minnie Mouse onhelium".[457] While filmingEvita (1996), she took vocal training, which expanded her range. Of the experience, she said, "I studied with a vocal coach forEvita and realized there was a whole piece of my voice I wasn't using. Before, I just believed I had a really limited range and was going to make the most of it."[404]
Madonna plays several musical instruments. She first learned to play the piano as a child.[458] During the late 1970s, she was taught drums and guitar by her then-boyfriendDan Gilroy, later joining his band, the Breakfast Club, as a drummer.[459] Madonna then performed guitar with the group Emmy.[460] After her commercial breakthrough, she rarely performed instruments publicly, though she was credited with playing thecowbell onMadonna (1983) and thesynthesizer onLike a Prayer (1989).[385] In 1999, she undertook three months ofviolin training to prepare for a role as a violin teacher in the filmMusic of the Heart (1999), but withdrew from the project before filming.[461] She returned to performing with the guitar during promotion forMusic (2000) with guidance from guitaristMonte Pittman to improve her technique.[462] Since then, Madonna has featured guitar performances into her studio recordings and concert tours.[385][463] She was nominated for the Les Paul Horizon Award at the 2002Orville H. Gibson Guitar Awards.[464]
InThe Madonna Companion, biographers Allen Metz and Carol Benson observed that Madonna used MTV and themusic video to leverage her popularity and enhance her recordings more effectively than any other contemporary pop artist. They noticed that many of her songs are closely tied to the imagery of their accompanying videos.[465] Cultural criticMark C. Taylor described thepostmodern art formpar excellence as the music video, declaring Madonna its "reigning queen" in his bookNots (1993).[466] He argued that "the most remarkable creation of MTV is Madonna", and that public reactions to her provocative videos were "predictably contradictory".[466] Metz and Benson said that critical and public discussions surrounding some of her most controversial songs have often focused more on their videos and cultural impact than on the songs themselves.[465] According to Morton, "artistically, Madonna's songwriting is often overshadowed by her striking pop videos".[467] Madonna was ranked as the greatest music video artist of all time by MTV in 2003 andBillboard in 2020.[468][469]
Madonna's live performances vary from choreographed routines such asvoguing (above) to stripped-down ones with only aukulele (below).
Madonna's early music videos fused American and Hispanicstreet style with flamboyant glamor. Through the visuals, she introduced her avant-gardeDowntown Manhattan fashion sensibility to an American audience.[470] The recurring use of Hispanic cultural motifs and Catholic symbolism continued into theTrue Blue era.[471] According to authorDouglas Kellner, Madonna's embrace of "multiculturalism" and her "culturally transgressive moves" proved to be effective in appealing to a wide range of young audiences.[472] Scholars have noted that through her visual narratives, Madonna often subverted traditional gender norms by symbolically reversing male dominance.[473] Her use of religious and racial imagery was prominent in the music video for "Like a Prayer", which depicted scenes of an African-American church choir, Madonna's attraction to a black saint statue, and her performance before burning crosses.[474]
Madonna's acting has often been met with negative reviews from film critics.[475] BiographerAndrew Morton said that although Madonna publicly dismissed the criticism, privately she was deeply affected by it.[476] Following the critical and commercial failure ofSwept Away (2002), she vowed never to act in another film.[477] In a retrospective of her screen career titledBody of Work (2016) at New York'sMetrograph,The Guardian's Nigel M. Smith argued that Madonna's struggles in film was largely due to the lack of quality roles available to her, stating that she could "steal a scene for all the right reasons".[478] Her concert tours often re-create her music videos; author Elin Diamond said that the ability to reproduce scenes from Madonna's videos in a live setting enhances the realism of the videos, arguing that "her live performances have become the means by which mediatized representations are naturalized".[479]
According to Taraborrelli, Madonna's concerts, which feature multimedia elements, advanced technology, and elaborate sound design, function as "extravagant show piece[s]" and "walking art show[s]".[480] Chris Nelson ofThe New York Times observed that artists like Madonna redefined standards of live performance with concerts "that included not only elaborate costumes and precision-timedpyrotechnics but also highly athletic dancing"—often at the expense of live vocals.[481] A writer for theOrlando Sentinel said that she later restructured her stage shows to balance choreography and live singing by remaining stationary during vocally demanding sections while delegating more complex dance sequences to her backup performers.[482] To support simultaneous singing and movement, Madonna began using a hands-free radio-frequencyheadset microphone, secured over the head or ears with a boom extending to the mouth.[483]
Madonna has profoundly influencedpopular music, with critics and scholars referring to her as "Queen of Pop".[485] Her legacy transcends music and is a subject of analysis amongsociologists, historians, and other scholars, giving rise toMadonna studies, a subfield of Americancultural studies.[486] According toRodrigo Fresán, describing Madonna merely as a pop star "is as inappropriate as saying thatCoca-Cola is just asoda", deeming her a symbol ofMade in USA.[487] The Spanish edition ofRolling Stone wrote that Madonna became "the first master ofviral pop in history", achieving omnipresence across television, radio, magazines, and bookstores, an unparalleled pop dynamic not seen sincethe Beatles.[488]The Daily Telegraph remarked that Madonna "changed the world's social history",[489] with scholar Diane Pecknold noticing that "nearly every poll of the greatest or most influential figures in popular culture includes Madonna".[490] Critics often regard Madonna as one of the greatest figures in popular music.[491]
Spin wrote that the title "Queen of Pop" scarcely captures Madonna's impact, stating that "she is Pop" and that she established the blueprint for what a modern pop star should be.[492] Madonna became the first artist to be named the "Greatest Pop Star" of the year twice byBillboard (1985 and 1989).[493] According to Sclafani, before Madonna, "most music mega-stars were guy rockers; after her, almost all would be female singers[...] When the Beatles hit America, they changed the paradigm of performer from solo act to band. Madonna changed it back—with an emphasis on the female."[494] Many female artists into the 21st century—including Britney Spears,Beyoncé,Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga—have cited Madonna's as an influence on their careers.[495] Madonna has also influenced male artists, inspiring rock frontmenLiam Gallagher ofOasis andChester Bennington ofLinkin Park to become musicians.[496][497]
Madonna's use of sexual imagery has ignited widespread discussions regarding sexuality andfeminism.[498] Media scholarJohn Fiske remarked that the empowerment Madonna conveys is closely tied to the gratification of asserting control over self-definition, sexuality, and social dynamics.[499] As discussed inDoing Gender in Media, Art and Culture (2009), Madonna's status as a female celebrity, performer, andpop icon continues to challenge and reinterpret established feminist discourses.[500] According to lesbian feministSheila Jeffreys, Madonna embodies whatMonique Wittig terms "the category of sex" as a site of power, while deliberately embracing the performance of women's assigned sexual labor.[501] Similarly, communication scholar Sut Jhally has described her as "an almost sacred feminist icon".[502]
WriterMatt Cain observed that Madonna helped break social barriers and elevatedmarginalized groups by prominently incorporatingLGBTQ,Latino, andBlack culture into her artistic works.[503][504][505] One author remarked that "by making culture generally available, Madonna becomes the culture of all social classes".[506] Canadian scholarKarlene Faith similarly said that Madonna's peculiarity lies in her ability to "move freely across diverse cultural terrains", describing her as a "cult figure" within multiple self-sustaining subcultures even as she achieved mainstream success.[507]GLAAD presidentSarah Kate Ellis has affirmed that Madonna "always has and always will be the LGBTQ community's greatestally",[508] whileThe Advocate characterized her as "the greatest gay icon".[509]
Madonna has been praised as arole model for businesswomen, having "achieved the kind of financial control that women had long fought for within the industry", and amassing over $1.2billion in sales during the first decade of her career.[510] According to Gini Gorlinski inThe 100 Most Influential Musicians of All Time (2010), Madonna's authority and autonomy within the entertainment industry were unprecedented for a woman at the time.[511] Scholars at theLondon Business School described her as a "dynamic entrepreneur" whose success model is worth emulating, identifying her vision of success, understanding of the music industry, ability to recognize her own performance limits, work ethic, and adaptability as the basis for her commercial achievements.[512] Morton called the singer "opportunistic, manipulative, and ruthless—someone who will not stop until she achieves her goals", though he added that such single-minded determination often came at the cost of personal relationships.[513]
Madonna has been criticized from social, moral and political perspectives.[514][515] Social criticStuart Sim described her as a cultural icon whose status is "extremely problematic".[516] Scholars have challenged her use of racialized and minority cultures and argue that her privileged position does little to aid the communities whose imagery she adopts.[517][518] Madonna has been linked to terms like "Madonna-economy" and "Madonnization", shorthand forhomogenizing American mass culture similar toMcDonaldization andCocacolonization.[519][520] Internationally, political and religious commentators have sometimes cast her as a symbol of Westerncultural hegemony or "cultural terrorism", associating her withAmericanization and the erosion of local traditions.[521][522] Conservative groups, parental organizations and some philosophers have further criticized her as emblematic of mass culture's corrupting influence on youth, fuelingmoral panics over sexuality, religion and the commercialization of popular music.[523][524]
^Madonna has more number-one singles than any other act in Canadian music history, with 18 singles during theRPM era, 2 singles during theCanadian Hot 100 era, and 4 singles between 2000 and 2007 on theCanadian Singles Chart.[563][564]
^Lindores, Mark (February 26, 2015)."Classic Album: Madonna –Madonna".Classic Pop. Archived fromthe original on March 24, 2023. RetrievedJune 14, 2024.Madonna's eponymous debut album was released on 27 July 1983 to largely positive reviews
^Grein, Paul (February 7, 1987)."Chart Beat"(PDF).Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 6. p. 6.Archived(PDF) from the original on December 30, 2023. RetrievedDecember 29, 2023.
^Hé, Kristen (March 24, 2020)."Madonna in 2000: Reinventing PopMusic".Billboard.Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. RetrievedApril 3, 2025.Music found broad critical acclaim upon its release, and was even voted number 452 on Rolling Stone's original Greatest Albums of All Time list.
2007:"The Top-Earning Musicians".Forbes. September 19, 2007. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. RetrievedJuly 28, 2022.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"Чарт продаж. Россия 39-2009" (in Russian). National Federation of Phonogram Producers (NFPF). September 30, 2009. Archived fromthe original on December 18, 2009. RetrievedDecember 26, 2024.
Aguilar Guzmán, Marcela (2010).Domadores de historias. Conversaciones con grandes cronistas de América Latina (in Spanish). RIL Editores.ISBN978-956-284-782-7.
Berleur, J.; Beardon, Colin; Laufer, Romain (1993).Facing the Challenge of Risk and Vulnerablity in an Information Society.Elsevier.ISBN978-0-444-89878-4.
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