Madonna (entertainer)

Madonna (entertainer)
Name	Madonna
Caption	Madonna at the 2017 Billboard Women in Music event.
Birth name	Madonna Louise Ciccone
Birth date	16 August 1958
Birth place	Bay City, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman
Years active	1979–present
Spouse	Sean Penn (m. 1985; div. 1989), Guy Ritchie (m. 2000; div. 2008)
Partner	Carlos Leon (1995–1997), Alex Rodriguez (2018), Ahlamalik Williams (2019–2023)
Awards	Full list

Madonna (entertainer). Madonna is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman, often hailed as the "Queen of Pop". Her career, marked by continual reinvention and controversy, has profoundly shaped popular music and culture for over four decades. She has sold over 300 million records worldwide, making her the best-selling female recording artist of all time, and has received numerous accolades including seven Grammy Awards.

Early life and education

Madonna Louise Ciccone was born in Bay City, Michigan, to parents of Italian and French-Canadian descent. Her mother died of breast cancer when Madonna was five, an event that profoundly impacted her. She attended Rochester Adams High School and was a member of the cheerleading squad. She received a dance scholarship to the University of Michigan but left after two years to pursue a career in New York City with only $35 in her pocket. In Manhattan, she studied with choreographer Pearl Lang and performed with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater before transitioning to music.

Music career

Her self-titled debut album, Madonna, was released in 1983 on Sire Records, yielding early hits like "Holiday". She achieved global superstardom with the 1984 album Like a Virgin, promoted with her iconic performance at the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards. Subsequent albums like True Blue and Like a Prayer blended pop with provocative themes on religion and sexuality. The 1990s saw her embrace electronica on Ray of Light, which won multiple Grammy Awards. She has continued to release successful albums, including Confessions on a Dance Floor and Madame X, and her groundbreaking concert tours, such as Blond Ambition and The MDNA Tour, have set benchmarks for the live music industry.

Acting career

Madonna's film career began with a minor role in A Certain Sacrifice (1979). She gained attention for her starring role in Susan Seidelman's Desperately Seeking Susan (1985). She received a Golden Globe Award for her performance in Evita (1996), based on the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Other notable films include Dick Tracy (1990), A League of Their Own (1992), and Swept Away (2002), the latter directed by then-husband Guy Ritchie. While her acting has received mixed critical reception, her work in Evita remains a highlight.

Business ventures and philanthropy

In 1992, she co-founded Maverick, a multi-media entertainment company, as a joint venture with Time Warner. She has launched several fashion lines, including Material Girl, and founded the wellness brand Hard Candy Fitness. Her philanthropic efforts include founding Raising Malawi, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting orphans and vulnerable children in the African nation of Malawi. She has also donated millions to various causes, including HIV/AIDS research and relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina.

Public image and influence

Madonna is renowned for pushing boundaries regarding feminism, sexual freedom, and artistic expression, often sparking debates with institutions like the Vatican and the Parents Music Resource Center. Her innovative use of music videos on MTV revolutionized the medium as an art form. She has inspired countless artists, including Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna. Publications like Rolling Stone and Billboard have consistently ranked her among the greatest musicians and most powerful women in entertainment.

Personal life

Madonna was married to actor Sean Penn from 1985 to 1989 and to filmmaker Guy Ritchie from 2000 to 2008. She has six children: Lourdes Leon (with personal trainer Carlos Leon), Rocco Ritchie (with Guy Ritchie), and David, Mercy, Stella, and Estere, whom she adopted from Malawi. She has had high-profile relationships with figures such as Warren Beatty, Dennis Rodman, and Alex Rodriguez. A practitioner of Kabbalah, she has lived primarily in New York City, Los Angeles, Lisbon, and London.

Category:American pop singers Category:American actresses Category:American businesswomen Category:People from Bay City, Michigan Category:Grammy Award winners