The Untold Story of Controversial Pop-Legend, Madonna
Madonna is an American singer, actress, and songwriter. She is referred to as the Queen of Pop and is regarded as one of the most influential figures in pop culture as she tested boundaries and rubbed many people the wrong way. She has been in the music and film industry for more than forty years and isn't slowing down any time soon.
Madonna's Childhood
Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone was born in 1958 in Bay City, Michigan. Her parents are Silvio "Tony" Ciccone, the son of Italian immigrants and a defense engineer, and Madonna Fortin, of French Canadian descent and an x-ray technician and former dancer.
Madonna was the third of six children, her parents were strict Catholics, and her mother died when she was five years old. Her father remarried the family's housekeeper, and Madonna rebelled. Her mother's young death significantly affected Madonna's adolescence.
Madonna's Mother Died When She Was 5
When Madonna was five years old, her mother passed away from breast cancer. She was very close with her mother, and her mother dying when she was so young changed her as a person. She has stated that some of her lack of inhibition came from her mother's death, and it also caused her to rebel in her younger years.
Her deep feelings when it comes to her mother have been evident throughout her career, in her music. Madonna resented her father for getting remarried, and that strained their relationship for many years afterward.
Madonna & Dancing
Madonna was a disciplined dancer in high school and went on to the University of Michigan on a full scholarship to their dance program. While she was doing her undergraduate studies, Madonna was awarded a six-week scholarship to study with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City and then an opportunity to perform with choreographer Pearl Lang.
Madonna dropped out of college and moved to New York City to pursue dancing. When she started dating Dan Gilroy and was a part of the Breakfast Club, she fell in love with singing and dancing and changed courses. Madonna started her career as a backup dancer for other established artists.
Madonna & The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club was a musical group formed in New York City in 1979 and went through several line-ups. Madonna started with the Breakfast Club by playing the drums, and she dated the lead singer Dan Gilroy for awhile.
Madonna was allowed to sing some lead vocal, but eventually, she left to form a new band, Emmy and the Emmy's. This was all during Madonna's pre-fame struggling years when she first moved to New York City.
Madonna on "American Bandstand"
Madonna made her North American network television debut on American Bandstand, where she performed "Holiday." Dick Clark asked Madonna what she hoped would happen the rest of her professional life; she answered that she wanted to rule the world.
She also told Clark that she was not scared to tour independently because she has always had a lot of confidence in herself. She danced while she performed, and the audience went crazy after her performance.
Madonna Performs "Like a Virgin" at the First VMAs
Madonna's Performance at the 1984 VMAs was shocking to most, especially because she was still a relatively unknown musician at the time. She performed in a giant wedding dress and had some very provocative moves, including rolling around on the floor. The performance actually didn't go as planned because when she stepped down off the giant cake and one of her stilettos came loose.
She said she just pretended like she meant to do it, so she rolled around on the floor, reached for the shoe, and the dress went up, showing her underpants. Her manager was furious with her performance and told her that she ruined her career. Of course, she did just the opposite and became a superstar.
Madonna's First Rolling Stone Cover
Madonna made her very first appearance on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine on November 22, 1984. She was on the cover for her success of "Like A Virgin," which was Madonna's first number one hit song, and it remained at number one for six weeks.
Madonna achieved the most Rolling Stone covers of any female between 1984 and 2009. Madonna's photo on the cover was taken by Steven Meisel, and the headline said, Madonna, Goes All The Way.
"Material Girl" Video
Madonna's music video "Material Girl" was shot in 1985 in Hollywood, California. Madonna is mimicking Marilyn Monroe's performance of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend." The music video was ranked number fifty-four on VH1's 100 Greatest Videos and was nominated for best female video at the MTV Video Music Awards.
"Material Girl" was the second single from Madonna's album Like A Virgin and reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also reached the top-five in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Japan, and United Kingdom.
Madonna in "Desperately Seeking Susan"
Madonna starred in the film Desperately Seeking Susan in 1985. The movie involves the interaction between two women, a bored housewife, and a bohemian drifter; Madonna plays Susan Thomas. This film was Madonna's first major screen role and was filmed early in Madonna's rise to popularity.
Madonna received positive reviews for her portrayal of Susan, and her song "Into the Groove" was included in the film's soundtrack. The film brought in $27.3 million in the box office and was ranked at 83% on Rotten Tomatoes.
"Like A Virgin Tour"
Like A Virgin Tour was Madonna's debut concert tour, and she performed songs from her first two studio albums, Madonna and Like A Virgin. The tour was in the United States and Canada with the Beastie Boys as the opening act. It received a mixed reception from critics but ultimately was a commercial success and her tour merchandise started flying off the shelves.
The tour grossed over $5 million and was recorded and released on VHS. The madness surrounding Madonna gave rise to the new term called 'Madonna wannabe', which became an official word in the Webster Dictionary in 1991.
Madonna on Penthouse and Playboy Covers
Madonna appeared in Penthouse Magazine and Playboy Magazine in 1985 without her consent. The nude pictures that were used in both magazines were from 1978 when Madonna was twenty years old and an aspiring singer.
She freelanced as a photographer's model for $30-$50 a session. Madonna couldn't stop the publication, but she did put out a statement that she wasn't ashamed. Penthouse and Playboy were at war trying to be the first to release the nude Madonna pictures.
Madonna Marries Sean Penn
After just six months together, Sean Penn and Madonna were married in August 1985. They starred in a movie together, she dedicated her True Blue album to him, and things seemed perfect. Behind closed doors, their marriage was rife with accusations of infidelity, domestic violence, and general discord. Sean had a major jealous streak and attacked songwriter David Wolinski because he thought he was kissing Madonna, for which he was fined $1,700 and sentenced to one year of probation.
Madonna filed for divorce in 1987 but withdrew the papers and then filed again in January of 1989. Madonna has insisted that Sean never laid a hand on her and that those accusations were false. They have continued being great friends and have both since said they still love the other one tremendously.
"Papa Don't Preach"
"Papa Don't Preach" was a song released from Madonna's third studio album True Blue and became her fourth number-one hit. The song caused controversy, because of its lyrical content, with women's organizations and others in the family planning field because the song was encouraging teenage pregnancy.
Madonna dedicated the song to Pope John Paul II, who then urged Italian fans to boycott her concerts during her Who's The Girl World Tour. The song stayed on the charts for eighteen weeks, and in 1998 the single was certified gold amid the controversy surrounding it.
Madonna's First Letterman Appearance
In 1988, Madonna made her first appearance on Letterman alongside Sandra Bernhard. The two were in matching denim shorts and white T-shirts and flirted with David Letterman fairly outrageously; Letterman flirted with them as well.
They described to Letterman what a typical night out together looked like, and they jokingly implied that they were in a romantic relationship. When David wanted to cut to a commercial break, they both flailed their arms around, aggravated that their appearance had to come to a close.
"Like a Prayer" Video
The "Like A Prayer" video barely made it to air in 1989 and was met with much criticism. The video opens with Madonna witnessing a young woman's murder, and then an innocent African-American man is incarcerated by the police. Madonna is seen singing in front of burning crosses, inside a church with a children's choir, and having erotic moments with an African-American religious figure.
ET was supposed to premiere the video, but they ran it during the end credits and only used certain portions that weren't as controversial. Many religious groups called for a boycott, and because of the protests and complaints, Pepsi was forced to drop the ad and deal with Madonna.
"Blond Ambition" Tour
The Blond Ambition Tour was Madonna's third concert tour and was for her album Like a Prayer. The tour ran from April 1990 to August 1990, there was a total of fifty-seven shows, and the tour included Madonna's first shows in Sweden and Spain.
The tour was supposed to be sponsored by Pepsi, but they dropped the deal after the "Like a Prayer" video controversy, so the tour was officially announced by Sire Records. The tour was met with much criticism and even boycotting but ultimately was a success, leading to Madonna being named the second most successful solo touring act at the time.
"Justify My Love" Video
Madonna's "Justify My Love" video in 1990 surrounded her with more controversy. The video portrayed Madonna as a woman walking in a hotel hallway, looking distressed and tired, until being seduced into having sex with a mysterious man and woman.
It caused extreme controversy worldwide due to its explicit sexual images. The video made its US television debut in 1990 on ABC during its late-night news program but was banned from MTV and other TV networks. The song and video have remained Madonna's most controversial to date.
Rock the Vote Commercial
Rock the Vote was started in 1990 as a voter mobilization nonprofit to fight artistic censorship and "anti-rock politicians." The initial campaign was deeply weird and featured sexy celebrities, with Madonna being one of those sexy celebrities.
She was featured draped in an American flag next to two models wearing stonewashed denim short shorts. "If you don't vote, you're gonna get a spanking." ----- Madonna. The nonprofit is still as active as ever.
Madonna in "Dick Tracy"
Madonna was part of the film Dick Tracey in 1990, starring as Breathless Mahoney alongside Warren Beatty. According to Premiere Magazine, Madonna initially had waited for Beatty to call her for the film. But when he didn't, she decided to involve herself voluntarily.
Madonna also worked on the soundtrack for the movie, which was recorded within three weeks in California. Madonna's "I'm Breathless: Music from and inspired by the film Dick Tracy" was number two on the Billboard Top 200 Albums.
"Vogue"
"Vogue" was from Madonna's second album, I'm Breathless, and was the album's first single released on March 27, 1990. Reviewers have praised its anthemic nature, and the song remains one of Madonna's biggest international hits, topping the chart in over 30 countries.
It was the world's best-selling single of 1990 and sold over six million copies. The video was ranked as one of the greatest of all time and won three awards at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards.
"Truth or Dare" Documentary
Madonna: Truth or Dare is a 1991 documentary film chronicling Madonna's life during her 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour. Madonna funded the project and was the executive producer, and the film received positive reviews. The documentary grossed $29 million and was the highest-grossing documentary of all time, and impacted reality television and celebrity culture.
However, Madonna was sued by three of her male dancers for showing them in non-performance scenes discussing intimate facts about their personal lives. In 1994, the men reached an out-of-court settlement, and the lawsuit was dismissed.
"A League of Their Own"
Madonna starred in the 1992 film A League of Their Own and played Mae 'All-The-Way-Mae' Mordabito. The film's plot is about keeping baseball going during WWII with women's teams. The movie was directed by Penny Marshall, and the film grossed $107.5 million.
Madonna and Rosie O'Donnell played best pals in the movie and became real-life best friends. O'Donnell shot the cover of Madonna's Drowned World Tour nine years later. Madonna also sang some of the songs on the movie's soundtrack.
Madonna Appears on SNL
In 1992, Madonna made a surprise guest appearance on Saturday Night Live, where she spoofed longtime publicist Liz Rosenberg in the skit "Coffee Talk" alongside Mike Myers and host Roseanne. Mike, Madonna, and Roseanne received the biggest surprise when the subject of their adoration in the skit, Barbra Streisand, made a rare public appearance by coming on set as they were finishing up the sketch.
Madonna and Roseanne, two larger than life superstars, were utterly reduced to fangirls in Barbra's presence. They remained awe struck for the remainder of the sketch. Madonna was a guest on SNL three more times.
Girlie Show Tour Controversy
Madonna went on her Girlie Show Tour in 1993, which took her to Australia and Latin American for the first time. It was an extremely controversial tour due to its high sexually provocative style. Madonna caused chaos in Puerto Rico after she rubbed the Puerto Rican flag between her legs on stage.
She then caused trouble in Israel when Orthodox Jews staged protests to force the cancellation of Madonna's first-ever show in that country; they were unsuccessful as the show was sold out. The tour still grossed over $70 million.
Madonna on Letterman
Madonna's appearance on Letterman in 1994 was probably her most controversial appearance on the show. She swore numerous times, was holding a pair of her own underwear that she even asked Letterman to smell a few times, and she talked freely about her sex life.
She asked Letterman if he had ever smoked marijuana and then refused to leave the stage until finally leaving after three more commercial breaks. She came back on Valentine's Day for a brief appearance and brought Letterman flowers to apologize for her previous appearance.
Madonna & Dennis Rodman Relationship
Madonna and Dennis Rodman dated in 1994 for only two months, but it was highly publicized. Reportedly when the two met, Madonna locked Rodman in her hotel room and said she wasn't letting him out, and Rodman has even reported that Madonna offered to pay him $20 million to impregnate her.
He has also said that he thought they were a perfect match. He downplays their relationship now and says they had a fling and are friends. Madonna has not replied to any of his comments.
Courtney Love Crashed Madonna's VMA Interview
At the 1995 VMAs, Courtney Love crashed Madonna's interview. Madonna was talking about her upcoming work when a makeup compact literally flew over her head. She looked around and saw Courtney Love, who was still throwing compacts. Courtney made her way up to where Madonna was, and Madonna stated that Courtney Love was in dire need of attention right now.
They went back and forth with comments, and then Courtney knelt in front of Madonna and told her that she and Kurt went to see Truth or Dare on a date, and at the end, he stated that Madonna and Courtney are alike. Madonna was then taken away by her people.
Madonna & John F. Kennedy Jr. Relationship
Madonna met John F. Kennedy Jr. at a party after playing a concert at Madison Square Garden, and she began seeing John three years later on the sly. There have been very conflicting reports on how involved they were with each other.
Those closest to Madonna and John knew about them, including Sean Penn, whom she was still legally married to. After their relationship ended, John F. Kennedy Jr. went on to have relationships with other celebrities before he married Carolyn Bessette.
Madonna's Daughter Lourdes is Born
Madonna found out she was pregnant while filming Evita. Lourdes Leon, Lola, was born on October 14, 1996, to Madonna and Carlos Leon, a fitness trainer dating Madonna. Lourdes grew up in the public eye, even going on stage with her mom, and Madonna would frequently bring her daughter to events, most of which were movie premieres.
Lourdes reminds fans of Madonna in her younger years and looks just like a young Madonna. Lourdes has a great relationship with both of her parents and is a fashionista that can often be seen sitting in the front rows of fashion shows and now models for famous designers.
Madonna Wins Golden Globe for "Evita"
In 1997, Madonna won the Golden Globe for Best Actress for her role in Evita, and Evita also won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture. Madonna kept it classic with a long black dress with ample cleavage, a risque' side-split, and long black gloves.
Madonna also won the Golden Globe for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture for "You Must Love Me." Madonna attended the awards with her then-boyfriend, Carlos Leon.
Madonna Signs on "Austin Powers" Soundtrack
"Beautiful Stranger" is a song by Madonna that was released as a single from the film's Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack. Madonna co-wrote and co-produced the song, which tells the tale of a romantic infatuation.
The song appears on two separate Madonna greatest hits collections as well, GHV2 and Celebration. The song received positive feedback, and it reached the top of the charts in Canada, Finland, Iceland, and Italy.
Madonna Marries Guy Ritchie
Madonna and Guy Ritchie were married in 2000 and welcomed son Rocco on August 11, 2000. The couple renewed their marriage vows in 2004, and the following year they adopted Malawian boy David Banda and daughter Mercy in 2006.
In December 2008, the couple confirmed they were divorcing, and they agreed on shared custody of their three children, which divided their time between London and New York. Since their divorce, they haven't been seen together much, and there continue to be some court battles regarding their children.
Madonna & Guy Welcome Son Rocco
Madonna and Guy Ritchie welcomed son Rocco in 2000. Rocco used to perform on stage with his mom and once modeled for Adidas Originals athletic wear. Rocco does not like the limelight and tries to stay under the radar, and has had a rocky relationship with Madonna, even choosing to live with his dad in London.
He loves fashion like his mother, and he is best pals with Brooklyn Beckham, David, and Victoria Beckham's daughter. It is believed that Madonna and Rocco have repaired their relationship.
"What it Feels Like For a Girl" Video
"What it Feels Like For a Girl" was the third and final single from Madonna's album Music. Madonna's then-husband Guy Ritchie directed the video for the song, which was criticized for its depiction of violence and abuse.
MTV and VH1 both said they would show the video once during the news segment, but then it would be completely banned, making this the third video of Madonna's to be banned from MTV. The song received acclaim from most music critics, and it peaked at number twenty-three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
"Swept Away"
Swept Away is a 2002 film written by Madonna's then-husband Guy Ritchie, which stars Madonna as Amber Leighton. The movie was a box office bomb with only grossing $1 million but costing $10 million to make. It also received mostly negative reviews and is considered one of the worst films made and definitely the worst film Madonna has acted in.
Roger Ebert gave the re-make one star saying the original was incomparably superior. The movie was only shown on fifty-nine screens for two weeks, and it received five awards at the 2002 Golden Raspberry Awards.
"The English Roses"
The English Roses is a children's picture book written by Madonna and released in 2003. The book tells the story of four friends who are jealous of a girl called Binah. They come to learn that Binah's life is not easy, and they decide to include her in their group.
The book had mixed reviews, but it debuted atop The New York Times Children's Bestseller list selling 57,369 copies in the first week. The book was the biggest and fastest-selling book by a children's author.
Madonna Kisses Britney Spears
In 2003, Madonna performed a medley of hits at the VMA's, and she surprised everyone by kissing Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera on stage. Madonna's daughter Lourdes was one of the flower girls that came out first as the performance started.
Many celebrities in the audience looked like they had no idea what was going on and were not overly impressed. Christina was upset because her kiss with Madonna was missed when the camera went to Justin Timberlake's reaction to his ex-girlfriend kissing Madonna.
Kabbalah
Kabbalah is an ancient Jewish tradition. Madonna was born and raised a Catholic but developed an interest in Kabbalah after being introduced to it by Sandra Bernhard. Followers wear a red string around their wrist to ward off the "evil eye."
They believe the path to spiritual enlightenment lies in the mix of Orthodox Jewish tradition and positive thinking. Followers are also advised to drink blessed water, which costs about $5 a bottle. Madonna has given a large amount of money to the religion.
Madonna Suffers from Horse Accident
In 2005, Madonna, on a new horse she wasn't accustomed to riding, took a tumble. The accident took place at her estate outside of London, and she was hospitalized with three cracked ribs, a broken collarbone, and a broken hand.
The whole family was at the country home celebrating Madonna's 47th birthday when she fell and was taken to the hospital, treated, and released later that night. Madonna made a full recovery, and she did not shy away from continuing to ride horses.
"Confessions Tour"
Madonna's second live album, The Confessions Tour, chronicles Madonna's 2006 Confessions Tour. It was recorded live at Wembley Arena and included the full version of the television broadcast special The Confessions Tour: Live from London.
The album was the first release from Madonna's production company Semtex Films. It received positive reviews and won a Grammy for Best Long Form Music Video. It reached number one on the official charts in Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.
Madonna Adopts David Banda
Madonna adopted David Banda in 2006 when he was just eighteen months old. David was born in the village of Lipunga in Western Malawi, where his mother died less than a week after giving birth to him. Madonna and Guy Ritchie didn't exactly follow the strict adoption rules and were given special treatment because of their celebrity.
Madonna has stated that she was really hurt by some of the headlines saying she kidnapped her son from Malawi, and she said she did everything by the book. Madonna and her son have traveled back to the orphanage that she met him in; Madonna has adopted four children from Malawi.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
Madonna joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008. Justin Timberlake inducted Madonna and co-wrote and co-produced half of the songs on her album Hard Candy. Many thought that calling Madonna a rocker was a bit of a stretch because she is a pop star.
"We've always defined rock and roll pretty broadly. It's not just about four guys with guitars. Madonna certainly had a huge impact on popular music and rock 'n' roll throughout the '80s and '90s, and she's certainly deserving of being honored." ----- Jim Henke.
"4 Minutes"
"4 Minutes" is from Madonna's eleventh studio album Hard Candy and it features Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. The song received positive reviews and peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, Madonna's 37th top-ten single.
The "4 Minutes" music video has Madonna and Justin singing and running away from a black screen that devours everything. The song received two Grammy Award nominations for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals and Best Remixed Recording.
Sticky & Sweet Tour
The Sticky & Sweet Tour is Madonna's third live album, released on March 26, 2010, and was filmed at the River Plate Stadium in Argentina during Madonna's Sticky & Sweet Tour. The film reached the top-ten in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Japan, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The film received mixed reviews, but it became Madonna's nineteenth top-ten album on the Billboard 200 and reached the top of the charts in Greece, Hungary, Mexico, and Portugal.
Saturday Night Live with Lady Gaga
In 2009, Madonna guest-starred on SNL with Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga and Madonna came out on stage in skimpy black leather outfits and matching high black boots; they danced briefly to a tepid electro song before mocking each other.
A jokingly hair-pulling match ensued that ended with Gaga and Madonna pretending to strangle each other. They sat on the couch with Thompson and leaned in to kiss each other and instead kissed Thompson. The two have reportedly had a years-long feud.
Madonna's Children
Madonna is a mother to six children, two biological and four adopted. Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon is Madonna's firstborn with Carlos Leon, and she is now twenty-three, Rocco Ritchie is Madonna's son with Guy Ritchie, born in 2000. David Banda Mwala Ciccone Ritchie is Madonna and Guy's second child and first adopted son.
Madonna adopted Mercy James and twin sisters Estere Ciccone and Stella Ciccone from Malawi after her divorce from Guy Ritchie. Madonna turned to adoption because she was no longer able to have biological children.
Madonna was Abused
Madonna revealed in an interview with Howard Stern that after she moved to New York City in the 1970s, her home was broken into, and she was assaulted. She was twenty years old and was brought to the roof of her building with a knife in her back and then raped, she has been held up at gunpoint, and her apartment was broken into three times.
"Although it was devastating at the time, I know that it made me a much stronger person in retrospect. It forced me to be a survivor." ------ Madonna. She has since spoken at events about women and abuse and equality.
Madonna Has a Turbulent Relationship with Malawi
In 2013, Malawi accused Madonna of bullying state officials and exaggerating her contributions to the country. They also stated that she demanded VIP treatment. Malawi requires that prospective parents reside in the country for eighteen months before adopting a child. Madonna did not have to abide by that rule for any of the four children she adopted from Malawi.
Madonna runs several projects in the country but was bitterly criticized after abandoning plans to build an elite academy for girls. Malawi's people have stated that they need more people like her, and Madonna put out many statements saying she never asked for special treatment and has never had anything but honorable intentions.
Madonna Performs at Super Bowl XLVI Half-Time Show
Madonna performed the halftime show at Super Bowl XLVI in 2012 at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indiana. Madonna had guest appearances by LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., and CeeLo Green. She performed four songs, her performance set a record of 114 million viewers, and critics praised Madonna for her cautious performance.
She was asked to perform at the 1998 and 2000 Super Bowl but canceled both due to scheduling conflicts. Madonna collaborated with Cirque du Soleil for her performance, and she stated that the rehearsal was the most exhausting one in which she had ever participated.