**Early Life and Career Beginnings (1978-1983):**
– Madonna Louise Ciccone was born on August 16, 1958, in Bay City, Michigan.
– Raised in Detroit suburbs, Madonna attended Catholic schools and received a dance scholarship to the University of Michigan.
– She dropped out of college in 1978 and moved to New York City.
– In 1979, Madonna became involved with musician Dan Gilroy and performed with various bands.
– Madonna signed with Gotham Records in March 1981, marking the beginning of her music career.
**Rise to Stardom and Achievements (1983-1992):**
– Madonna released her debut studio album in 1983, followed by successful albums like ‘Like a Virgin’ and ‘True Blue.’
– She achieved critical acclaim with Grammy Award-winning albums and starred in notable films like ‘Desperately Seeking Susan’ and ‘Evita.’
– Madonna founded the Maverick company in 1992 and became the best-selling female recording artist with over 300 million records sold worldwide.
– She accumulated over US$1 billion in concert revenue and was named the top-earning female musician by Forbes multiple times.
– Madonna was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 for her significant contributions to music.
**Influence, Legacy, and Cultural Impact:**
– Madonna was ranked as the greatest woman in music by VH1 and named the greatest music video artist by MTV and Billboard.
– She is listed among Rolling Stone’s greatest artists and songwriters, with scholarly reviews and academic studies dedicated to her cultural influence.
– Madonna’s contributions to gender equality and LGBT rights advocacy have solidified her status as a cultural pop icon.
– Her groundbreaking music videos and impactful performances have left a lasting legacy in the music industry.
– Madonna’s influence extends beyond music, with her activism and artistry inspiring generations of artists and fans.
**Film Career and Personal Life (1990-2000):**
– Madonna starred in films like ‘Dick Tracy’ and ‘Evita,’ earning critical acclaim for her performances.
– She made her Broadway debut in ‘Speed-the-Plow’ in 1988 and ventured into other creative endeavors like directing and producing.
– Madonna’s personal life, including her marriage to actor Sean Penn and relationships with other celebrities, garnered significant media attention.
– The release of her controversial book ‘Sex’ and album ‘Erotica’ marked a shift in Madonna’s public image and artistic expression.
– Madonna’s exploration of different genres and styles in her music and film career showcased her versatility as an artist.
**Album Releases, Tours, and Philanthropy (1998-2019):**
– Madonna released successful albums like ‘Ray of Light,’ ‘Music,’ ‘Confessions on a Dance Floor,’ ‘Rebel Heart,’ and ‘Madame X.’
– Her albums garnered critical acclaim, multiple Grammy Awards, and commercial success, solidifying her status as a music icon.
– Madonna embarked on numerous successful concert tours, earning millions in revenue and captivating audiences worldwide.
– She founded the Ray of Light Foundation, focusing on women and global development, and engaged in philanthropic efforts throughout her career.
– Madonna’s dedication to her artistry, activism, and philanthropy has established her as a multifaceted and enduring figure in the entertainment industry.
Madonna Louise Ciccone (/tʃɪˈkoʊni/; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen of Pop", she has been widely recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting and visual presentation. Madonna's works, which incorporate social, political, sexual, and religious themes, have generated both controversy and critical acclaim. A prominent cultural pop icon spanning both the 20th and 21st centuries, she remains one of the most "well-documented figures of the modern age", with a broad array of scholarly reviews, literature, and art works about her, as well as an academic mini subdiscipline devoted to her called Madonna studies.
Madonna | |
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_(53269593787)_(cropped).jpg) Madonna in 2023 | |
| Born | Madonna Louise Ciccone August 16, 1958 |
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| Years active | 1979–present |
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| Partner | Carlos Leon (1995–1997) |
| Children | 6, including Lourdes Leon |
| Relatives | Christopher Ciccone (brother) |
| Awards | Full list |
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| Origin | New York City, US |
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| Website | madonna |
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She rose to stardom with her 1983 eponymous debut studio album. Madonna followed it with a series of successful albums, including all-time bestsellers Like a Virgin (1984), True Blue (1986), and The Immaculate Collection (1990), as well as acclaimed Grammy Award winners Ray of Light (1998) and Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005). Throughout her career, she has amassed many chart-topping singles, including "Like a Virgin", "Papa Don't Preach", "Like a Prayer", "Vogue", "Take a Bow", "Frozen", "Music", "Hung Up" and "4 Minutes".
Madonna's popularity was enhanced by roles in films such as Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Dick Tracy (1990), A League of Their Own (1992) and Evita (1996). While the lattermost won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, many of her other films were not as well received. As a businesswoman, she founded the company Maverick in 1992, which included Maverick Records, one of the most successful artist-run labels in history. Madonna's other ventures include fashion brands, written works, health clubs and filmmaking. She contributes to various charities, having founded the Ray of Light Foundation in 1998 and Raising Malawi in 2006, and advocates for gender equality and LGBT rights.
With sales of over 300 million records worldwide, Madonna is the best-selling female recording artist of all time. She is the most successful solo artist in the history of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and has achieved the most number-one singles by a woman in Australia (11), Canada (24), Italy (23), Spain (21), and the UK (13). One of the highest-grossing touring artists in history, she became the first ever woman to accumulate US$1 billion in concert revenue. Forbes has named her the annual top-earning female musician a record 11 times across four separate decades (1980s–2010s). Madonna was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, her first year of eligibility. She was ranked as the greatest woman in music by VH1, and as the greatest music video artist ever by MTV and Billboard. She was also listed among Rolling Stone's greatest artists and greatest songwriters of all time.