View source for Madonna

{{short description|American singer and actress (born 1958)}}
{{About|the entertainer|the religious figure|Mary, mother of Jesus|other uses}}
{{redirect|Queen of Pop}}
{{Good article}}
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{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} 
{{Infobox person 
| name               = Madonna
| image              = MadonnaO2171023 (97 of 133) (53269593787) (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Madonna in 2023
| alt                = Madonna standing behind a microphone
| birth_name         = Madonna Louise Ciccone
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1958|8|16}}
| birth_place        = [[Bay City, Michigan]], US<!-- Per [[MOS:U.S.]], "the use or non-use of periods (full stops) should also be consistent with other country abbreviations in the same article (thus 'the US, UK, and USSR', not 'the U.S., UK, and USSR')." -->
| spouse             = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Sean Penn]]|1985|1989|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|[[Guy Ritchie]]|2000|2008|end=divorced}}
}}
| partner            = Carlos Leon (1995–1997)
| children           = 6, including [[Lourdes Leon]]
| occupation         = {{flatlist|<!--Only the most notable occupations associated with her, infobox must mirror lead per [[Template:Infobox person]]. --> 
* Singer
* songwriter
* record producer
* actress
}}
| years_active       = 1979–present
| works              = {{flatlist|
* [[Madonna albums discography|Albums]]
* [[List of songs recorded by Madonna|songs]]
** [[Madonna singles discography|singles]]
** [[List of unreleased songs recorded by Madonna|unreleased]]
* [[Madonna videography|videos]]
* [[List of Madonna concerts|concerts]]
* [[Madonna filmography|films]]
* [[Madonna bibliography|books]]
* [[Madonna fashion brands|fashion brands]]
}}
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by Madonna|Full list]]
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| origin             = [[New York City]], US
| genre              = {{flatlist|
* [[Pop music|Pop]]
* [[electronica]]
* [[Dance music|dance]]
}}
| instruments        = {{flatlist|
* Vocals
* guitar
}}<!--- If you think an instrument should be listed or removed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Infobox_musical_artist#instrument--->
| label              = {{flatlist|
* [[Warner Records|Warner]]
* [[Sire Records|Sire]]
* [[Maverick (company)|Maverick]]
* [[Interscope Records|Interscope]]
}}<!--Listed in chronological order -->
| past_member_of     = {{flatlist|
* [[Breakfast Club (band)|Breakfast Club]]
* Emmy
}}
}}
| relatives          = [[Christopher Ciccone]] (brother)
| website            = {{URL|madonna.com}}
| signature          = Madonna's signature.svg
}}

'''Madonna Louise Ciccone'''{{efn|Madonna [[Mononym|goes by her first name]], and has used the name and trademark since 1979 according to the [[World Intellectual Property Organization]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Geneva |date=October 16, 2000 |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/10/16/madonna.cybersquatter.reut/ |title=Madonna wins domain name battle |publisher=[[CNN]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119165330/http://edition.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/10/16/madonna.cybersquatter.reut/ |archive-date=January 19, 2021 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 30, 2022}}</ref>}} ({{IPAc-en|tʃ|ᵻ|ˈ|k|oʊ|n|i}} {{respell|chih|KOH|nee}}; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress.<!--Only the most notable occupations associated with her, lead must mirror infobox per [[Template:Infobox person]]. --> Dubbed the "'''Queen of Pop'''", she is regarded as a [[Cultural impact of Madonna|cultural icon spanning both the 20th and 21st centuries]]. She is known for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, and visual presentation, with works that incorporate social, political, [[Madonna and sexuality|sexual]], and [[Madonna and religion|religious]] themes and have generated both controversy and critical acclaim. Madonna is often deemed one of the greatest entertainers in the history of [[popular music]].

Madonna moved to New York City in 1978 to pursue a career in dance. After performing as a drummer, guitarist, and vocalist in the rock bands [[Breakfast Club (band)|Breakfast Club]] and Emmy, she rose to solo stardom with her debut studio album, ''[[Madonna (album)|Madonna]]'' (1983). She has since earned [[Madonna albums discography|eighteen multi-platinum albums]], including ''[[Like a Virgin (album)|Like a Virgin]]'' (1984), ''[[True Blue (Madonna album)|True Blue]]'' (1986), and ''[[The Immaculate Collection]]'' (1990)—some of the [[List of best-selling albums|best-selling albums of all time]]—and ''[[Confessions on a Dance Floor]]'' (2005), her [[List of best-selling albums of the 21st century|21st-century bestseller]]. ''[[Like a Prayer (album)|Like a Prayer]]'' (1989), ''[[Ray of Light]]'' (1998), and ''[[Music (Madonna album)|Music]]'' (2000) were ranked among ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|greatest albums of all time]]. Madonna's top-charting singles include "[[Like a Virgin (song)|Like a Virgin]]", "[[Material Girl]]", "[[La Isla Bonita]]", "[[Like a Prayer (song)|Like a Prayer]]", "[[Vogue (Madonna song)|Vogue]]", "[[Take a Bow (Madonna song)|Take a Bow]]", "[[Frozen (Madonna song)|Frozen]]", "[[Music (Madonna song)|Music]]", "[[Hung Up]]", and "[[4 Minutes]]".<!-- Limit to 10 songs to avoid excess listing --> 

[[Madonna filmography|Madonna has starred in films]] such as ''[[Desperately Seeking Susan]]'' (1985), ''[[Dick Tracy (1990 film)|Dick Tracy]]'' (1990), ''[[A League of Their Own]]'' (1992), and ''[[Evita (1996 film)|Evita]]'' (1996), with the lattermost winning her a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical|Golden Globe Award for Best Actress]]. Many of her other films were not well-received. [[Madonna and business|Her business endeavors]] encompass the company [[Maverick (company)|Maverick]] (1992–2009), which included Maverick Records—one of the most successful [[vanity label|artist-run labels]]. She has also pursued [[Madonna fashion brands|fashion brands]], [[Madonna bibliography|written works]], [[Hard Candy Fitness|health clubs]], and filmmaking. She contributes to [[Philanthropy and activism of Madonna|various charities]], having founded the [[Ray of Light Foundation]] in 1998 and [[Raising Malawi]] in 2006, and advocates for [[Feminism of Madonna|gender equality]] and [[Madonna as a gay icon|LGBT rights]].

Madonna is the [[List of best-selling music artists|best-selling female music artist of all time]] and the [[List of highest-grossing live music artists|first female performer]] to accumulate US$1&nbsp;billion from [[List of Madonna concerts|her concerts]]. She is the [[List of Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones#Top 10 artists of all time (1958–2021)|most successful solo artist]] on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and has [[Madonna singles discography|44 number-one singles]] across [[List of largest recorded music markets#Statistics|major global music markets]]. [[List of awards and nominations received by Madonna|Her accolades]] include seven [[Grammy Awards]], two [[Golden Globe Awards]], 20 [[MTV Video Music Awards]], and an [[List of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees|induction]] into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in her first year of eligibility. Madonna was the world's [[Forbes list of the world's highest-paid musicians#Female|highest-paid female musician]] for a record eleven years across four decades (1980s–2010s). She has become the subject of various [[List of academic publishing works on Madonna|scholarly]], [[Bibliography of works on Madonna|literary]], and [[Madonna and contemporary arts|artistic]] works, as well as a mini-academic sub-discipline called [[Madonna studies]].

== Life and career ==
=== 1958–1978: Early life ===
Madonna Louise Ciccone was born in [[Bay City, Michigan]], on August 16, 1958.{{sfnm|Taraborrelli|2002|1pp=11–13|Bego|2000|2p=12|Gnojewski|2007|3p=22}} Her father, Silvio "Tony" Ciccone, worked as an [[Optical engineering|optics]] and [[Military engineering|military]] engineer and physicist for [[Chrysler Defense]] and later [[General Dynamics Land Systems]]; her mother, Madonna Louise ([[née]] Fortin), was an [[X-ray technician]].{{sfnm|Bego|2000|1p=12|Taraborrelli|2002|2pp=8, 336|Cross|2007|3pp=1–3|Gnojewski|2007|4p=25}} Tony's parents were Italian emigrants from [[Pacentro]], while her mother was of [[French-Canadian]] descent.{{sfnm|Taraborrelli|2002|1p=10|Bego|2000|2p=12}} Since Madonna shared her name with her mother, family members referred to her as "Little Nonnie".{{sfnm|Cross|2007|1p=2|Taraborrelli|2002|2p=11}} Madonna was raised in the Detroit suburbs of [[Pontiac, Michigan|Pontiac]] and Avon Township (now [[Rochester Hills, Michigan|Rochester Hills]]), alongside her two older brothers, Anthony and Martin, and her three younger siblings, Paula, [[Christopher Ciccone|Christopher]], and Melanie.{{sfnm|Bego|2000|1pp=12–13|Gnojewski|2007|2p=18}}<ref name="t627">{{cite news |last=Shepardson |first=David |title=Rep. Dingell to Madonna: Stop trashing Michigan |newspaper=[[The Detroit News]] |date=March 24, 2015 |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/03/24/debbie-dingell-madonna/70368012/ |access-date=December 1, 2025}}</ref>

When Madonna was five years old, her mother died of [[breast cancer]] on December 1, 1963.{{sfnm|Havranek|2008|1p=257|Bego|2000|2p=20}} In 1966, she adopted Veronica as a [[Confirmation#Confirmation name|confirmation name]] upon receiving the [[Confirmation in the Catholic Church|sacrament]] in the Catholic Church.{{sfnm|Guilbert|2002|1p=92|Gnojewski|2007|2p=122}} 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 a [[Congenital heart defect|heart defect]]), Jennifer, and Mario.{{sfnm|Gnojewski|2007|1p=18}}<ref name="b454">{{cite magazine |last=DeSantis |first=Rachel |title=Madonna's Stepmom Joan Ciccone Dies at 81 of 'Very Aggressive Cancer' |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=September 26, 2024 |url=https://people.com/madonna-stepmother-joan-ciccone-dies-at-81-of-cancer-8719328 |access-date=December 1, 2025}}</ref> Madonna attended St. Frederick's and St. Andrew's Catholic elementary schools, as well as West Middle School.{{sfnm|Bego|2000|1p=18|Pohlen|2014|2p=273}} She earned high grades—her father gave her a [[Quarter (United States coin)|quarter]] for every [[grading in education|A]]—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.{{sfnm|Taraborrelli|2002|1pp=21–23|Bego|2000|2p=18}}

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{{nbsp}}[...] I wanted to be somebody."{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|p=14}} Her father initially enrolled her in [[classical piano]] lessons, but she eventually persuaded him to let her study [[ballet]] instead. Her ballet teacher, Christopher Flynn, inspired her to pursue a career in dance.{{sfnm|Cross|2007|1pp=10–12|Taraborrelli|2002|2pp=26–29}} While attending [[Rochester Adams High School]], Madonna was a straight-A student and a member of the cheerleading squad.{{sfnm|Claro|1994|1pp=24, 27|Cross|2007|2p=9}} After graduating in January 1976, she received a dance scholarship to the [[University of Michigan]] and spent the summer studying at the [[American Dance Festival]] in [[Durham, North Carolina]].{{sfnm|1a1=Gnojewski|1y=2007|1pp=29–30, 32|2a1=Parish|2a2=Pitts|2y=2003|2p=523}}

In 1978, Madonna left college and moved to New York City.{{sfnm|Bego|2000|1p=78|Taraborrelli|2002|2p=34}} 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".<ref name="r547">{{cite web |title=Detroit Proud Playlist: Week of 9/29 |publisher=[[CBS News]] |date=September 29, 2014 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/detroit-proud-playlist-week-of-929-special-madonna-edition/ |access-date=December 1, 2025}}</ref> She settled in the [[Alphabet City, Manhattan|Alphabet City]] area of the East Village and supported herself with limited means by working various jobs—including as a hatcheck girl at the [[Russian Tea Room]], an elevator operator at [[Terrace on the Park]], and a member of modern dance troupes.{{sfnm|Taraborrelli|2002|1p=37|O'Brien|2007|2p=62, 68}}<ref name="t758">{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Joseph |author-link=Joseph Berger (author) |title='64 World's Fair Leftover in Demand for Proms and Weddings |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=limited |date=June 18, 2011 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/18/nyregion/64-worlds-fair-leftover-in-demand-for-proms-and-weddings.html |access-date=December 1, 2025}}</ref> Madonna took classes at the [[Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater]], performed with the [[Pearl Lang]] Dance Theater, and studied under dancer and choreographer [[Martha Graham]].{{sfnm|O'Brien|2007|1p=62|Fuhrer|2014|2p=133|Taraborrelli|2002|3pp=37–39|Freedman|1998|4p=125}} One night, while returning from a rehearsal, two men held her at knifepoint and forced her to perform [[fellatio]]. 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."{{sfn|Stein|Bartone|2020|p=62}}

=== 1979–1983: Career beginnings, rock bands, and ''Madonna'' ===
In 1979, Madonna entered a romantic relationship with musician [[Dan Gilroy (musician)|Dan Gilroy]].{{sfnm|Taraborrelli|2002|1p=45|O'Brien|2007|2p=72}} During this period, she searched for job opportunities in such publications as ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', ''[[Backstage (magazine)|Backstage]]'', and ''[[Show Business (magazine)|Show Business]]'', leading to a successful audition to perform in Paris as a backup singer and dancer for French disco artist Patrick Hernandez.{{sfnm|Taraborrelli|2002|1pp=46–48|Bego|2000|2p=51}} 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.{{sfn|Bego|2000|p=52}} Madonna relocated to an abandoned [[synagogue]] in [[Corona, Queens]], where Gilroy and his brother Ed resided and practiced.{{sfnm|Gnojewski|2007|1p=56|Bego|2000|2p=50|Taraborrelli|2002|3p=45}} The group slept in the basement and used its meeting space both to rehearse and record music for their band, [[Breakfast Club (band)|Breakfast Club]], for which Madonna sang and played drums and guitar.{{sfnm|Bego|2000|1p=50|Gnojewski|2007|2p=35}}

Madonna made her acting debut in the low-budget indie film ''[[A 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.{{sfnm|Taraborrelli|2002|1pp=50–51, 103–104|Koopmans|2003|2p=31}} In 1980, after leaving the Breakfast Club and ending her relationship with Gilroy, Madonna reunited with drummer [[Stephen Bray]], whom she had previously dated in Michigan, and together they formed the band Emmy.{{sfnm|Taraborrelli|2002|1pp=53–54|O'Brien|2007|2p=76}} By 1982, she and Bray lived and rehearsed at [[the Music Building]] in Manhattan, where they wrote songs and recorded a four-track demo tape.{{sfnm|Taraborrelli|2002|1p=45|O'Brien|2007|2p=76|Gnojewski|2007|3pp=60–63}} After leaving Emmy, Camille Barbone, who ran [[Gotham Records]] in the Music Building, signed Madonna to a contract with the label in March 1981, working as her manager until February 1982.{{sfnm|Morton|2001|1pp=94, 105|O'Brien|2007|2p=77}} Her creative partnership with Bray continued for many years.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Runtagh |first=Jordan |date=September 7, 2019 |title=30 Fascinating Early Bands of Future Music Legends |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/30-fascinating-early-bands-of-future-music-legends-200891/ |access-date=April 27, 2021 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427121338/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/30-fascinating-early-bands-of-future-music-legends-200891/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1982, Madonna visited nightclubs to persuade [[disc jockey]]s (DJs) to play her demo, leading DJ [[Mark Kamins]] at [[Danceteria]] to take an interest in her music and begin a romance with her.{{Sfnm|Cross|2007|1p=25|O'Brien|2007|2pp=95–96|Bego|2000|3p=102}} He arranged a meeting with [[Seymour Stein]], president of [[Sire Records]]—a subsidiary of [[Warner Bros. Records]]—after which she signed a two-single deal.{{sfnm|Cross|2007|1p=25|Morton|2001|2p=107}} Kamins produced her debut single, "[[Everybody (Madonna song)|Everybody]]", which was released in October 1982 and promoted with television and nightclub performances.{{Sfnm|Cross|2007|1p=25|Taraborrelli|2002|2p=73|Morton|2001|3p=118}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Fiorillo |first=Victor |date=April 10, 2016 |title=Facebook Flame Wars, Legal Action, and "Death Threats": Dancin' on Air's Family Feud Boils Over |url=https://www.phillymag.com/news/2016/04/10/dancin-on-air-dance-party-usa/ |magazine=[[Philadelphia (magazine)|Philadelphia]] |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427061900/https://www.phillymag.com/news/2016/04/10/dancin-on-air-dance-party-usa/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Her second single, the [[A-side and B-side|double A-side]] "[[Burning Up (Madonna song)|Burning Up]]" / "[[Physical Attraction (song)|Physical Attraction]]", was released in March 1983. Both "Everybody" and "Burning Up" / "Physical Attraction" reached number three on the [[Hot Dance Club Songs|''Billboard'' Hot Dance Club Songs]] chart.{{sfn|Bego|2000|p=80}} During this period, Madonna was in a relationship with artist [[Jean-Michel Basquiat]] and living in his [[SoHo]] loft.{{sfn|Fretz|2010|pp=105–106}} Basquiat introduced her to art curator [[Diego Cortez]], who had managed several [[punk band]]s. Cortez declined to manage Madonna when she requested for him to do so.<ref name="z574">{{cite news |last=Basciano |first=Oliver |title=Diego Cortez obituary |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=July 14, 2021 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/jul/14/diego-cortez-obituary |access-date=December 2, 2025}}</ref>

Warner hired [[Reggie Lucas]] to produce her debut studio album, ''[[Madonna (album)|Madonna]]''.<ref name="x447">{{cite magazine |last=Howe |first=Sean |title=How Madonna Became Madonna: An Oral History |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |url-access=limited |author-link=Sean Howe |date=July 29, 2013 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/how-madonna-became-madonna-an-oral-history-94288/ |access-date=December 2, 2025}}</ref> Madonna was dissatisfied with many of the tracks, prompting her to seek additional support. She enlisted DJ [[John "Jellybean" Benitez]] to help complete the album, and the two began a brief romantic relationship.{{Sfnm|Bego|2000|1p=80|Taraborrelli|2002|2pp=43, 82}} Benitez remixed most of the songs and produced "[[Holiday (Madonna song)|Holiday]]", her breakthrough song.{{sfn|Havranek|2008|p=259}} ''Madonna'' was released on July 27, 1983, to generally favorable reviews, and peaked at number eight on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref name="Debut30">{{cite magazine |last1=Kaulfield |first1=Keith |title=''Madonna'' Turns 30: A look back at the Queen of Pop's debut album |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/4789697/madonna-turns-30-a-look-back-at-the-queen-of-pops-debut-album |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730052754/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/4789697/madonna-turns-30-a-look-back-at-the-queen-of-pops-debut-album |archive-date=July 30, 2013 |date=July 27, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Lindores |first=Mark |date=February 26, 2015 |title=Classic Album: Madonna – ''Madonna'' |url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2015/02/madonna-classic-album/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324103051/https://www.classicpopmag.com/2015/02/madonna-classic-album/ |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |magazine=[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop]] |quote=Madonna's eponymous debut album was released on 27 July 1983 to largely positive reviews}}</ref> The album generated two US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] top-ten singles: "[[Borderline (Madonna song)|Borderline]]" and "[[Lucky Star (Madonna song)|Lucky Star]]". In late 1983, Madonna's new manager, [[Freddy DeMann]], arranged a meeting with film producer [[Jon Peters]], who offered her the role of a club singer in the romantic drama ''[[Vision Quest (film)|Vision Quest]]'' (1985).{{sfn|Morton|2001|p=121}}

=== 1984–1987: ''Like a Virgin'', first marriage, ''True Blue'', and ''Who's That Girl'' ===
[[File:Madonna - Tampa Bay Times (1985).jpg|thumb|left|upright|alt=Black and white photo of a young Madonna performing|Madonna performing in 1985 during [[the Virgin Tour]]]]
In January 1984, Madonna gained further exposure with performances on ''[[American Bandstand]]'' and ''[[Top of the Pops]]''.{{sfnm|Bego|2000|1p=91|O'Brien|2007|2p=112}} Wanting the material on her second studio album, ''[[Like a Virgin (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.{{sfn|Bego|2000|pp=94–102}} A [[Dance music|dance]] and [[synth-pop]] record, ''Like a Virgin'' was released on November 12, 1984,{{sfnm|Perone|2018|1p=112|Taraborrelli|2002|2p=86}} and became her first number-one album in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, the UK and the US.<ref name="z407">{{cite web |last=Lemarchand |first=Allan |title=The MTV VMAs in five scandalous performances |website=[[Numéro]] |date=September 11, 2020 |url=https://numero.com/en/culture-en/the-mtv-vmas-in-five-scandalous-performances/ |access-date=December 4, 2025}}</ref> Within the lattermost nation, the album remained atop the ''Billboard'' 200 for three weeks and is the first album by a woman to sell over five million copies.<ref name="e322">{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |title=Billboard 200 Chart Moves: Prince Earns 28th Top 40 Album, Madonna's ''Like a Virgin'' Returns After 28 Years |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=May 13, 2016 |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/billboard-200-chart-moves-prince-madonna/ |access-date=December 2, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Grein |first=Paul |date=August 10, 1985 |title=Hot Madonna: July Fills Her Coffers with RIAA Metal |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=97 |issue=32 |page=7 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref> ''Like a Virgin'' has sold over 21&nbsp;million copies worldwide, making it one of the [[List of best-selling albums|best-selling albums of all time]].{{sfn|Perone|2018|p=112}}<ref name="LAVWoldWide">{{cite news |title=Contrasting fortunes as Madonna and Jacko turn 50 |url=http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/people/contrasting-fortunes-as-madonna-and-jacko-turn-50-20090403-9ruh.html |newspaper=[[The Age]] |access-date=April 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811184417/http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/people/contrasting-fortunes-as-madonna-and-jacko-turn-50-20090403-9ruh.html |archive-date=August 11, 2011 |date=August 15, 2008}}</ref>

The album's title track, "[[Like a Virgin (song)|Like a Virgin]]", was selected as its lead single.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|p=88}} It was her first number-one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, topping the chart for six consecutive weeks.{{sfn|Smith|2009|p=179}}<ref name="b414">{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |title=Madonna's 40 Biggest Billboard Hits |magazine=Billboard |date=August 16, 2024 |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/madonnas-40-biggest-billboard-hits/ |access-date=December 3, 2025}}</ref> "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; [[moralist]]s sought to have the song and video banned.{{sfnm|Cross|2007|1p=31|Voller|1999|2p=18}} Madonna then attracted significant media attention for her performance of the song at the inaugural [[1984 MTV Video Music Awards|MTV 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.{{sfnm|1a1=Shonk Jr.|1a2=McClure|1y=2017|1p=183|2a1=Taraborrelli|2y=2002|2p=88}} [[MTV News]] later described the performance as one of the most iconic in pop music history.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1978552/madonna-video-music-awards-like-a-virgin/ |title=Here's The Wardrobe Malfunction That Made Madonna's 'Like A Virgin' VMA Performance Legendary |first=Christina |last=Garibaldi |date=October 28, 2014 |publisher=[[MTV News]] |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143212/http://www.mtv.com/news/1978552/madonna-video-music-awards-like-a-virgin/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Like a Virgin''{{'}}s next single, "[[Material Girl]]", peaked at number two in the US.{{sfnm|Smith|2009|1p=179|Taraborrelli|2002|2p=89}} 

Madonna began a relationship with actor [[Sean Penn]] while filming the music video for "Material Girl" and the two married on her twenty-seventh birthday in 1985.<ref name="j885">{{cite magazine |last=Hatcher |first=Kirsty |title=Madonna Was 'Genuinely in Love' with Ex-Husband Sean Penn, Says 'Material Girl' Video Producer in New Doc |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=January 2, 2025 |url=https://people.com/madonna-was-genuinely-in-love-with-sean-penn-says-material-girl-video-producer-8768171 |access-date=December 3, 2025}}</ref>{{sfnm|Guilbert|2002|1p=78|Gnojewski|2007|2p=52}} The soundtrack of ''Vision Quest'' (1985) included "[[Crazy for You (Madonna song)|Crazy for You]]"—her second ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number-one single.{{sfn|Bego|2000|p=120}} That same year, she starred as titlular character in the comedy ''[[Desperately Seeking Susan]]'', depicting a free-spirited [[Bohemianism|bohemian]] drifter whose path intersects with a bored housewife through personal ads.<ref name="g263">{{cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |title=''Desperately Seeking Susan'' Movie Review (1985) |publisher=[[RogerEbert.com]] |date=March 29, 1985 |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/desperately-seeking-susan-1985 |access-date=December 3, 2025}}</ref> The film introduced "[[Into the Groove]]", her first number-one single on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name=BBC>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4753366.stm |agency=[[BBC News]] |date=February 26, 2006 |title=Madonna Scores 12th Chart Topper in the UK |access-date=June 9, 2008 |archive-date=September 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915210607/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4753366.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Desperately Seeking Susan'' was named one of the ten best films of 1985 by [[Vincent Canby]], a ''[[The New York Times]]'' film critic.<ref>{{cite news |author-link=Lawrence Van Gelder |last=Van Gelder |first=Lawrence |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/02/arts/critics-choices-cable-tv.html |title=Critic's Choices |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=limited |date=March 2, 1986 |access-date=April 25, 2012 |archive-date=October 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017150233/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/02/arts/critics-choices-cable-tv.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In April 1985, Madonna began her first North American concert series, [[the Virgin Tour]].{{sfn|Bego|2000|pp=126, 129}} The tour coincided with the height of the [[Madonna wannabe]] phenomenon, as many of her young female fans adopted her fashion style.{{sfn|Moore|2015|p=113}} Styled by [[Maripol]], her look—which included lace tops, skirts over [[capri pants]], [[fishnet]] stockings, [[crucifix]] jewelry, stacked bracelets, and bleached hair—became widely associated with 1980s female fashion trends.{{sfnm|Clerk|2002|1p=20|Voller|1999|2p=22}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barr |first=Sabrina |date=August 16, 2020 |title=How Madonna has shaped modern fashion trends over the last four decades |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/madonna-birthday-material-girl-fashion-influencer-style-80s-a8490701.html |access-date=April 27, 2021 |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |archive-date=August 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821093311/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/madonna-birthday-material-girl-fashion-influencer-style-80s-a8490701.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Madonna in concert wearing fishnets 1987.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=A blonde woman onstage with curly hair holding a microphone, wearing a black dress|Madonna performing during the 1987 [[Who's That Girl World Tour]]]]

Around this time, Madonna released two additional singles, "[[Angel (Madonna song)|Angel]]" and "[[Dress You Up]]", both of which reached the top five of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.{{sfn|George-Warren|Romanowski|Pareles|2001|pp=595–596}} In July 1985, ''[[Penthouse (magazine)|Penthouse]]'' and ''Playboy'' published nude photographs of Madonna taken in 1978, when she worked as an [[art model]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farber |first=M. A. |date=August 2, 1985 |title=From Marilyn To Madonna, The Unglamorous Business of Posing in the Nude |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/02/nyregion/from-marilyn-to-madonna-the-unglamorous-business-of-posing-in-the-nude.html |access-date=April 28, 2021 |url-access=limited |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513114920/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/02/nyregion/from-marilyn-to-madonna-the-unglamorous-business-of-posing-in-the-nude.html |url-status=live}}</ref> She had posed for the images for modest pay, reportedly $25 per session; the photographs were later sold for up to $100,000.{{Sfn|Morton|2001|p=135}} The publication caused significant media attention, though Madonna remained unapologetic.<ref name="w578">{{cite magazine |last=Anderson |first=Stacey |title=This Week in Rock History: Cream Breaks Up, Madonna Nude Pics Surface |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=July 11, 2011 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/this-week-in-rock-history-cream-breaks-up-madonna-nude-pics-surface-232856/ |access-date=December 3, 2025}}</ref> At the 1985 [[Live 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".{{sfn|Metz|Benson|1999|p=67}} 

For her third studio album, ''[[True Blue (album)|True Blue]]'', Madonna co-wrote and co-produced every track on the record.<ref>{{cite web |title=35 Years Ago Madonna Staged on Her (First) Bid for Artistic Credibility with ''True Blue'' |website=[[PopMatters]] |date=June 29, 2021 |url=https://www.popmatters.com/madonna-true-blue-35atr |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> ''True Blue'', inspired by and dedicated to her husband Penn, was released on June 30, 1986, to critical acclaim.{{sfnm|O'Brien|2007|1pp=101–104|Bego|2000|2p=166}} It topped the charts in an unprecedented 28 countries worldwide, including the US, where it remained at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200 for five weeks.{{sfn|McFarlan|1989|p=152}}<ref name="e732">{{cite magazine |last=Bronson |first=Fred |title=Chart Beat |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=May 8, 2008 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/chart-beat-144-1045464/ |access-date=December 3, 2025}}</ref> ''True Blue'' made Madonna the second female artist—following [[Whitney Houston]]—to score three US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number-one singles from one album: "[[Live to Tell]]", "[[Papa Don't Preach]]", and "[[Open Your Heart (Madonna song)|Open Your Heart]]".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Grein |first1=Paul |title=Chart Beat |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=February 7, 1987 |volume=99 |issue=6 |page=6 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1987/Billboard-1987-02-07.pdf#pagfe=6 |access-date=December 29, 2023}}</ref> Its two other singles, "[[True Blue (Madonna song)|True Blue]]" and "[[La Isla Bonita]]", peaked within the top five.{{sfn|Bego|2000|pp=186–189}} ''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 25{{nbsp}}million copies sold globally.<ref name="q979">{{cite web |last=Emery |first=Mark |title=1986 flashback: Remembering the year of the Mets' last title, from Reagan to Ruxpin |website=[[New York Daily News]] |date=October 22, 2015 |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2015/10/22/1986-flashback-remembering-the-year-of-the-mets-last-title-from-reagan-to-ruxpin/ |access-date=December 4, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaufman |first1=Gil |title=Madonna and Lionel Richie to reunite on ''Billboard'' charts? |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1682061/madonna-lionel-richie-top-billboard.jhtml |publisher=[[MTV News]] |access-date=December 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331201523/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1682061/madonna-lionel-richie-top-billboard.jhtml |archive-date=March 31, 2012 |date=March 29, 2012}}</ref>

Madonna appeared in the film ''[[Shanghai Surprise]]'' (1986) alongside Penn, which was critically unsuccessful and earned her the [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress]].{{sfn|Bego|2000|p=165}}<ref name="f123">{{cite magazine |title=Sizzle or Fizzle? Real-Life Couples On Screen |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=May 3, 2014 |url=https://ew.com/gallery/sizzle-or-fizzle-real-life-couples-screen/ |access-date=December 4, 2025}}</ref> She made her stage debut the same year in [[David Rabe]]'s ''Goose and Tom-Tom'', which also co-starred Penn.{{sfn|Guilbert|2002|p=35}} In 1987, she starred in the film ''[[Who's That Girl (1987 film)|Who's That Girl]]'' and contributed four songs to [[Who's That Girl (soundtrack)|its soundtrack]], including "[[Who's That Girl (Madonna song)|Who's That Girl]]" and "[[Causing a Commotion]]", which peaked at numbers one and two on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, respectively.{{sfn|Bego|2000|p=198}} In June, she embarked on the [[Who's That Girl World Tour]], which broke several attendance records, including a performance near Paris attended by over 130,000 people—the [[List of highest-attended concerts|highest for a female artist at the time]].<ref name="showstealer">{{cite news |first=Neil |last=Smith |date=May 24, 2004 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3704915.stm |publisher=[[BBC News]] |title=Show Stealer Madonna on Tour |access-date=February 12, 2008 |archive-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804221111/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3704915.stm |url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Voller|1999|p=29}} In 1987, she released ''[[You Can Dance]]'', a [[remix album]] with reworked versions of songs from her earlier releases.{{sfn|Morton|2001|p=37}} After a turbulent two-year marriage, Madonna filed for divorce from Penn on December 4, 1987, though she later withdrew the petition.{{sfn|Bego|2000|pp=200–201}}

=== 1988–1991: ''Like a Prayer'', ''Dick Tracy'', and ''The Immaculate Collection'' ===
[[File:ExpressYourselfUnderGround cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Madonna performing at the 1990 [[Blond Ambition World Tour]]|alt=A blond woman onstage with curly hair, and wearing a white corset and black pants. The background is black and smoky.]]
Madonna made her [[Broadway theatre]] debut in the play ''[[Speed-the-Plow]]'' at the [[Royale Theatre]], running from May to August 1988.<ref>{{multiref|{{harvnb|O'Brien|2007|pp=185, 537}}|{{Cite news |last=Winship |first=Frederic M. |date=May 4, 1988 |title=Madonna makes unimpressive Broadway debut in Mamet play |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/05/04/Madonna-makes-unimpressive-Broadway-debut-in-Mamet-play/2896578721600/ |access-date=February 1, 2022 |publisher=[[United Press International]] |archive-date=February 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202031437/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/05/04/Madonna-makes-unimpressive-Broadway-debut-in-Mamet-play/2896578721600/ |ref=none |url-status=live}}|{{Cite news |date=August 8, 1988 |title=''Speed-the-Plow'' Cast to Be Changed |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |ref=none |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/08/theater/speed-the-plow-cast-to-be-changed.html |access-date=February 2, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202031436/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/08/theater/speed-the-plow-cast-to-be-changed.html |url-status=live}}}}</ref> According to the [[Associated Press]], she filed an assault report against Penn following an alleged incident at their [[Malibu, California|Malibu]] residence over the New Year's weekend.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Jeff |date=January 11, 1989 |title=Madonna Withdraws Assault Complaint Against Sean Penn |url=https://apnews.com/article/02821457861985f54b771ded83b89ba0 |access-date=February 2, 2022 |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |archive-date=February 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202031439/https://apnews.com/article/02821457861985f54b771ded83b89ba0 |url-status=live}}</ref> Madonna filed for divorce on January 5, 1989, and reportedly requested the following week that no criminal charges be pursued.{{sfn|Bego|2000|p=214}} That month, Madonna signed an endorsement agreement with soft-drink company [[Pepsi]].{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|p=165}} In a commercial for the company, she premiered "[[Like a Prayer (song)|Like a Prayer]]", whose accompanying music video featured [[christian symbols|Catholic imagery]] such as [[stigmata]] and [[cross burning]], as well as a dream sequence depicting intimacy with a saint, prompting condemnation from the [[Holy See|Vatican]].{{sfnm|Lofton|2017|1p=132|Bego|2000|2p=224}}<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Romero |first=Frances |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=October 20, 2010 |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2026525_2026524_2026526,00.html |title=Top 10 Vatican Pop-Culture Moments: Madonna, Over and Over |access-date=November 21, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923172101/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0%2C28804%2C2026525_2026524_2026526%2C00.html |archive-date=September 23, 2016}}</ref> Religious organizations called for a boycott of Pepsi products, leading the company to withdraw the commercial and terminate her sponsorship deal.{{sfnm|Bego|2000|1pp=224–225|Taraborrelli|2002|2p=174}}

"Like a Prayer" was released as the lead single from her fourth studio album, also titled [[Like a Prayer (album)|''Like a Prayer'']]. It became her seventh number-one single on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and spent three weeks atop the chart.<ref name="h637">{{cite magazine |last=Lynch |first=Joe |title=Madonna's ''Like a Prayer'' at 30: Here's Where She Goes From Superstar to Artistic Great |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=March 21, 2019 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/madonna-like-a-prayer-album-superstar-artist-8503430/ |access-date=December 4, 2025}}</ref> Madonna drew inspiration from her turbulent relationship and divorce from Penn to create the album, co-writing and co-producing the album alongside [[Patrick Leonard]], Stephen Bray, and [[Prince (musician)|Prince]].<ref name="q879">{{cite news |last=O'Brien |first=Lucy |title=Inside the making of Madonna's stormy 'divorce album' |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=March 30, 2019 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2019/mar/30/we-argued-a-lot-inside-the-making-of-madonna-stormy-divorce-album |access-date=December 4, 2025}}</ref> In the US, ''Like a Prayer'' was released on March 21, 1989, to universal acclaim from critics. ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s [[J. 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".<ref name="u374">{{multiref|{{cite magazine |ref=none |last=Partridge |first=Kenneth |title=Madonna's 'Like a Prayer' at 25: Classic Track-by-Track Review |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=March 20, 2014 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/madonna-s-like-a-prayer-at-25-classic-track-by-track-review-5944624/ |access-date=December 4, 2025}}|{{Cite magazine |ref=none |last=Lindores |first=Mark |date=March 18, 2024 |title=The Making of Madonna's ''Like A Prayer'' |url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2024/03/the-making-of-madonnas-like-a-prayer/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408170504/https://www.classicpopmag.com/2024/03/the-making-of-madonnas-like-a-prayer/ |archive-date=April 8, 2024 |access-date=June 13, 2024 |magazine=[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop]] |quote=it was subject to unanimous critical acclaim}}|{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/reviews/album/7480/37150 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208142706/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/reviews/album/7480/37150 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 8, 2012 |title=Madonna: Like A Prayer: Review |ref=none |access-date=January 21, 2007 |last=Considine |first=J.D. |author-link=J.D. Considine |date=April 6, 1989 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}}}</ref> ''Like a Prayer'' spent six weeks atop the ''Billboard'' 200—the longest of any of her albums—and eventually sold 15 million copies worldwide.<ref name="talkslikeaprayer">{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |title=Madonna Producer Patrick Leonard Talks ''Like A Prayer'' at 25 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=March 21, 2014 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/madonna-producer-patrick-leonard-talks-like-a-prayer-at-25-5944767/ |access-date=December 4, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=100 Women of the year – 1989: Madonna |url=https://time.com/5793713/madonna-100-women-of-the-year/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=January 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319163611/https://time.com/5793713/madonna-100-women-of-the-year/ |archive-date=March 19, 2020 |date=March 5, 2020}}</ref> The singles "[[Express Yourself (Madonna song)|Express Yourself]]" and "[[Cherish (Madonna song)|Cherish]]" both peaked at number two in the US, while "[[Keep It Together (Madonna song)|Keep It Together]]" peaked within the top ten.<ref name="talkslikeaprayer"/> By the end of the 1980s, ''Billboard'' and ''[[Musician (magazine)|Musician]]'' had named her "Artist of the Decade".{{Sfn|Bego|2000|p=232}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Michael, Madonna Top 'Billboard' Poll |magazine=[[Dayton Daily News]] |publisher=[[Cox Enterprises]] |date=May 25, 1990 |issn=0897-0920 |page=23}}</ref>

In April 1990, Madonna launched the [[Blond Ambition World Tour]].<ref name="q984">{{cite web |last=Mackie |first=Drew |title=Madonna's Blond Ambition Tour: 25 Years Later |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=April 13, 2015 |url=https://people.com/celebrity/madonnas-blond-ambition-tour-25-years-later/ |access-date=December 4, 2025}}</ref> Described by ''Rolling Stone'' as an "elaborately choreographed, sexually provocative extravaganza", the tour was named the best of 1990 by the magazine.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Crucifixes, Leather and Hits |date=June 1, 2006 |last=Walters |first=Barry |magazine=Rolling Stone |issn=0035-791X |volume=1067 |issue=56}}</ref> It drew criticism from religious organizations, particularly for her performance of "Like a Virgin", in which she simulated [[masturbation]] while being caressed by two male dancers.<ref name="showstealer"/> Madonna defended the show, stating that it was intended for "open minds" and encouraged audiences to view sexuality differently.<ref name="carrie">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/carrie-fisher-interviews-madonna-about-men-sex-drugs-death-w457927 |last=Fisher |first=Carrie |author-link=Carrie Fisher |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=August 1991 |title=True Confessions: The Rolling Stone Interview with Madonna |access-date=November 9, 2017 |archive-date=August 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821085704/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/carrie-fisher-interviews-madonna-about-men-sex-drugs-death-w457927 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Blond Ambition World Tour Live|The live recording of the tour]] earned Madonna the [[Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video]].<ref name="r210">{{cite magazine |last=Grein |first=Paul |title=A Closer Look at the Grammys' Best Music Film Category |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=April 23, 2019 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/grammys-best-music-film-category-beyonce-homecoming-8508337/ |access-date=December 4, 2025}}</ref> Her first documentary film, ''[[Truth or Dare (documentary)|Truth or Dare]]'' (titled ''In Bed with Madonna'' outside North America), was released in May 1991.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|pp=178, 214}}<ref name="d504">{{cite web |last1=Donahue |first1=Anne T. |last2=Knegt |first2=Peter |title=We played a game of truth or dare to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Madonna's iconic documentary |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] |date=May 10, 2021 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/arts/we-played-a-game-of-truth-or-dare-to-celebrate-the-30th-anniversary-of-madonna-s-iconic-documentary-1.6020032 |access-date=December 4, 2025}}</ref> 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 by [[Michael Moore]]'s ''[[Bowling for Columbine]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2003/jan/03/entertainment/et-munoz3/2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503095431/http://articles.latimes.com/2003/jan/03/entertainment/et-munoz3/2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 3, 2012 |title=Little pictures have a big year |first=Lorenza |last=Munoz |date=January 3, 2003 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=August 12, 2017}}</ref>

Madonna portrayed [[Breathless Mahoney]] in the film ''[[Dick Tracy (1990 film)|Dick Tracy]]'' (1990), directed by and starring [[Warren Beatty]] in the title role. The film [[List of 1990 box office number-one films in the United States|topped the US box office]] for two consecutive weeks, and [[Owen Gleiberman]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' praised Madonna's performance, saying that he wished she had been given more screen time.{{sfnm|Taraborrelli|2002|1pp=150–153|Bego|2000|2pp=253–254}}<ref name="t317">{{cite magazine |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |author-link=Owen Gleiberman |title=''Dick Tracy'' |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=June 15, 1990 |url=https://ew.com/article/1990/06/15/dick-tracy-4/ |access-date=December 4, 2025}}</ref> To accompany the film, she released the soundtrack album ''[[I'm Breathless]]'', with songs largely inspired by 1930s music.{{sfn|Rooksby|2004|pp=37, 70}} It spawned the single "[[Vogue (song)|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.<ref name="yahoo">{{cite news |url=http://sg.news.yahoo.com/madonna-beth-ditto-great-113000046.html |title=Madonna: Beth Ditto is great |author=Cover Media |publisher=[[Yahoo! News]] |date=July 29, 2011 |access-date=November 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615191144/http://sg.news.yahoo.com/madonna-beth-ditto-great-113000046.html |archive-date=June 15, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="t028">{{cite web |title=The Number Ones: Madonna's 'Vogue' |website=[[Stereogum]] |date=October 26, 2025 |url=https://stereogum.com/2160894/the-number-ones-madonnas-vogue/columns/the-number-ones |access-date=December 4, 2025}}</ref> During production, Madonna and Beatty began a relationship that ended shortly after the film's premiere.{{sfn|Bego|2000|pp=233–238}} In October 1990, she recorded a [[Public Service Announcement]] supporting [[Rock the Vote]]'s voter registration campaign.<ref name="r707">{{cite web |last=Satenstein |first=Liana |title=A Look Back at the Very '90s "Rock the Vote" Campaign |website=Vogue |date=November 2, 2020 |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/rock-the-vote-90s-madonna-lenny-kravitz-sarah-jessica-parker |access-date=December 4, 2025}}</ref>

Madonna's first [[Greatest hits album|greatest-hits compilation album]], ''[[The Immaculate Collection]]'', was released in November 1990.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|pp=202–206}} The album has sold 30{{nbsp}}million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling compilation album by a solo artist and one of the best-selling albums of all time.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/theticket/2012/0323/1224313742569.html |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |access-date=January 6, 2015 |title=Girl gone wild: is it time for Madonna to grow up? |date=March 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323121356/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/theticket/2012/0323/1224313742569.html |archive-date=March 23, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/3uuw8u/happy-birthday-madonna |title=Happy Birthday, Madonna! |first=John |last=Mitchell |publisher=[[MTV]] |date=August 16, 2011 |access-date=August 18, 2011 |archive-date=September 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908103545/https://www.mtv.com/news/3uuw8u/happy-birthday-madonna |url-status=dead}}</ref> The set included two new songs, "[[Justify My Love]]" and "[[Rescue Me (Madonna song)|Rescue Me]]".{{sfn|Bego|2000|p=260}} Model [[Tony Ward (model)|Tony Ward]], Madonna's then-boyfriend, co-starred in the music video for "Justify My Love", which included imagery of [[sadomasochism]], [[Bondage (BDSM)|bondage]], same-sex intimacy, and brief nudity.<ref name="r702">{{cite web |last=Mackie |first=Drew |title=Justify My Love Turns 25: 20 Things You Didn't Know |website=People.com |date=November 2, 2015 |url=https://people.com/celebrity/justify-my-love-turns-25-20-things-you-didnt-know/ |access-date=December 4, 2025}}</ref><ref name="b547">{{cite magazine |title=The 100 Greatest Music Videos |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=July 30, 2021 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-music-videos-1194411/madonna-justify-my-love-2-1196226/ |access-date=December 4, 2025}}</ref> Considered too sexually explicit, the video was banned by MTV.<ref name="rebel">{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/1998/11/20/justify-my-love-was-too-raunchy-1990/ |title=Madonna Banned |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=May 27, 2008 |last=Rich |first=Joshua |date=November 20, 1998 |archive-date=September 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918111453/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,285759,00.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> The resulting controversy contributed to the song reaching number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming her ninth chart-topping single.{{sfn|Bego|2000|p=260}}

=== 1992–1997: Maverick, ''Erotica'', ''Sex'', ''Bedtime Stories'', ''Evita'', and motherhood ===
In 1992, Madonna appeared in the film ''[[A League of Their Own]]'' as Mae Mordabito, a member of an all-women's baseball team.{{sfnm|Bego|2000|1p=274|O'Brien|2007|2p=535}} The film reached [[List of 1992 box office number-one films in the United States|number one at the US box office]] in its second weekend of release.<ref name="p198">{{cite web |title=A League of Their Own |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |date=July 1, 1992 |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3529475585/weekend/ |access-date=December 5, 2025}}</ref> Madonna also recorded its theme song, "[[This Used to Be My Playground]]", which became her tenth ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number-one single, the most of any woman at the time.{{sfn|Bego|2000|p=281}}<ref name="r026">{{cite web |title=The Number Ones: Madonna's "This Used to Be My Playground" |website=[[Stereogum]] |date=October 26, 2025 |url=https://stereogum.com/2173474/the-number-ones-madonnas-this-used-to-be-my-playground/columns/the-number-ones |access-date=December 5, 2025}}</ref> In April 1992, Madonna established the entertainment company [[Maverick (entertainment company)|Maverick]], which included a record label, film production unit, and divisions for music publishing, television, book publishing, and merchandising. The venture was a joint partnership with [[Time Warner]] and provided her with a $60 million advance and a 20 percent royalty rate—the highest in the industry at the time.<ref name="NYT - $60 million">{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Holden |author-link=Stephen Holden |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/20/arts/madonna-makes-a-60-million-deal.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |title=Madonna Makes a $60&nbsp;Million Deal |access-date=May 27, 2008 |date=April 20, 1992 |archive-date=May 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511013845/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/20/arts/madonna-makes-a-60-million-deal.html |url-status=live}}</ref> 

[[File: ExpressYourselfGirlieShowunderGround2 sh (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Madonna performing at [[The Girlie Show (Madonna)|the Girlie Show]] in 1993|alt=Madonna with short blonde hair, wearing a green bra and purple pants, singing to a microphone, held in her left hand.]]

Maverick went on to become one of the most successful [[Vanity label|artist-run labels]] in history, signing multi-platinum acts such as [[Alanis Morissette]] and [[Michelle Branch]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2004/06/15/madonna-sells-her-record-label/ |title=Madonna sells her record label |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |first=Gary |last=Susman |date=June 15, 2004 |access-date=December 30, 2020 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310152428/https://ew.com/article/2004/06/15/madonna-sells-her-record-label/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Later in 1992, Madonna co-sponsored the first museum retrospective of her former partner, artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, at the [[Whitney Museum of American Art]] in New York.<ref>{{Cite news |last=D'Arcy |first=David |date=November 1, 1992 |title=Whitney compares Basquiat to Leonardo da Vinci in new retrospective |url=http://www.theartnewspaper.com/archive/basquiat-as-leonardo-da-vinci |access-date=August 2, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Art Newspaper]] |archive-date=October 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022010900/https://www.theartnewspaper.com/archive/basquiat-as-leonardo-da-vinci |url-status=live}}</ref> She released her fifth studio album, ''[[Erotica (album)|Erotica]]'', on October 20, 1992, in the US, and published her [[coffee table book]] ''[[Sex (book)|Sex]]'' a day later.<ref name="BBEroticaTrackbyTrack">{{cite web |last=Arnold |first=Chuck |title=Madonna's 'Erotica' Album at 30: Every Song Ranked From Worst to Best |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=October 20, 2022 |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/madonna-erotica-album-songs-ranked/ |access-date=December 6, 2025}}</ref>{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|pp=220–225}} ''Sex'' featured sexually provocative and explicit images photographed by [[Steven Meisel]] and drew strong negative reactions from both the media and the general public; initial interest propelled the book to the top of [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]].{{sfnm|Taraborrelli|2002|1pp=220, 224|Bego|2000|2pp=283–285}} A ''[[Washington Post]]'' writer described it as an "oversized, overpriced, [and boring] coffee table book of hardcore sexual fantasies".{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|p=224}}

The widespread backlash overshadowed ''Erotica'', which became her lowest-selling album at the time.{{sfnm|O'Brien|2007|1p=267|Taraborrelli|2002|2p=225}} It debuted and peaked at number two on the US ''Billboard'' 200, and received favorable reviews from critics.<ref name="BBEroticaTrackbyTrack"/> Two of its singles—"[[Erotica (song)|Erotica]]" and "[[Deeper and Deeper]]"—reached the top ten of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.{{sfn|Bego|2000|p=287}} During this period, Madonna was in a relationship with rapper [[Vanilla Ice]], to whom she proposed.<ref>{{cite web |last=DeSantis |first=Rachel |title=Vanilla Ice Reflects on Marriage Proposal He Received from Madonna: 'Things Were Going... So Fast' |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=January 31, 2023 |url=https://people.com/music/vanilla-ice-reflects-on-marriage-proposal-he-received-from-madonna/ |access-date=December 6, 2025}}</ref> The pair separated following the release of ''Sex'', with Vanilla Ice claiming he had been included in the book without his consent.{{sfn|O'Brien|2007|p=249}} Madonna extended her provocative themes in the 1993 erotic thriller ''[[Body of Evidence (1993 film)|Body of Evidence]]'', which featured scenes of sadomasochism and bondage and was poorly received by critics.<ref name="d947">{{cite web |title=Take a Bow: Madonna's Extraordinary Career |website=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=February 4, 2012 |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2012/02/04/take-a-bow-madonnas-extraordinary-music-career/photo/msdboof-ec017-2/ |access-date=December 6, 2025}}</ref> 

In September 1993, Madonna played an abused wife in a troubled marriage to a filmmaker in ''[[Dangerous Game (1993 film)|Dangerous Game]]'', though her performance in the film was met with negative reception.{{sfnm|Bego|2000|1p=289|O'Brien|2007|2pp=70, 275}}<ref name="r803">{{cite web |title=''Snake Eyes'' |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date=November 19, 1993 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1047940-dangerous_game |access-date=December 6, 2025}}</ref> She launched [[The Girlie Show (concert tour)|the Girlie Show]] that month, during which she appeared as a whip-cracking [[dominatrix]] and performed alongside topless dancers.<ref name="showstealer" /> She made [[Madonna on the Late Show with David Letterman in 1994|a highly publicized appearance]] on the ''[[Late 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 of ''Sex'' and ''Erotica'', along with her film roles and controversial Letterman appearance, prompted commentators to question her dependence on provocative imagery.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|pp=232–235}} Madonna briefly dated rapper [[Tupac Shakur]] and basketball player [[Dennis Rodman]] around this time.{{sfn|O'Brien|2007|p=302–303}} 

Biographer [[J. Randy Taraborrelli]] viewed Madonna's ballad "[[I'll Remember]]"—recorded for the film ''[[With Honors (film)|With Honors]]'' (1994)—as an effort to soften her provocative image.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|p=242}} With her sixth studio album, ''[[Bedtime Stories (Madonna album)|Bedtime Stories]]'', Madonna embraced a gentler sound and image to regain public favor.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|pp=235–236}} Released in the US on October 25, 1994, the album debuted at number three on the ''Billboard'' 200 and produced two top-three US singles: "[[Secret (Madonna song)|Secret]] and "[[Take a Bow (Madonna song)|Take a Bow]]", the latter spending seven weeks atop the ''Billboard'' Hot 100—her longest-running number one.{{sfn|Bego|2000|pp=293–294}}  Madonna sponsored the first major retrospective of [[Tina Modotti]]'s work at the [[Philadelphia Museum of Art]] in 1995,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Outwater |first=Myra Y. |date=November 12, 1995 |title=Modotti Photos Capture Mexican Life |newspaper=[[The Morning Call]] |url=https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1995-11-12-3063752-story.html |access-date=February 1, 2022 |archive-date=April 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210404174741/https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1995-11-12-3063752-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and later supported exhibitions of Basquiat's paintings at London's [[Serpentine Galleries|Serpentine Gallery]] and [[Cindy Sherman]] at [[New York City|New York]]'s [[Museum of Modern Art]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Jean-Michel Basquiat |magazine=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |volume=29 |p=[https://www.google.com/books/edition/New_York/9nspAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22Serpentine+Gallery%22+%22basquiat%22+%22madonna%22&dq=%22Serpentine+Gallery%22+%22basquiat%22+%22madonna%22&printsec=frontcover 15]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Vogel |first=Carol |date=February 16, 2012 |title=Cindy Sherman Unmasked |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/arts/design/moma-to-showcase-cindy-shermans-new-and-old-characters.html |access-date=February 1, 2022 |url-access=limited |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201101740/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/arts/design/moma-to-showcase-cindy-shermans-new-and-old-characters.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Quote box|width=20%|align=left|quote=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 of ''Evita'' than anything else I have done.|source=—Madonna talking about her role in ''[[Evita (1996 film)|Evita]]''{{sfn|Michael|2004|p=67}}}}

In February 1996, Madonna began filming the musical ''[[Evita (1996 film)|Evita]]'' in Argentina.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Madonna's role as Evita angers many Argentines |newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1996/01/20/madonna-s-role-as-evita-angers-many-argentines/ |access-date=February 1, 2022 |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201202448/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1996/01/20/madonna-s-role-as-evita-angers-many-argentines/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Having long aspired to portray Argentine political leader [[Eva Perón]], she wrote to director [[Alan 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.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|pp=246–256}} Upon its release in December 1996, her performance was met with positive reviews from critics.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|p=285}}<ref name="evitany">{{cite news |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B02E0D91E31F936A15751C1A960958260 |title=Madonna, Chic Pop Star, As Chic Political Leader |date=December 6, 1996 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=limited |last=Maslin |first=Janet |access-date=May 26, 2009 |author-link=Janet Maslin |archive-date=August 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824182854/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B02E0D91E31F936A15751C1A960958260 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="msn">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,295501,00.html |title=''Evita'' (1997) |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |author-link=Owen Gleiberman |date=December 20, 1996 |access-date=June 9, 2008 |archive-date=September 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918111557/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,295501,00.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Richard Corliss]], writing for ''Time'', described the film as well cast and visually impressive and lauded Madonna's ability to exceed expectations.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,985711,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717024917/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,985711,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 17, 2007 |title=Cinema: Madonna and Eva Peron: You Must Love Her |last=Corliss |first=Richard |date=December 16, 1996 |access-date=May 26, 2010 |magazine=Time}}</ref> Her portrayal earned her the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]].{{sfnm|Bego|2000|1p=314|Guilbert|2002|2p=93|Taraborrelli|2002|3p=286}}

The [[Evita (soundtrack)|''Evita'' soundtrack]], which peaked at number two on the ''Billboard'' 200, contained songs primarily performed by Madonna. These included "[[You Must Love Me]]" and "[[Don't Cry for Me Argentina#Madonna version|Don't Cry for Me Argentina]]", the latter of which topped the [[European Hot 100 Singles|European singles chart]].{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|p=286}}<ref name="euro">{{cite magazine |title=Hits of the World: Eurochart Hot 100 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=February 8, 1997 |volume=109 |issue=6 |p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=wA4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA41 41]}}</ref> At the 1996 [[Billboard Music Award|''Billboard'' Music Awards]], Madonna was presented with the Artist Achievement Award.<ref name="j069">{{cite web |title=This Day in Music |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=December 4, 2005 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/this-day-in-music-107-62377/ |access-date=December 6, 2025}}</ref> On October 14, 1996, she gave birth to her daughter, [[Lourdes Leon|Lourdes "Lola" Maria Ciccone Leon]], with fitness trainer Carlos Leon.{{sfnm|Bego|2000|1pp=307–310|Taraborrelli|2002|2p=260–262, 280}} According to biographer [[Mary Cross]], Madonna—who had expressed concern that her pregnancy might jeopardize ''Evita''—fulfilled significant personal goals: "Madonna had at last triumphed on screen and achieved her dream of having a child, both in the same year{{nbsp}}[...] reinventing herself and her image with the public".{{sfn|Cross|2007|p=71}} Her relationship with Carlos ended in May 1997, and she stated that they were "better off as best friends".{{sfnm|Taraborrelli|2002|1p=288|Cross|2007|2p=134}}

=== 1998–2002: ''Ray of Light'', ''Music'', second marriage, and touring comeback ===
After the birth of Lourdes, Madonna developed an interest in [[Eastern mysticism]] and [[Kabbalah]], introduced to her by actress [[Sandra Bernhard]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/kabbalah-is-madonna-losing-her-religion-6095969.html |title=Kabbalah: is Madonna losing her religion? |last=Barnes |first=Anthony |date=July 9, 2006 |access-date=May 26, 2010 |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305102102/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/kabbalah-is-madonna-losing-her-religion-6095969.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Her seventh studio album, ''[[Ray of Light]]'', reflected this change in her perception and image.{{sfnm|Rooksby|2004|1p=50|O'Brien|2007|2p=319}} She collaborated with [[electronic music]] producer [[William Orbit]] to create a fusion of [[dance music|dance]], [[pop music|pop]], and [[British rock music|British rock]] styles.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|p=302}}<ref name="wync"/> Music critic [[Ann Powers]] said Madonna sought "a kind of lushness" for the album rather than the party-oriented sounds of 1990s [[techno]] and [[rave]] genres, opting instead for a more singer-songwriter approach that Orbit helped her achieve.<ref name="wync">{{cite web |url=http://soundcheck.wnyc.org/story/madonna-ray-of-light/ |title=''Ray Of Light'' Was Madonna's 'Mid-Life Enlightenment' Record |date=September 13, 2013 |access-date=February 14, 2014 |last=Powers |first=Ann |author-link=Ann Powers |work=[[Soundcheck (radio program)|Soundcheck]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210144342/http://soundcheck.wnyc.org/story/madonna-ray-of-light/ |archive-date=February 10, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Ray of Light'' was released on February 22, 1998,<ref name="v208">{{cite web |last=Lynch |first=Joe |title=Madonna's ''Ray of Light'' at 20: Her Collaborators Look Back on the Electronic Pop Milestone |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=February 23, 2018 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/madonna-ray-of-light-album-anniversary-8214329/ |access-date=December 8, 2025}}</ref> to acclaim from critics.<ref name="a461">{{cite web |title=Revisiting ''Ray of Light'', Madonna's most forward-thinking album, 20 years on |website=[[Dazed (magazine)|Dazed]] |date=February 22, 2018 |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/39140/1/madonna-ray-of-light-20-anniversary |access-date=December 8, 2025}}</ref> ''[[Slant (magazine)|Slant]]'' deemed it "one of the great pop masterpieces of the '90s",<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/madonna-ray-of-light |title=Review: 'Madonna, ''Ray of Light''{{'}} |date=March 9, 2003 |access-date=July 17, 2009 |last=Cinquemani |first=Sal |magazine=[[Slant Magazine|Slant]] |archive-date=June 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602003946/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/madonna-ray-of-light |url-status=live}}</ref> and ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''{{'}}s [[Robert Hilburn]]  called it her most satisfying record.<ref name="latimes">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-01-ca-24100-story.html |title=Madonna, Only More So |last=Hilburn |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Hilburn |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=March 1, 1998 |access-date=November 22, 2010 |archive-date=January 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127104220/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/mar/01/entertainment/ca-24100 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Ray of Light'' debuted at number one in 17 countries.<ref name="v757">{{cite web |last=Levine |first=Nick |title='Her vulnerability still resonates deeply': Why Madonna's Ray of Light is 2025's hottest album |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=July 31, 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20250730-why-madonnas-ray-of-light-is-2025s-hottest-album |access-date=December 8, 2025}}</ref> In the US, it opened at number two on the ''Billboard'' 200 and yielded the highest first-week sales for an album by a woman at the time.<ref name="bb1998">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HwoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA100 |title=Between the Bullets |date=November 14, 1998 |access-date=July 11, 2010 |magazine=Billboard |issn=0006-2510 |volume=110 |issue=46 |page=100 |archive-date=March 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306005549/https://books.google.com/books?id=HwoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA100 |url-status=live}}</ref> 

The album's two highest-charting singles, "[[Frozen (Madonna song)|Frozen]]" and "[[Ray of Light (song)|Ray of Light]]", peaked at numbers two and five on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, with the former becoming her first song to debut at number one in the UK.{{sfnm|Taraborrelli|2002|1p=302|Bego|2000|2p=322}}<ref name="l361">{{cite web |last=Copsey |first=Rob |title=Official Charts Flashback 1998: Madonna |date=March 1, 2018 |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/official-charts-flashback-1998-madonna-frozen__22005/ |access-date=December 8, 2025}}</ref> At the [[41st Annual Grammy Awards]], Madonna won four awards, including [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album|Best Pop Album]] for ''Ray of Light'', and [[Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording|Best Dance Recording]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Music Video|Best Short Form Music Video]] for the title track.{{sfnm|Taraborrelli|2002|1p=304|O'Brien|2007|2pp=332, 529–532}} In 1998, Madonna established the [[Ray of Light Foundation]], a non-profit for women, education, global development, and humanitarian aid.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/glitzy-giving/madonna.html |title=Madonna |website=[[Inside Philanthropy]] |access-date=August 27, 2018 |archive-date=August 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827075601/https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/glitzy-giving/madonna.html |url-status=live}}</ref> She recorded the single "[[Beautiful Stranger]]" for the film ''[[Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me]]'' (1999), which earned her a [[Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media]].{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|p=304}} She starred as a yoga teacher in the comedy-drama ''[[The Next Best Thing]]'' (2000), which received negative reviews and opened at number two at the US box office.{{sfn|O'Brien|2007|pp=337, 348}} For the soundtrack, she recorded a cover of [[Don McLean]]'s "[[American Pie (song)|American Pie]]", her ninth UK number-one single.<ref name="v925">{{cite web |title=Madonna songs and albums |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/28948/madonna/ |access-date=December 10, 2025}}</ref>

[[File:MadonnaDrownedWorld8 cropped.jpg|upright|thumb|right|Madonna performing at the [[Drowned World Tour]] in 2001|alt=A blond woman sitting on a block of hay, playing guitar and singing in front of a microphone.]]

On September 18, 2000, Madonna released her eighth studio album, ''[[Music (Madonna album)|Music]]'', to critical acclaim.<ref name="z661">{{cite web |title=''Music'' Turns 20 |website=[[Stereogum]] |date=October 26, 2025 |url=https://stereogum.com/2098583/music-turns-20/reviews/the-anniversary |access-date=December 10, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Hé |first=Kristen |date=March 24, 2020 |title=Madonna in 2000: Reinventing Pop ''Music'' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/madonna-in-2000-reinventing-pop-music-9341347/ |access-date=April 3, 2025 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |quote=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.}}</ref> She collaborated with French producer [[Mirwais 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", describing ''Music'' as "the future of sound".{{sfnm|O'Brien|2007|1pp=338–343|Taraborrelli|2002|2p=328}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Madonna Offers Upbeat ''Music'' on Maverick |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=August 5, 2000 |page=98 |volume=112 |issue=32}}</ref> The album reached number one in over 20 countries and sold four million copies within its first ten days of release.<ref name="cnn">{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/10/wb.madonna.album/index.html |title=Madonna's secret to making 'Music' |date=November 10, 2000 |access-date=October 29, 2023 |publisher=[[CNN]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002052652/http://edition.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/10/wb.madonna.album/index.html |archive-date=October 2, 2023}}</ref> In the US, ''Music'' debuted atop the ''Billboard'' 200, becoming her first number-one album in eleven years since ''Like a Prayer''.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/news/after-11-year-absence-madonnas-back-876212.story |title=After 11 Year Absence, Madonna's Back At No. 1 |date=September 28, 2000 |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110063144/http://www.billboard.com/news/after-11-year-absence-madonnas-back-876212.story |archive-date=November 10, 2011}}</ref> The record spawned the top-five singles "[[Music (Madonna song)|Music]]" and "[[Don't Tell Me (Madonna song)|Don't Tell Me]]", the first of which became her twelfth number-one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref name="b414"/><ref name="m272">{{cite web |last=Trust |first=Gary |title=This Week in Billboard Chart History: In 2000, Madonna's 'Music' Hit No. 1 |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url-access=subscription |date=September 14, 2015 |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/this-week-in-billboard-chart-history-in-2000-madonnas-music-hit/ |access-date=December 10, 2025}}</ref> The music video for "[[What It Feels Like for a Girl]]" portrayed Madonna engaging in acts of crime and vandalism, leading to its ban from [[MTV]] and [[VH1]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2001/TECH/internet/03/23/madonna.video.idg/index.html?_s=PM:TECH |title=Controversial new Madonna video airs on the Web |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=March 23, 2001 |access-date=June 9, 2008 |last=Lee |first=Hann C. |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201033010/http://edition.cnn.com/2001/TECH/internet/03/23/madonna.video.idg/index.html?_s=PM%3ATECH |url-status=live}}</ref>

Madonna met director [[Guy Ritchie]] in mid-1998 and gave birth to their son, Rocco John Ritchie, in Los Angeles on August 11, 2000.{{sfnm|Guilbert|2002|1p=106|Taraborrelli|2002|2p=310}} She and Rocco experienced complications during the birth due to her [[placenta praevia]].{{sfn|Cross|2007|p=88}} He was christened at [[Dornoch Cathedral]] in Scotland on December 21, 2000, and Madonna married Ritchie the following day at nearby [[Skibo Castle]].{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|pp=309–310}} After an eight-year hiatus from touring, she launched the [[Drowned 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.{{sfn|O'Brien|2007|pp=356–366}}<ref name=grossdwt>{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=December 29, 2001 |title=The Year in Touring |magazine=Billboard |volume=113 |issue=52 |page=44 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2007/2007-10-27-Music-Week.pdf#page=3 |last=Cardew |first=Ben |date=October 27, 2007 |title=Warner finds solace in farewell CD |magazine=[[Music Week]] |access-date=August 29, 2022 |archive-date=December 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231060008/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2007/2007-10-27-Music-Week.pdf#page=3 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=usdebut>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/77645/garths-scarecrow-shoots-straight-to-no-1 |title=Garth's ''Scarecrow'' Shoots Straight To No. 1 |last=Bronson |first=Fred |author-link=Fred Bronson |date=November 22, 2001 |access-date=February 16, 2016 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=July 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731141002/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/77645/garths-scarecrow-shoots-straight-to-no-1 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2002, Madonna starred in Ritchie's ''[[Swept Away (2002 film)|Swept Away]]'', a remake of [[Lina Wertmüller]]'s [[Swept Away (1974 film)|1974 film]].{{sfn|O'Brien|2007|pp=366–368}} The film was commercially unsuccessful and universally panned,<ref name="f730">{{cite web |title=Swept Away |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |date=October 11, 2002 |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl762676737/ |access-date=December 10, 2025}}</ref><ref name="i653">{{cite web |title=''Swept Away'' |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date=October 11, 2002 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1116774-swept_away |access-date=December 10, 2025}}</ref> with [[A. O. Scott]], writing for ''The New York Times'', stating that "a role like this one requires the surrender of emotional control, something Madonna seems constitutionally unable to achieve".<ref name="v146">{{cite web |last=Scott |first=A. O. |author-link=A. O. Scott |title=Film Review: No Madonna Is an Island |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 11, 2002 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/11/movies/film-review-no-madonna-is-an-island.html |access-date=December 10, 2025}}</ref> In May 2002, she appeared in the [[West End theatre|West End]] play ''[[Up for Grabs (play)|Up for Grabs]]'' at the [[Wyndhams Theatre]], which was poorly received by critics.{{sfn|O'Brien|2007|pp=368, 537}}<ref name="p597">{{cite web |title=''Up for Grabs'' |publisher=[[WhatsOnStage.com]] |date=May 26, 2002 |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/up-for-grabs_27634/ |access-date=December 10, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Billington |author-link=Michael Billington (critic) |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2002/may/24/theatre.artsfeatures2 |title=''Up for Grabs'', Wyndham's Theatre, London Stage |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=December 7, 2012 |date=May 25, 2002 |archive-date=December 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216191855/http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2002/may/24/theatre.artsfeatures2 |url-status=live}}</ref> Later that year, Madonna released "[[Die Another Day (song)|Die Another Day]]", the theme song for the [[Die Another Day|James Bond film of the same name]], in which she also had a [[cameo appearance|cameo]] role that [[Peter Bradshaw]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' described as "incredibly wooden".<ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Bradshaw |author-link=Peter Bradshaw |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2002/nov/15/artsfeatures.jamesbond |title=Film: Die Another Day |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=December 7, 2012 |date=September 13, 2006 |archive-date=December 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206215037/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2002/nov/15/artsfeatures.jamesbond |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="k446">{{cite web |last=Farmer |first=Brian |title=From Duxford with love: James Bond Aston Martin sold for £46 000 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=October 9, 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4y39nyzdwo |access-date=December 10, 2025}}</ref> The song reached number eight on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100,<ref name="b414"/> and was nominated for a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song]] and two Grammy Awards.<ref>{{multiref|{{cite magazine |ref=none |last1=Susman |first1=Gary |title=Here are the Golden Globes winners |url=https://ew.com/article/2003/01/19/here-are-golden-globes-winners/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=March 6, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222154535/https://ew.com/article/2003/01/19/here-are-golden-globes-winners/ |archive-date=December 22, 2023 |date=January 19, 2003}}|{{cite web |ref=none |last1=Henderson |first1=Eric |last2=Cinquemani |first2=Slant |title=Grammy 2004 winner predictions |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/the-46th-annual-grammy-awards-winner-predictions/ |work=[[Slant (magazine)|Slant]] |access-date=March 6, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629182702/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/the-46th-annual-grammy-awards-winner-predictions/ |archive-date=June 29, 2019 |date=January 8, 2004}}|{{cite web |ref=none |title=The Grammy Award Winners of 2004 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/09/arts/the-grammy-award-winners-of-2004.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=March 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721074007/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/09/arts/the-grammy-award-winners-of-2004.html |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |date=February 9, 2004 |url-access=subscription}}}}</ref>

=== 2003–2006: ''American Life'' and ''Confessions on a Dance Floor'' ===
[[File:ReInventionJason_(cropped2).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Madonna performing at the [[Re-Invention World Tour]] in 2004|alt=Madonna and her backup dancers in military costumes performing onstage with their right hands held upright into a fist.]]
In 2003, Madonna worked with fashion photographer [[Steven Klein (artist)|Steven Klein]] on an exhibition installation titled X-STaTIC Pro=CeSS. The project was presented from March to May at New York's [[Deitch Projects]] gallery and was later shown internationally in a revised version.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Lieberman |first=Rhonda |title=Weighty Madonna: Rhonda Lieberman on 'X-STaTIC PRo=CeSS' |url=https://www.questia.com/magazine/1G1-101779141/weighty-madonna-rhonda-lieberman-on-x-static-pro-cess |date=May 9, 2003 |magazine=[[Artforum International]] |publisher=[[BNET]] |access-date=January 5, 2017 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201033056/https://www.questia.com/magazine/1G1-101779141/weighty-madonna-rhonda-lieberman-on-x-static-pro-cess |url-status=live}}</ref> 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 US ''Billboard'' 200.{{sfn|O'Brien|2007|p=343}}<ref name="americanlifeyearslater">{{cite magazine |last=Arnold |first=Chuck |title=Madonna's 'American Life': Revisiting the Divisive Album 15 Years Later |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=April 21, 2018 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/madonna-american-life-revisit-8359092/ |access-date=December 11, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Ratliff |first1=Ben |title=''American Life'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/american-life-115577/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=April 22, 2003 |access-date=24 December 2019 |archive-date=December 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219131209/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/american-life-115577/ |url-status=live}}</ref> By 2005, it had become her lowest-selling release, with worldwide sales of four million copies.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hastings |first=Chris |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1500733/Thank-you-for-the-music-How-Madonnas-new-single-will-give-Abba-their-greatest-ever-hit.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115051005/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1500733/Thank-you-for-the-music-How-Madonnas-new-single-will-give-Abba-their-greatest-ever-hit.html |archive-date=November 15, 2011 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Thank You for the Music! How Madonna's New Single Will Give Abba Their Greatest-Ever Hit |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=October 16, 2005 |access-date=January 7, 2008}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Its [[American Life (song)|title track]] was the only song to enter the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, where it peaked at number 37.<ref name="americanlifeyearslater"/> 

The original music video of "American Life" caused controversy due to its violence and [[Anti-war movement|anti-war]] imagery, and was withdrawn after the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] started. Madonna voluntarily censored herself due to the political climate of the country.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=124267 |title=EXCLUSIVE: Madonna's Latest Makeover |date=January 6, 2006 |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |access-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122184357/https://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=124267 |url-status=live}}</ref> She kissed singers [[Britney Spears]] and [[Christina Aguilera]] while performing "[[Hollywood (Madonna song)|Hollywood]]" in a highly publicized at the [[2003 MTV Video Music Awards]].{{sfn|O'Brien|2007|pp=383–384}}<ref name="x026">{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |title=Ex-MTV Boss Says Christina Aguilera's Team Asked Him to Re-Edit Her Into Madonna-Britney Spears VMA Triple-Kiss |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=August 23, 2023 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/christina-aguilera-team-asked-mtv-reinstate-madonna-vma-triple-kiss-spears-1235398062/ |access-date=December 11, 2025}}</ref> She then released ''[[Remixed & Revisited]]'', an [[extended play]] featuring new remixes of songs from ''American Life'' and the unreleased "Your Honesty".<ref name="ew">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C547933%2C00.html |title=Music capsule review: ''Remixed and Revisited'' (2003) |last=Fonseca |first=Nicholas |date=November 28, 2003 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=August 27, 2022 |archive-date=March 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070325194920/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,547933,00.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> Madonna signed a contract with [[Callaway Arts & Entertainment]] to write five children's books. The first, titled ''[[The 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.{{sfnm|1a1=Cross|1y=2007|1p=97|2a1=Horton|2a2=Simmons|2y=2007|2pp=196–198}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2003/09/26/why-madonnas-new-book-worth-checking-out/ |title=Why Madonna's new book is worth checking out |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |first=Missy |last=Schwartz |date=September 26, 2003 |access-date=June 14, 2020 |archive-date=June 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614023952/https://ew.com/article/2003/09/26/why-madonnas-new-book-worth-checking-out/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2004, Madonna and Maverick filed a lawsuit against [[Warner 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.<ref name=labelsuit>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3570563.stm |title=Madonna's label sues record giant |publisher=BBC |date=March 26, 2004 |access-date=June 7, 2008 |archive-date=October 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017094500/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3570563.stm |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/madonna-421-1337028 |title=Madonna sells record company |magazine=[[NME]] |date=August 26, 2007 |archive-date=November 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119022613/http://www.nme.com/news/madonna/30546 |url-status=live |access-date=January 5, 2017}}</ref> She launched the [[Re-Invention World Tour]] in May, performing across North America and Europe.<ref name=NYTimes>{{cite web |last1=Sanneh |first1=Kalefa |title=Pop Review; Madonna's latest self, a mix of her old ones |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/26/arts/pop-review-madonna-s-latest-self-a-mix-of-her-old-ones.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=August 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111075757/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/26/arts/pop-review-madonna-s-latest-self-a-mix-of-her-old-ones.html |archive-date=November 11, 2010 |date=May 26, 2004 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="y976">{{cite web |title=Madonna starts 50-date world tour |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=May 26, 2004 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3741889.stm |access-date=December 11, 2025}}</ref> The tour became 2004's highest-grossing, earning over $120 million, and was later chronicled in her documentary ''[[I'm Going to Tell You a Secret]]'' (2005).{{Sfn|O'Brien|2007|pp=387–390, 437}} In November 2004, she was inducted into the [[UK Music Hall of Fame]] as one of its five founding members.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/cliff-richard-and-robbie-williams-join-british-musics-hall-of-fame-19889.html |title=Cliff Richard and Robbie Williams join British music's Hall of Fame |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |first=Louise |last=Jury |date=November 12, 2004 |access-date=March 12, 2014 |archive-date=October 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017093947/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/cliff-richard-and-robbie-williams-join-british-musics-hall-of-fame-19889.html |url-status=live}}</ref> 

[[File:HungUpFresno (cropped).jpg|alt=Madonna wearing sunglasses and a disco-inspired bodysuit performing|thumb|upright|Madonna performing at the [[Confessions Tour]] in 2006]]

In January 2005, Madonna performed [[John Lennon]]'s "[[Imagine (song)|Imagine]]" at [[Tsunami Aid]] and later appeared at the [[Live 8]] benefit concert in London six months later.{{Sfn|O'Brien|2007|pp=450–451}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-01-16/hollywood-music-stars-join-forces-in-tsunami/619556 |title=Hollywood, music stars join forces in tsunami telethon |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Company]] |access-date=June 14, 2008 |date=January 16, 2005 |archive-date=September 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920095810/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-01-16/hollywood-music-stars-join-forces-in-tsunami/619556 |url-status=live}}</ref> She initially worked with Ahmadzaï to produce her tenth studio album, ''[[Confessions on a Dance Floor]]'', but later turned to [[Stuart Price]] to attain the sound she was seeking.<ref name="madonnaconfessionsnov">{{cite web |title=Madonna Confesses |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=November 7, 2005 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/madonna-confesses-60773/ |access-date=December 11, 2025}}</ref> Structured like a continuous [[DJ mix|DJ-mixed club set]], the album was released in the US on November 15, 2005, to critical acclaim.<ref name="madonnaconfessionsnov"/> Keith Caulfield, writing in ''Billboard'', heralded the album as a "welcome return to form for the Queen of Pop".<ref name="bbalbum">{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=November 19, 2005 |title=Albums: Confessions on a Dance Floor |magazine=Billboard |volume=117 |issue=47 |page=45 |issn=0006-2510 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5RQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA45 |access-date=July 27, 2009 |archive-date=November 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107150814/https://books.google.com/books?id=5RQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA45#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Confessions on a Dance Floor'' topped the charts in a record-breaking 40 countries, won Madonna the [[Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album|Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album]] at the [[49th Annual Grammy Awards]], and sold over 10{{nbsp}}million copies worldwide.{{sfn|Glenday|2007|p=187}}<ref name="t281">{{cite web |last=Mazzoleni |first=Giulio |title=Madonna's 'Confessions on a Dance Floor' at 20: Here's 9 Things You Don't Know About It |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=November 5, 2025 |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/madonna-confessions-on-a-dance-floor-album/ |access-date=December 11, 2025}}</ref><ref name="WWsales">{{cite news |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/feature/a586401/madonnas-new-album-what-we-know-so-far/ |title=Madonna's new album: What we know so far |publisher=[[Digital Spy]] |date=July 25, 2014 |access-date=August 22, 2017 |first=Lewis |last=Corner |archive-date=August 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822230922/http://www.digitalspy.com/music/feature/a586401/madonnas-new-album-what-we-know-so-far/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The lead single, "[[Hung Up]]", reached number one in a record-breaking 41 countries. It sampled [[ABBA]]'s "[[Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)]]", marking the second time the band permitted such use. ABBA songwriter [[Björn Ulvaeus]] called it "a wonderful track—100 per cent solid pop music".{{sfnm|Glenday|2007|1p=187|O'Brien|2007|2p=426}}<ref name="b085">{{cite web |title=Madonna 'begged' ABBA for sample |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=October 18, 2005 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4354028.stm |access-date=December 12, 2025}}</ref> The album's second single, "[[Sorry (Madonna song)|Sorry]]", became Madonna's twelfth number-one single in the UK.<ref name="BBC" /> Madonna launched the [[Confessions Tour]] in May 2006, which grossed more than $193.7 million, making it the [[List of highest-grossing concert tours by women|highest-grossing tour by a woman]] at the time.<ref name="BBGross">{{cite magazine |title=Madonna's 'Confessions' tour sets record |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/57197/madonnas-confessions-tour-sets-record |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128123356/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/madonnas-confessions-tour-sets-record-57197/ |archive-date=November 28, 2021 |date=September 20, 2006}}</ref> During the performance of "[[Live to Tell]]", she used religious imagery, including a crucifix and a [[crown of thorns]], prompting the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] and the [[Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia]] to call for a boycott.{{sfn|Chapman|2010|p=333}}

While touring, Madonna founded the charitable organization [[Raising Malawi]] and helped fund an orphanage in the country.{{sfn|O'Brien|2007|pp=452–456}} 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.{{sfn|O'Brien|2007|p=18}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/05/04/madonna.adoption/index.html |title=Madonna's adoption appeal begins in Malawi |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=April 4, 2009 |access-date=February 24, 2010 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041504/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/05/04/madonna.adoption/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Malawi's Minister of Women and Child Development, [[Kate Kainja]], had also blocked officials from traveling to meet Madonna and Ritchie as potential adopters.<ref name=katek>{{Cite news |date=August 2007 |title=Madonna's adoption of Malawi boy hits snag |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/madonnas-adoption-of-malawi-boy-hits-snag-idUSL05459475/ |access-date=May 7, 2025 |agency=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Speaking on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'', Madonna explained that Malawi had no formal adoption laws for foreigners and described how Banda had been suffering from [[pneumonia]] after surviving [[malaria]] and [[tuberculosis]].<ref name="h980">{{cite web |title=Madonna's Oprah interview: In quotes |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=October 25, 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6085032.stm |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Ed |last=Pilkington |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/oct/26/arts.usa |title=Confessions on a TV show: Oprah hears Madonna's side of the story |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=June 9, 2008 |date=October 26, 2006 |archive-date=October 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017093830/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/oct/26/arts.usa |url-status=live}}</ref> Banda's father, Yohane, defended the adoption, saying he understood and supported the arrangement. The adoption was finalized in May 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-10-23-madonna-oprah_x.htm?csp=27 |title=Madonna speaks out over furor |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |last=Thomas |first=Karen |date=October 26, 2006 |access-date=June 14, 2008 |archive-date=March 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327234745/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-10-23-madonna-oprah_x.htm?csp=27 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/court-rules-that-madonna-may-adopt-malawi-girl/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0 |title=Court Rules That Madonna May Adopt Malawi Girl |last=Itzkoff |first=David |date=June 12, 2009 |access-date=March 29, 2014 |url-access=limited |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=January 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112210954/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/court-rules-that-madonna-may-adopt-malawi-girl/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2007–2011: Filmmaking, ''Hard Candy'', and business ventures ===
[[File:Madonna by David Shankbone.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Madonna at the premiere of ''[[I Am Because We Are]]'' in 2008|alt=Madonna wearing a loose dress with black and brown prints on it. She is looking to the right and smiling.]]
In July 2007, Madonna released and performed the song "[[Hey You (Madonna song)|Hey You]]" at the London [[Live Earth concert, London|Live Earth]] concert.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Mark |last=Sutherland |date=July 7, 2007 |title=Live Earth London Wraps With Madonna Spectacular |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1051072/live-earth-london-wraps-with-madonna-spectacular |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=December 31, 2016 |archive-date=December 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216124605/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1051072/live-earth-london-wraps-with-madonna-spectacular |url-status=live}}</ref> She subsequently announced her departure from Warner Bros. Records and signed a ten-year, $120 million [[360 deal]] with [[Live Nation]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1048045/update-madonna-confirms-deal-with-live-nation |title=Update: Madonna Confirms Deal With Live Nation |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=October 16, 2007 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=February 25, 2010 |archive-date=February 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211095738/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1048045/update-madonna-confirms-deal-with-live-nation |url-status=live}}</ref> She produced and wrote ''[[I Am Because We Are]]'' (2008), a documentary directed by Nathan Rissman that addressed social issues in Malawi.{{sfn|Morgan|2015|p=362}} That same year, she directed her first feature film, ''[[Filth and Wisdom]]'', which follows three friends pursuing their ambitions.{{sfn|Morgan|2015|p=346}} Reviews were largely negative,<ref>{{cite web |title=''Filth and Wisdom'' Movie Reviews |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/filth_and_wisdom/ |access-date=19 June 2025 |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> with ''[[The Times]]'' describing it as a commendable debut and ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' calling it a promising but imperfect first effort.<ref>{{cite web |last=Christopher |first=James |date=February 14, 2008 |title=Review: Madonna's Filth and Wisdom |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/film_reviews/article3364108.ece |access-date=December 31, 2016 |url-access=subscription |newspaper=[[The Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510113457/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/film_reviews/article3364108.ece |archive-date=May 10, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Filth and Wisdom: Don't give up the day job, Madonna |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/3671154/Filth-and-Wisdom-Dont-give-up-the-day-job-Madonna.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/3671154/Filth-and-Wisdom-Dont-give-up-the-day-job-Madonna.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=June 14, 2008 |last=Johnston |first=Sheila |date=February 14, 2008}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On March 10, 2008, Madonna was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] during her first year of eligibility.<ref name="rsinducted">{{cite magazine |date=September 27, 2007 |first=Jonathan |last=Cohen |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1048851/madonna-beasties-mellencamp-up-for-rock-hall |title=Madonna, Beasties, Mellencamp Up For Rock Hall |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=December 31, 2016 |archive-date=December 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216013847/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1048851/madonna-beasties-mellencamp-up-for-rock-hall |url-status=live}}</ref> She did not perform at the ceremony but invited [[the Stooges]] to perform her songs "[[Burning Up (Madonna song)|Burning Up]]" and "Ray of Light".<ref>{{cite news |title=Madonna Has Her Say At Rock Hall Ceremony |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/madonna-has-her-say-at-rock-hall-ceremony/ |date=March 10, 2008 |publisher=[[CBS News]] |access-date=December 31, 2016 |archive-date=December 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223064734/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/madonna-has-her-say-at-rock-hall-ceremony/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Madonna worked with [[Justin Timberlake]], [[Timbaland]], and [[Pharrell Williams]] to produce her eleventh studio album, ''[[Hard Candy (Madonna album)|Hard Candy]]''.<ref name="timbalandhot">{{cite news |last=Reid |first=Shaheem |date=August 8, 2007 |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1566579/timbaland-talks-about-his-and-justin-timberlakes-hot-collabo-with-madonna/ |title=Timbaland Talks About His And Justin Timberlake's 'Hot' Collabo With Madonna |publisher=MTV |archive-date=October 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001063705/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1566579/20070807/timbaland.jhtml |url-status=dead |access-date=December 31, 2016}}</ref> Released on April 29, 2008,<ref name="j999">{{cite web |last=Arnold |first=Chuck |title=Why ''Hard Candy'' is Madonna's Last Great Album |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=April 28, 2018 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/madonna-hard-candy-10-year-anniversary-last-great-album-8401373/ |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref> ''Hard Candy'' debuted atop the charts of 37 countries, including the US ''Billboard'' 200.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kiely |first1=Amanda |title=Madonna's 'Sticky & Sweet' concert to premiere on EPIX |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aFihZquS2D7c |publisher=[[Bloomberg Television]] |access-date=December 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105075512/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aFihZquS2D7c |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |date=October 6, 2009}}</ref><ref name="s506">{{cite web |last=Jessen |first=Wade |title=Madonna's the Queen of Charts |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=May 7, 2008 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/madonnas-the-queen-of-charts-1308961/ |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref> The lead single, "[[4 Minutes]]", peaked at number three on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming her thirty-seventh top-ten entry in the US and surpassing [[Elvis Presley]]'s record for the most top-ten songs.<ref name="mariahmadonna">{{cite magazine |date=April 2, 2008 |first=Silvio |last=Pietroluongo |title=Mariah, Madonna Make Billboard Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045998/mariah-madonna-make-billboard-chart-history |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=December 31, 2016 |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629212719/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045998/mariah-madonna-make-billboard-chart-history |url-status=live}}</ref> In the UK, "4 Minutes" extended her record as the female artist with the most number-one singles.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schmidt |first=Veronica |date=April 21, 2008 |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3789058.ece |title=Madonna Goes to No. 1 For the 13th Time |newspaper=[[The Times]] |access-date=December 31, 2016 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=July 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719031639/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3789058.ece |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone''{{'}}s Caryn Ganz described ''Hard Candy'' as "an impressive preview of her upcoming tour",<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/madonna-debuts-hard-candy-with-justin-timberlake-at-new-york-club-show-20080501 |title=Madonna Debuts ''Hard Candy'' With Justin Timberlake at New York Club Show |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |first=Caryn |last=Ganz |date=May 1, 2008 |access-date=December 31, 2016 |archive-date=April 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422144459/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/madonna-debuts-hard-candy-with-justin-timberlake-at-new-york-club-show-20080501 |url-status=dead}}</ref> while [[BBC]] correspondent Mark Savage criticized it as "an attempt to capture the urban market".<ref>{{cite news |last=Savage |first=Mark |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7336448.stm |title=Review: Madonna's Hard Candy |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=April 8, 2008 |access-date=January 1, 2017 |archive-date=April 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414214003/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7336448.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> She launched the [[Sticky & Sweet Tour]] in August 2008, her first major venture with Live Nation. Grossing over $408 million, it became the second [[List of highest-grossing concert tours|highest-grossing tour of all time]] and the highest-grossing tour by a solo artist.<ref name="The Wall Live">{{cite magazine |first=Bob |last=Allen |date=October 4, 2013 |title=Roger Waters Passes Madonna For Solo Boxscore Record With 459&nbsp;m Wall Live |url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/5748070/roger-waters-passes-madonna-for-solo-boxscore-record-with-459m-wall-live |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=December 31, 2016 |archive-date=June 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614073359/https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/5748070/roger-waters-passes-madonna-for-solo-boxscore-record-with-459m-wall-live |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Ray |last=Waddell |date=January 30, 2009 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269509/madonna-resuming-sticky-sweet-tour-this-summer |title=Madonna Resuming Sticky & Sweet Tour This Summer |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=December 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216100733/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269509/madonna-resuming-sticky-sweet-tour-this-summer |archive-date=December 16, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> 

In July 2008, Madonna's brother Christopher published the book ''[[Life with My Sister Madonna]]'', which created a rift between the two due to its unauthorized release.<ref>{{cite news |title=Madonna's brother's book explores Guy Ritchie marriage |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/2279132/Madonnas-brothers-book-explores-Guy-Ritchie-marriage.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/2279132/Madonnas-brothers-book-explores-Guy-Ritchie-marriage.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=July 10, 2008 |access-date=January 1, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In October, Madonna filed for divorce from Ritchie, citing [[irreconcilable differences]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Madonna and Ritchie Confirm Split |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7672083.stm |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=October 16, 2008 |access-date=November 15, 2008 |archive-date=September 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918093615/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7672083.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> Two months later, her spokesperson confirmed that a settlement had been reached, granting Ritchie between [[List of most expensive divorces|£50–60&nbsp;million]] (${{to USD|50|GBR}}–{{to USD|60|GBR}}&nbsp;million), including the couple's [[The Punch Bowl (Mayfair)|London pub]], residence, and [[Ashcombe House, Wiltshire|Wiltshire estate]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7784519.stm |title=Madonna gives Guy £50m in divorce |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=December 15, 2008 |access-date=March 19, 2010 |archive-date=February 15, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215095900/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7784519.stm |url-status=live}}</ref>  The marriage was formally dissolved through a ''[[decree nisi]]'' at the Principal Registry of the Family Division in [[High Holborn|High 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/nov/22/madonna-guy-ritchie-divorce |title=Madonna and Ritchie granted quickie divorce |first=Jo |last=Adetunji |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=November 22, 2008 |access-date=March 19, 2010 |archive-date=July 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729175438/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/nov/22/madonna-guy-ritchie-divorce |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/11/21/madonna.ritchie.divorce/?iref=hpmostpop |title=Madonna, Ritchie granted quick divorce |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=December 15, 2008 |access-date=March 19, 2010 |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522170101/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/11/21/madonna.ritchie.divorce/?iref=hpmostpop |url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name="mercyjames">{{cite news |first1=Mabvuto |last1=Banda |first2=Michael |last2=Georgy |date=May 25, 2009 |editor-first=Louise |editor-last=Ireland |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269052/madonna-loses-adoption-bid-in-malawi |title=Madonna Loses Adoption Bid in Malawi |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |agency=[[Reuters]] |access-date=January 1, 2017 |archive-date=December 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216073758/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269052/madonna-loses-adoption-bid-in-malawi |url-status=live}}</ref> She appealed the decision, and in June, the Supreme Court overturned the ruling and granted her permission to adopt her.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/madonna-wins-adoption-battle/ |title=Madonna Wins Adoption Battle |publisher=[[CBS News]] |date=June 12, 2009 |access-date=January 1, 2017 |archive-date=January 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125213331/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/madonna-wins-adoption-battle/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Human Nature @ Sticky & Sweet Tour (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Madonna, wearing a silver top hat while holding a black guitar. She is singing into a microphone|Madonna performing during the [[Sticky & Sweet Tour]] in 2008]]

Madonna concluded her contract with Warner Records with the release of her third greatest-hits album, ''[[Celebration (Madonna album)|Celebration]]'', in September 2009. The compilation included two new tracks, along with thirty-four songs spanning her career with the label.<ref name="celebraterelease">{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=July 23, 2009 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267968/madonnas-celebration-hits-collection-to-feature-two-new-songs |title=Madonna's ''Celebration'' Hits Collection to Feature Two New Songs |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 23, 2009 |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629175333/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267968/madonnas-celebration-hits-collection-to-feature-two-new-songs |url-status=live}}</ref> The album reached number one in multiple countries, including Canada, Germany, Italy, and the UK.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Sexton |first=Paul |date=October 2, 2009 |title=Madonna's ''Celebration'' Tops Euro Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267210/madonnas-celebration-tops-euro-chart |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 20, 2016 |archive-date=March 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313203949/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267210/madonnas-celebration-tops-euro-chart |url-status=live}}</ref> She appeared at the [[2009 MTV Video Music Awards]] to deliver a tribute to the deceased pop artist [[Michael Jackson]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Crosley |first1=Hillary |first2=Gil |last2=Kaufman |date=September 13, 2009 |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1621390/madonna-pays-tearful-tribute-to-michael-jackson-at-2009-vmas/ |title=Madonna Pays Tearful Tribute To Michael Jackson At 2009 VMAs |publisher=[[MTV News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004084438/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621390/20090913/jackson_michael.jhtml |archive-date=October 4, 2009 |access-date=January 1, 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/decadeendcharts/2009/singles-sales-artists |title=Decade End Charts: Singles Sales Artists |magazine=Billboard |year=2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227231038/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/decadeendcharts/2009/singles-sales-artists |archive-date=December 27, 2012 |access-date=January 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8603409.stm |title=Madonna 'most played' artist of decade |agency=BBC News |date=April 5, 2010 |access-date=November 13, 2010 |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201033746/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8603409.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> ''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.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top Touring Artists of the Decade |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266415/top-touring-artists-of-the-decade |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=December 11, 2009 |access-date=January 1, 2017 |archive-date=March 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316061805/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266415/top-touring-artists-of-the-decade |url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2010, Madonna performed at [[Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief]] concert.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnston |first=Maura |author-link=Maura Johnston |date=January 22, 2010 |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1630335/madonna-brings-classic-like-a-prayer-to-hope-for-haiti-now-telethon/ |title=Madonna Brings Classic 'Like A Prayer' To ''Hope for Haiti Now'' Telethon |publisher=[[MTV News]] |access-date=January 1, 2017 |archive-date=September 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923023954/http://www.mtv.com/news/1630335/madonna-brings-classic-like-a-prayer-to-hope-for-haiti-now-telethon/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> 

Madonna's third live album, ''[[Sticky & Sweet Tour (album)|Sticky & Sweet Tour]]'', was released in April 2010, debuting at number ten in the US.<ref name="p883">{{cite web |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |title=Justin Bieber Back On Top With ''World 2.0'' |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=April 14, 2010 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/justin-bieber-back-on-top-with-world-20-1208536/ |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref> That year, she authorized the television series ''[[Glee (TV series)|Glee]]'' to feature her entire music catalog, leading to [[The Power of Madonna|an episode]] composed exclusively of her songs.<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine |last=Stack |first=Tim |date=October 21, 2009 |url=https://ew.com/article/2009/10/21/glee-exlcusive-madonna-is-in-is-adam-lambert-next/ |title=''Glee'' Exclusive: Madonna is on board! Is Adam Lambert next? |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=January 1, 2017 |archive-date=March 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323100815/http://www.ew.com/article/2009/10/21/glee-exlcusive-madonna-is-in-is-adam-lambert-next |url-status=live}}</ref> She also collaborated with her daughter Lourdes to launch the [[Madonna fashion brands|Material Girl]] clothing line, inspired by her 1980s [[Punk fashion|punk]]-inspired fashion.<ref name="mgclothing">{{cite news |first=Jill |last=Serjeant |editor-first=Bob |editor-last=Tourtellotte |date=August 20, 2010 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-madonna-idUSTRE67J3YP20100820 |title=Madonna sued over 'Material Girl' clothing line |agency=[[Reuters]] |access-date=January 1, 2017 |archive-date=January 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102081443/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-madonna-idUSTRE67J3YP20100820 |url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2010, she founded the global fitness chain [[Hard Candy Fitness]], and in November 2011 introduced a second lifestyle brand, [[Truth or Dare by Madonna|Truth or Dare]], offering footwear, fragrances, lingerie, and accessories.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lee |first=Joyce |date=October 26, 2010 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/madonna-to-open-hard-candy-gym-chain/ |title=Madonna to Open Hard Candy Gym Chain |access-date=January 1, 2017 |publisher=[[CBS News]] |archive-date=September 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916095708/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/madonna-to-open-hard-candy-gym-chain/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.madonna.com/news/title/madonna-and-mg-icon-announce-the-launch-of-the-truth-or-dare-by-madonna-brand- |title=Madonna And MG Icon Announce The Launch of The 'Truth or Dare by Madonna' Brand |date=November 3, 2011 |publisher=Madonna |access-date=January 1, 2017 |archive-date=April 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404032134/http://www.madonna.com/news/title/madonna-and-mg-icon-announce-the-launch-of-the-truth-or-dare-by-madonna-brand- |url-status=live}}</ref> Her second directorial feature was ''[[W.E.]]'' (2011), a biographical drama about the relationship between [[King Edward VIII]] and [[Wallis Simpson]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2010/film/markets-festivals/madonna-directing-w-e-1118015190/ |title=Madonna directing 'W.E.' |last=Jafaar |first=Ali |date=February 13, 2010 |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=February 15, 2010 |archive-date=November 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126224408/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118015190?refCatId=16 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film received unfavorable critical and commercial response.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/we_2011 |title=''W.E.'' (2012) |access-date=November 10, 2025 |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref>  [[W.E. (soundtrack)|Its soundtrack]] included the [[ballad]] "[[Masterpiece (Madonna song)|Masterpiece]]", which earned Madonna a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song]].<ref name="c948">{{cite web |first=Marc |last=Schneider |title=Madonna Wins Best Song at Golden Globes, Jabs ''Girl'' Ricky Gervais |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=January 16, 2012 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/madonna-masterpiece-best-song-golden-globe-282257/ |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref>

=== 2012–2016: Super Bowl XLVI halftime show, ''MDNA'', and ''Rebel Heart'' ===
[[File:2012 Super Bowl halftime show (6844800645).jpg|thumb|left|Madonna, joined by [[Cee Lo Green]] and a [[marching band]], performing during the [[Super Bowl XLVI halftime show]] on February 5, 2012|alt=A group of performers onstage, with Madonna and Cee Lo Green at the front. They are all wearing black costumes with red and white stripes.]]
In February 2012, Madonna headlined the [[Super Bowl XLVI halftime show]] at [[Lucas Oil Stadium]] in [[Indianapolis, Indiana]].<ref name="nfl12">{{cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/super-bowl-xlvi-halftime-show-will-feature-madonna-09000d5d824bf8ea |title=Super Bowl XLVI Halftime show featured Madonna |date=December 4, 2011 |publisher=[[National Football League]] |access-date=December 5, 2011 |archive-date=January 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107053712/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d824bf8ea/article/super-bowl-xlvi-halftime-show-will-feature-madonna |url-status=live}}</ref> Produced in collaboration with [[Cirque du Soleil]] and choreographer [[Jamie King]], the performance featured guest appearances by [[LMFAO]], [[Nicki Minaj]], [[M.I.A. (rapper)|M.I.A.]] and [[CeeLo 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bauder |first=David |url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/football/super-bowl/Super+Bowl+most+watched+show+history+draws+record+million+viewers/6109753/story.html |title=Super Bowl most watched TV show in U.S. history, draws record 111.3 million viewers |newspaper=Vancouver Sun |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208221945/http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/football/super-bowl/Super%2BBowl%2Bmost%2Bwatched%2Bshow%2Bhistory%2Bdraws%2Brecord%2Bmillion%2Bviewers/6109753/story.html |archive-date=February 8, 2012 |date=February 6, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Madonna primarily produced her twelfth studio album, ''[[MDNA (album)|MDNA]]'', with Orbit and [[Martin Solveig]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Vena |first=Jocelyn |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1677918/madonna-mdna-william-orbit/ |title=Madonna Made 'Magic' With William Orbit On M.D.N.A. |publisher=[[MTV News]] |date=January 26, 2012 |access-date=March 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012221600/http://www.mtv.com/news/1677918/madonna-mdna-william-orbit/ |archive-date=October 12, 2014}}</ref> It was released on March 26, 2012, to generally favorable critical reception.<ref name="o428">{{cite web |last=Goodwyn |first=Tom |title=This Week's New Music Releases: March 26 2012 |website=[[NME]] |date=March 26, 2012 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/this-week-releases-26-1268308 |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref><ref name="e296">{{cite web |title=''MDNA'' by Madonna |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/mdna/madonna |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref> ''MDNA'' was Madonna's first release under a three-album agreement with [[Interscope Records]], signed as part of her 360 deal with Live Nation, which could not distribute recorded music.<ref name="InterscopeDeal">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/madonna-interscope-live-nation-deal-273943 |title=Madonna's Interscope-Live Nation Deal Worth $40 Million; Album Due Out in March |last=Halperin |first=Shirley |date=December 15, 2011 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=December 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107195417/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/madonna-interscope-live-nation-deal-273943 |archive-date=January 7, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7385849/live-nation-michael-rapino-upselling-360-deals |title=Live Nation's Michael Rapino Wants to Upsell You, Talks Streaming and Madonna-Like 360 Deals |date=May 26, 2016 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=May 28, 2018 |archive-date=May 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529135107/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7385849/live-nation-michael-rapino-upselling-360-deals |url-status=live}}</ref>

''MDNA'' became her fifth consecutive studio album to debut at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/497329/madonna-debuts-at-no-1-on-billboard-200-lionel-richie-at-no-2 |title=Madonna Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200, Lionel Richie at No. 2 |magazine=Billboard |date=September 14, 2009 |access-date=April 7, 2012 |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |archive-date=March 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330220114/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/497329/madonna-debuts-at-no-1-on-billboard-200-lionel-richie-at-no-2 |url-status=live}}</ref> "[[Give Me All Your Luvin']]" was released as album's lead single, and became her record-extending thirty-eighth top-ten single on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/505114/madonna-scores-record-extending-38th-hot-100-top-10 |title=Madonna Scores Record-Extending 38th Hot 100 Top 10 |magazine=Billboard |date=September 14, 2009 |access-date=February 26, 2012 |archive-date=March 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329105138/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/505114/madonna-scores-record-extending-38th-hot-100-top-10 |url-status=live}}</ref> She promoted the album with the [[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.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Cadan |first=Dan |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/madonna-kicks-off-mdna-tour-in-tel-aviv-20120601 |title=Madonna Kicks Off 'MDNA' Tour in Tel Aviv |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=June 1, 2012 |access-date=June 7, 2012 |archive-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025132401/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/madonna-kicks-off-mdna-tour-in-tel-aviv-20120601 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="mdna boxscore">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1526267/madonnas-mdna-tour-makes-billboard-boxscores-all-time-top-10 |title=Madonna's 'MDNA' Tour Makes Billboard Boxscore's All-Time Top 10 |magazine=Billboard |first=Ray |last=Waddell |date=January 24, 2013 |access-date=May 19, 2013 |archive-date=February 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201084714/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1526267/madonnas-mdna-tour-makes-billboard-boxscores-all-time-top-10 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Richin |first=Leslie |title=Our 5 Favorite Moments from Madonna's MDNA Tour |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=December 22, 2014 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/madonna-mdna-tour-best-moments-6413818/ |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref> Madonna collaborated with Steven Klein and directed a seventeen-minute film, ''[[secretprojectrevolution]]'', which was released on [[BitTorrent (company)|BitTorrent]] in September 2013.<ref name="w530">{{cite web |last=Gardner |first=Eriq |title=Madonna to Release Short Film Via BitTorrent to Aid Global 'Artistic Expression' |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=September 17, 2013 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/madonnas-secret-project-revealed-pop-630428/ |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref> 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 like [[David Blaine]] and [[Katy Perry]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/madonna-names-katy-perry-art-for-freedom-guest-curator-20140107 |title=Madonna Names Katy Perry Art for Freedom Guest Curator |last=Blistein |first=John |date=January 7, 2014 |access-date=May 23, 2014 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163423/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/madonna-names-katy-perry-art-for-freedom-guest-curator-20140107 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Rebel Heart Tour 2016 - Brisbane 1 (26194050412) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Madonna performing at the [[Rebel Heart Tour]] in 2016|alt=Madonna looking to her right while singing onstage, with her right hand on her waist.]]

By 2013, Madonna's Raising Malawi had built ten schools educating 4,000 children in Malawi at a value of $400,000.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goldstein |first1=Sasha |title=Madonna Sends Malawi president an Error-Filled Handwritten Letter, Leaves the Country Without Meeting Joyce Banda |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/madonna-leaves-malawi-charity-visit-article-1.1310137 |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |access-date=March 22, 2021 |date=April 7, 2013 |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415170353/https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/madonna-leaves-malawi-charity-visit-article-1.1310137 |url-status=live}}</ref> During her April visit, president [[Joyce 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22103748 |title=Malawi labels Madonna a 'bully' after recent visit |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=April 11, 2013 |access-date=April 11, 2013 |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411013747/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22103748 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/12/malawi-president-attack-madonna-goof |title=Malawi president's attack on Madonna said to be a 'goof' |date=April 12, 2013 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=April 15, 2013 |first1=Godfrey |last1=Mapondera |first2=David |last2=Smith |archive-date=August 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827004300/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/12/malawi-president-attack-madonna-goof |url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2014, she donated to her [[Detroit bankruptcy|bankrupt]] hometown of Detroit, and that year launched her [[Madonna fashion brands#MDNA Skin|MDNA Skin]] care line in Tokyo.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Madonna Aims to Help Detroit Hometown by Funding Charities |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/madonna-aims-to-help-detroit-hometown-by-funding-organizations-20140630 |last=Grow |first=Kory |date=June 30, 2014 |access-date=July 1, 2014 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-date=October 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004191615/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/madonna-aims-to-help-detroit-hometown-by-funding-organizations-20140630 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="skin">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/madonna-premiering-skin-care-brand-in-japan-5901239/ |title=Madonna Premiering Skin Care Brand in Japan |last=Rutherford |first=Kevin |date=February 14, 2014 |access-date=February 14, 2014 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-date=March 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302044928/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-hook/5901239/madonna-premiering-skin-care-brand-in-japan |url-status=live}}</ref> Madonna released her thirteenth studio album, ''[[Rebel Heart]]'', on March 10, 2015, three months after thirteen demos leaked online.<ref name="v918">{{cite web |last=Cinquemani |first=Sal |title=Review: Madonna, Rebel Heart |website=[[Slant (magazine)|Slant]] |date=February 26, 2015 |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/madonna-rebel-heart/ |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref> She collaborated with a large range of producers, including [[Avicii]], [[Diplo]], and [[Kanye West]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/my-seven-minute-speed-date-interview-with-madonna/article16897104/ |title=My seven-minute, speed-date interview with Madonna |first=Sarah |last=Hampson |date=February 14, 2014 |access-date=March 1, 2014 |newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]] |archive-date=March 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317111230/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/my-seven-minute-speed-date-interview-with-madonna/article16897104/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Madonna hits studio with Kills |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/madonna-hits-studio-with-kills-30177378.html |newspaper=[[Belfast Telegraph]] |date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=April 15, 2014 |archive-date=April 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416191756/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/madonna-hits-studio-with-kills-30177378.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Introspection was listed as one of the foundational themes prevalent on the record, along with "genuine statements of personal and careerist reflection".<ref name="slant3">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/house/article/madonna-releases-three-more-songs-from-rebel-heart-joan-of-arc-iconic-hold-tight |title=Madonna Releases Three More Songs from Rebel Heart: 'Joan of Arc', 'Iconic', & 'Hold Tight' |last=Mac |first=Sam C. |magazine=Slant Magazine |access-date=February 26, 2015 |date=February 9, 2015 |archive-date=February 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211100550/http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/article/madonna-releases-three-more-songs-from-rebel-heart-joan-of-arc-iconic-hold-tight |url-status=live}}</ref> 

Madonna explained to [[Jon Pareles]] of ''The New York Times'' that, although she has never looked back at her past endeavors, revisiting it felt appropriate for ''Rebel Heart''.<ref name="nytint">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/06/arts/music/madonna-talks-about-rebel-heart-her-fall-and-more.html |title=Madonna Talks About 'Rebel Heart,' Her Fall and More |first=Jon |last=Pareles |date=March 6, 2015 |access-date=March 7, 2015 |author-link=Jon Pareles |newspaper=The New York Times |archive-date=March 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150306211620/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/06/arts/music/madonna-talks-about-rebel-heart-her-fall-and-more.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Music critics responded positively towards the album, calling it her best effort in a decade.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reviews for Rebel Heart |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/rebel-heart/madonna |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=March 20, 2015 |archive-date=March 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315160531/http://www.metacritic.com/music/rebel-heart/madonna |url-status=live}}</ref> Madonna began her [[Rebel Heart Tour]] in September 2015, which visited North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and grossed $169.8 million from the 82 shows.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Spanos |first1=Brittany |title=Madonna Plots Rebel Heart Tour for North America, Europe |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=March 2, 2015 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/madonna-plots-rebel-heart-tour-for-north-america-europe-20150302 |access-date=March 2, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304174410/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/madonna-plots-rebel-heart-tour-for-north-america-europe-20150302 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Madonna completes her Rebel Heart tour in Sydney amid criticism |last=Bhandari |first=Subel |magazine=[[Borneo Bulletin]] |date=March 22, 2015 |url=http://borneobulletin.com.bn/madonna-completes-her-rebel-heart-tour-in-sydney-amid-criticism/ |access-date=March 22, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227150407/http://borneobulletin.com.bn/madonna-completes-her-rebel-heart-tour-in-sydney-amid-criticism/ |archive-date=February 27, 2017}}</ref><ref name="rebelheartgross">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/madonna-extends-record-highest-grossing-solo-touring-artist/ |title=Madonna Extends Record as Highest-Grossing Solo Touring Artist: $1.31 Billion Earned |last=Allen |first=Bob |date=March 24, 2016 |access-date=March 24, 2016 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-date=December 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204051754/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7271843/madonna-extends-record-highest-grossing-solo-touring-artist |url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35862049 |title=Judge Rules on Madonna Custody dispute |last=Savage |first=Mark |date=March 21, 2016 |access-date=March 22, 2016 |agency=[[BBC News]] |archive-date=March 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321185626/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35862049 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2016, ''Billboard'' named Madonna its [[Billboard Women in Music#Woman of the Year Award|Woman of the Year]]. Her candid and outspoken speech addressing [[ageism]] and [[sexism]] garnered extensive media attention.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Madonna Is Billboard's 2016 Woman of the Year |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/women-in-music/7541832/madonna-2016-woman-of-the-year |access-date=October 14, 2016 |magazine=Billboard |date=October 14, 2016 |archive-date=October 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014204125/http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/women-in-music/7541832/madonna-2016-woman-of-the-year |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="woman2016">{{cite magazine |title=Madonna Delivers Her Blunt Truth During Fiery, Teary Billboard Women In Music Speech |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/women-in-music/7616927/madonna-billboard-woman-of-the-year-labrinth |access-date=January 24, 2017 |magazine=Billboard |date=December 9, 2016 |last=Lynch |first=Joe |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202072939/http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/women-in-music/7616927/madonna-billboard-woman-of-the-year-labrinth |url-status=live}}</ref> The following month, she performed an impromptu acoustic concert at [[Washington Square Park]] in support of [[Hillary Clinton]]'s [[Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign|2016 presidential campaign]].<ref name="impromptu">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/madonna-surprise-performance-washington-square-park-new-york-7565917/ |title=Madonna Gives Surprise Performance in New York's Washington Square Park in Support of Hillary Clinton |last=Shouneyia |first=Alexa |date=November 7, 2016 |access-date=November 8, 2016 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-date=November 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108023426/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7565917/madonna-surprise-performance-washington-square-park-new-york |url-status=live}}</ref> After [[Donald Trump]]'s election victory, Madonna delivered a speech at the [[2017 Women's March]] on Washington, where a remark about "blowing up the White House" drew controversy.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7662586/watch-madonna-drop-f-bomb-womens-march-on-washington-donald-trump-protest |title=Watch Madonna Drop F-Bomb on Live TV at Women's March on Washington |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=January 20, 2017 |access-date=January 21, 2017 |archive-date=January 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123071701/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7662586/watch-madonna-drop-f-bomb-womens-march-on-washington-donald-trump-protest |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/21/politics/madonna-speech-march/ |title=In R-rated anti-Trump rant, Madonna muses about 'blowing up White House' |publisher=[[CNN]] |first=Eric |last=Levenson |date=January 21, 2017 |access-date=January 22, 2017 |archive-date=January 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123213118/http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/21/politics/madonna-speech-march |url-status=live}}</ref> She later clarified that her comments had been taken out of context and emphasized that she was not advocating violence.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/madonna-clarifies-out-of-context-remark-from-womens-march-w462373 |date=January 22, 2017 |access-date=January 22, 2017 |title=Madonna Clarifies 'Out of Context' Remark From Women's March |first=Daniel |last=Krepps |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327010827/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/madonna-clarifies-out-of-context-remark-from-womens-march-w462373 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== 2017–2021: Move to Lisbon and ''Madame X'' ===
In February 2017, Madonna adopted four-year-old twin sisters, Estere and Stella, from Malawi, and relocated to [[Lisbon]], Portugal, later that year with her children.<ref name="k866">{{cite magazine |last=LaCroix |first=Emy |title=Madonna's 6 Children: All About Lourdes, Rocco, David, Mercy, Stella and Estere |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=September 1, 2022 |url=https://people.com/parents/all-about-madonna-children/ |access-date=December 20, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/05/entertainment/madonna-portugal/index.html |title=Madonna is happy she moved |first=Lisa |last=Respers |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=September 6, 2017 |date=September 5, 2017 |archive-date=September 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905221315/http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/05/entertainment/madonna-portugal/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> That July, she inaugurated the [[Mercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care]] in Malawi, a hospital established by her Raising Malawi foundation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-madonna/malawi-hails-madonnas-motherly-spirit-at-opening-of-new-hospital-idUSKBN19W1XX |title=Malawi hails Madonna's 'motherly spirit' at opening of new hospital |agency=Reuters |first=Frank |last=Phiri |date=July 11, 2017 |access-date=May 28, 2018 |archive-date=June 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624232821/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-madonna/malawi-hails-madonnas-motherly-spirit-at-opening-of-new-hospital-idUSKBN19W1XX |url-status=live}}</ref> Her live album [[Rebel Heart Tour (album)|''Rebel Heart Tour'']] was released in September 2017 and won Best Music Video for Western Artists at the 32nd [[Japan Gold Disc Awards]].<ref name="j792">{{cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |title=Madonna Announces ''Rebel Heart Tour'' Concert Film/Live Album Date |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=May 12, 2017 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/madonna-announces-rebel-heart-tour-concert-film-live-album-date-113682/ |access-date=December 20, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.golddisc.jp/award/32/Prize_2.html#gd32_24 |title=The 32nd Japan Gold Disc Award |publisher=[[Japan Gold Disc Award]] |language=ja |access-date=February 27, 2018 |archive-date=October 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004145125/http://www.golddisc.jp/award/32/Prize_2.html#gd32_24 |url-status=live}}</ref> That same month, she launched her skincare brand MDNA Skin in selected US stores.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/beauty/7980721/madonna-skincare-line-everything-to-know-about-mdna-skin |title=Everything You Need to Know About Madonna's Newest Venture, MDNA Skin |last=Gray |first=Yasmin |date=September 26, 2017 |access-date=May 13, 2018 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=May 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523043525/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/beauty/7980721/madonna-skincare-line-everything-to-know-about-mdna-skin |url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/24/madonna-loses-legal-battle-prevent-auction-tupac-letter-personal/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/24/madonna-loses-legal-battle-prevent-auction-tupac-letter-personal/ |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Madonna loses legal battle to prevent auction of Tupac letter and other personal items |date=April 24, 2018 |access-date=May 13, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[File:Madame x - London Palladium I (cropped 2).jpg|thumb|upright|left|Madonna performing at the [[Madame X Tour]] in 2020|alt=Madonna singing onstage in front of a greenish backdrop, while wearing black costumes and an eye-patch.]]

While residing in Lisbon, Madonna met Portuguese musician [[Dino D'Santiago]], who introduced her to local artists performing [[fado]], [[Morna (music)|morna]], and [[samba music]]. She frequently attended their informal "living room sessions", which inspired her fourteenth studio album, ''[[Madame X (album)|Madame X]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Madonna Talks Giving 'Zero You-Know-Whats' on New 'Madame X' Album at London 'Medellin' Video Premiere |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/madonna-medellin-video-premiere-london-inside-interview-madame-x-8508668/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |last=Smirke |first=Richard |access-date=September 11, 2019 |date=April 24, 2019 |archive-date=April 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425060614/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8508668/madonna-medellin-video-premiere-london-inside-interview-madame-x |url-status=live}}</ref> The album was released on June 14, 2019, and Madonna produced it with various musicians, primarily her longtime collaborator Mirwais and [[Mike Dean (music producer)|Mike Dean]].<ref name="u462">{{cite web |last=Rowley |first=Glenn |title=Everything We Know About Madonna's New Album ''Madame X'' |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=April 17, 2019 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/madonna-madame-x-album-what-we-know-8507435/ |access-date=December 20, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8515947/madonna-madame-x-stream-it-now |title=Madonna's ''Madame X'' Is Here: Stream It Now |date=June 14, 2019 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=September 11, 2020 |archive-date=September 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920183550/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8515947/madonna-madame-x-stream-it-now |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Madame X'' debuted at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200, her ninth to do so.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/madonna-madame-x-no1-debut-billboard-200-chart/ |title=Madonna Achieves Ninth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With ''Madame X'' |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |first=Keith |last=Caulfield |date=June 23, 2019 |access-date=June 23, 2019 |archive-date=October 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022063058/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8517120/madonna-madame-x-No1-debut-billboard-200-chart |url-status=live}}</ref> Its four singles—"[[Medellín (song)|Medellín]]", "[[Crave (Madonna and Swae Lee song)|Crave]]", "[[I Rise (song)|I Rise]]" and "[[I Don't Search I Find]]"—each reached number one on the ''Billboard'' Dance Club Songs chart, further extending her record for the most chart-topping entries.<ref name="DanceRecord">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/8551014/madonna-milestone-50th-no-1-dance-club-songs-chart |title=Madonna Achieves Milestone 50th No. 1 on Dance Club Songs Chart With 'I Don't Search I Find' |last=Murray |first=Gordon |date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=February 19, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> 

Madonna appeared as the interval act at the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2019]] and performed "Like a Prayer", and then "[[Future (Madonna and Quavo song)|Future]]" with rapper [[Quavo]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/may/19/madonna-was-excruciating-eurovision-2019 |title=Madonna was excruciating: what we learned from Eurovision 2019 |last=Belam |first=Martin |date=May 18, 2019 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=September 11, 2020 |archive-date=September 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929085239/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/may/19/madonna-was-excruciating-eurovision-2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Her [[Madame X Tour]], an all-theater concert series held in select cities across North America and Europe, began in September 2019 and grossed over $51.4{{nbsp}}million in revenue.<ref name="e693">{{cite web |last=Haring |first=Bruce |title=Madonna Cancels Final U.S. Tour Date, But Europe Shows Still on for Next Month |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=December 27, 2019 |url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/madonna-cancels-us-tour-date-europe-still-on-1202817414/ |access-date=December 20, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/may/19/madonna-was-excruciating-eurovision-2019 |title=Madonna Was Excruciating: What We Learned From Eurovision 2019 |last=Belam |first=Martin |date=May 18, 2019 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=September 11, 2020 |archive-date=September 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929085239/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/may/19/madonna-was-excruciating-eurovision-2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> That December, Madonna began a relationship with dancer Ahlamalik Williams, who had previously joined her Rebel Heart Tour in 2015.<ref name="l726">{{cite magazine |last=Léger |first=Marie |title=Who is Ahlamalik Williams, Madonna's boyfriend? |magazine=[[Vogue France]] |date=August 20, 2021 |url=https://www.vogue.fr/wedding/article/ahlamalik-williams-madonnas-boyfriend |language=fr |access-date=December 20, 2025}}</ref> 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 the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.spin.com/2020/03/madonna-cancels-paris-tour-date-after-stage-fall/ |title=Madonna Cancels Paris Tour Date After Stage Fall |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date=March 2, 2020 |access-date=September 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/madonna-coronavirus-madame-x-tour-cancelled-paris-dates-refund-a9389156.html |title=Madonna forced to end Madame X Tour early due to coronavirus restrictions |first=Clémence |last=Michallon |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=March 9, 2020 |access-date=September 11, 2020}}</ref> Later that month, she drew criticism for posting [[Madonna bathtub speech|a now-deleted video]] on [[Instagram]] and [[Twitter]] that was regarded as insensitive.<ref name="t595">{{cite news |last=Owoseje |first=Toyin |title=Coronavirus is 'the great equalizer,' Madonna tells fans from her bathtub |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=March 23, 2020 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/23/entertainment/madonna-coronavirus-video-intl-scli |access-date=December 20, 2025}}</ref><ref name="s638">{{cite news |last=Garrand |first=Danielle |title=Madonna Posts Video Calling Coronavirus 'the Great Equalizer' From a Bathtub Filled with Rose Petals |publisher=[[CBS News]] |date=March 23, 2020 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/madonna-posts-video-calling-coronavirus-the-great-equalizer-from-a-bathtub-filled-with-rose-petals/ |access-date=December 20, 2025}}</ref> 

In April 2020, Madonna announced financial contributions to the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, led by the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]], the [[Wellcome Trust]], and [[Mastercard]], and donated an additional $1 million to vaccine research.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Au-Yeung |first=Angel |date=April 3, 2020 |title=A Bill Gates-Backed Accelerator For COVID-19 Therapeutics Treatment Partners With Madonna And Mark Zuckerberg's Chan Zuckerberg Initiative |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelauyeung/2020/04/03/a-bill-gates-backed-accelerator-for-covid-19-coronavirus-therapeutics-treatment-partners-with-madonna-and-mark-zuckerbergs-chan-zuckerberg-initiative/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220118165740/https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelauyeung/2020/04/03/a-bill-gates-backed-accelerator-for-covid-19-coronavirus-therapeutics-treatment-partners-with-madonna-and-mark-zuckerbergs-chan-zuckerberg-initiative/?sh=54ee18948067 |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |access-date=September 10, 2023 |magazine=[[Forbes]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/madonna-donates-1-million-to-fund-hoping-to-create-coronavirus-vaccine-2640982 |title=Madonna donates $1 million to fund hoping to create coronavirus vaccine |date=April 4, 2020 |magazine=[[NME]] |access-date=September 11, 2020 |first=Will |last=Richards}}</ref> A month later, Madonna revealed she had [[COVID-19 testing|tested positive]] for [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2|coronavirus]] antibodies.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=May 6, 2020 |last=Nolfi |first=Joey |title=Madonna reveals she tested positive for coronavirus antibodies, but is 'not currently sick' |url=https://ew.com/music/madonna-coronavirus-antibodies/ |access-date=September 11, 2020 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref> She and [[Missy Elliott]] contributed guest vocals to [[Dua Lipa]]'s single "[[Levitating (song)|Levitating]]", featured on Lipa's 2020 remix album ''[[Club Future Nostalgia]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/dua-lipa-announces-levitating-remix-featuring-madonna-and-missy-elliott__30336 |title=Dua Lipa announces new single ft. Madonna and Missy Elliott |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |last=White |first=Jack |date=July 27, 2020 |access-date=August 1, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200801032934/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/dua-lipa-announces-levitating-remix-featuring-madonna-and-missy-elliott__30336/ |archive-date=August 1, 2020}}</ref> Madonna then began developing a biographical film about her life, which she planned to direct.<ref name = Grobar>{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/madonna-biopic-at-universal-not-moving-forward-1235239722/ |title=Madonna Biopic At Universal Not Moving Forward |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=January 24, 2023 |access-date=January 24, 2023 |last=Grobar |first=Matt}}</ref> Screenwriters [[Erin Cressida Wilson]] and [[Diablo Cody]] worked on the script at different stages, and actress [[Julia Garner]] was cast in the lead role before the project was postponed.<ref name = Grobar/><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/movies/madonna-biopic-diablo-cody-movie-screenplay/ |title=Madonna reveals plot details for biopic movie: Andy Warhol, 'Vogue' dancers, Evita, more |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |first=Joey |last=Nolfi |date=September 11, 2020 |access-date=September 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 25, 2023 |title=Madonna biopic scrapped after singer's world tour announced |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jan/25/madonna-biopic-scrapped-after-singers-world-tour-announced |access-date=January 25, 2023 |first=Michael |last=Sun}}</ref> In October 2021, Madonna released ''[[Madame X (2021 film)|Madame X]]'', a [[documentary film]] about her concert tour of the same name, through [[Paramount+]].<ref name="f041">{{cite magazine |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |title=''Madame X'' Review: A Madonna Concert Film That's Heavy on Message, Light on Euphoria |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=October 8, 2021 |author-link=Owen Gleiberman |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/madame-x-review-madonna-1235083994/ |access-date=December 20, 2025}}</ref>

=== 2022–present: ''Finally Enough Love'' and the Celebration Tour ===

In August 2021, coinciding with her 63rd birthday, Madonna announced her return to [[Warner 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 album ''[[Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones]]'' was released in August, following a 16-track abridged edition made available for streaming two months prior.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/madonna-warner-music-career-spanning-reissue-campaign-partnership-1212466/ |title=Madonna Partners with Warner Music for Career-Spanning Reissue Campaign |first=Daniel |last=Kreps |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=August 16, 2021 |access-date=August 16, 2021}}</ref> Featuring her 50 number-one songs on ''Billboard''{{'}}s Dance Club Songs chart, the album celebrated Madonna's long-standing connection to dance music and became her 23rd top-ten entry on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://people.com/music/madonna-releases-finally-enough-love-50-number-ones-remix-album/ |title=Madonna Unveils 'Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones', an Epic Career-Spanning Remix Compilation |first=Jack |last=Irvin |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=August 19, 2022 |access-date=August 27, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/madonna-first-woman-with-billboard-200-top-10-albums-each-decade-1235132467/ |title=Madonna Becomes First Woman to Earn Billboard 200 Top 10 Albums Each Decade Since the '80s |first=Keith |last=Caulfield |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=August 29, 2022 |access-date=September 12, 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Madonna - The Celebration Tour live London14 10 2023 (53272335025) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Madonna with long, wavy blonde hair singing into a microphone on stage. She is dressed in an eclectic outfit.|Madonna performing during [[the Celebration Tour]] in 2023]]

Between 2022 and 2023, Madonna issued several standalone singles, including "[[Back That Up to the Beat]]", a previously unreleased demo from the ''Rebel Heart'' sessions that went viral on social media.<ref name="v587">{{cite web |last=Savage |first=Mark |title=Madonna announces a career-spanning greatest hits tour |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=January 17, 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64306753 |access-date=December 20, 2025}}</ref><ref name="applemusic">{{cite web |title=Back That Up to the Beat – Single by Madonna |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/back-that-up-to-the-beat-single/1661718432 |publisher=[[Apple Music]] |access-date=January 1, 2023 |archive-date=December 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231110349/https://music.apple.com/us/album/back-that-up-to-the-beat-single/1661718432 |url-status=live}}</ref> She also contributed to three tracks on [[Christine and the Queens]]' album ''[[Paranoïa, Angels, True Love]]'' (2023), and collaborated with [[the Weeknd]] and [[Playboi Carti]] on the single "[[Popular (The Weeknd, Playboi Carti and Madonna song)|Popular]]", featured on the soundtrack to the television drama ''[[The Idol (TV series)|The Idol]]''.<ref name="p605">{{cite web |last=Curto |first=Justin |title=Madonna Is Christine's Newest Queen |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |date=March 8, 2023 |url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/03/madonna-christine-and-the-queens-new-album.html |access-date=December 20, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/the-weeknd-madonna-playboi-carti-popular-the-idol-vol-1-soundtrack-listen-1235344191/ |title=The Weeknd, Madonna & Playboi Carti Come Together on 'Popular' Track: Stream It Now |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |last=Mamo |first=Heran |date=June 2, 2023 |access-date=June 2, 2023}}</ref> In January 2023, Madonna announced [[the Celebration Tour]], her first greatest hits concert tour.<ref name="ultimategreatest">{{cite magazine |last1=Paul |first1=Larisha |title=Madonna Unveils Ultimate Greatest Hits Show 'The Celebration Tour' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/madonna-the-celebration-tour-announcement-1234662120/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=July 19, 2023 |date=January 17, 2023}}</ref> The tour was to begin in July, but a month prior, she was hospitalized after being found unresponsive at her New York City residence.<ref name="ultimategreatest"/><ref name="auto">{{cite news |url=https://www.liherald.com/stories/madonnas-tour-postponed-after-long-days-at-coliseum,184403 |title=Madonna's tour postponed after long days at Coliseum |first=Brandon |last=Cruz |date=July 10, 2023 |newspaper=[[Nassau Herald]] |access-date=September 15, 2023}}</ref> She spent five days in intensive care, where she was treated under [[intubation]].<ref name="auto"/> The singer later revealed that she had been placed in a medically induced coma for 48 hours due to a serious bacterial infection following a low-grade fever.<ref name="y019">{{cite web |last=Beaumont-Thomas |first=Ben |title=Madonna 'on road to recovery' following infection that required intensive care |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=July 10, 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jul/10/madonna-on-road-to-recovery-following-infection-intensive-care |access-date=December 20, 2025}}</ref>

The Celebration Tour commenced in October 2023 in London, receiving widespread critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-67098882 |title=Madonna's Celebration Tour reviewed: The Queen of pop brings out her crown jewels |agency=[[BBC News]] |last=Savage |first=Mark |date=October 15, 2023 |access-date=October 15, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/oct/15/madonna-review-queen-of-pop-greatest-hits-o2-london-celebration |title=Madonna review – queen of pop dazzles with her greatest hits |newspaper=The Guardian |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |date=October 15, 2023 |access-date=October 15, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/14/arts/music/madonna-celebration-tour-london.html |title=Madonna Celebrates Four Decades of Hits With Career-Spanning Spectacle |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=limited |date=October 14, 2023 |access-date=October 15, 2023}}</ref> It concluded the following May with a free concert on [[Copacabana Beach]] in [[Rio de Janeiro]], which drew an audience of 1.6 million—setting records for both the [[List of most-attended concerts|largest standalone concert in history and the highest attendance ever for a female artist]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/madonna-1-6million-crowd-rio-de-janeiro-copacabana-beach-final-night-celebration-tour-1235904728/ |title=Madonna Makes History With 1.6million Crowd In Rio On Final Night Of Tour |date=May 5, 2024 |access-date=May 5, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Caroline |last=Frost}}</ref><ref name="record1">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/madonna-celebration-tour-record-setting-1-6-million-fans-brazil-1235015393/ |title=Madonna Closes Out Celebration Tour in Front of Record-Setting 1.6 Million Fans in Brazil |date=May 5, 2024 |access-date=May 5, 2024 |first=Daniel |last=Kreps |magazine=Rolling Stone |url-access=subscription |archive-date=May 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505142758/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/madonna-celebration-tour-record-setting-1-6-million-fans-brazil-1235015393/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The tour grossed over $225{{nbsp}}million across eighty shows, making Madonna the first woman to surpass $100{{nbsp}}million in earnings from six separate concert tours.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Frankenberg |first=Eric |title=Madonna is only woman to achieve this boxscore feat as the Celebration Tour wraps |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/madonna-the-celebration-tour-225-million-1235674536/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=May 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510023201/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/madonna-the-celebration-tour-225-million-1235674536/ |archive-date=May 10, 2024 |date=May 9, 2024}}</ref> Around this time, Madonna experienced the deaths of several family members, beginning with that of her eldest brother, Anthony, in February 2023.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64779134 |title=Madonna's older brother Anthony Ciccone dies aged 66 |first=Nathan |last=Williams |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=February 22, 2023 |accessdate=October 6, 2024}}</ref> Her younger brother, Christopher, died in October 2024, two weeks after that of their stepmother, Joan.<ref name=relativesdie>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/madonna-brother-christopher-ciccone-dead-1235794103/ |title=Madonna's Younger Brother Christopher Ciccone Dies at 63 |first=Mitchell |last=Peters |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=October 6, 2024 |accessdate=October 6, 2024}}</ref> Madonna resumed development on the biopic but later expressed frustration with producers who urged her to downscale on the project. She began considering adapting it into a television series instead.<ref name="WTGtitle">{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/madonna-returns-work-biopic-screenplay-reveals-title-whos-that-girl-8678656 |title=Madonna returns to work on delayed biopic, reveals movie title ''Who's That Girl'' with Julia Garner still set to star |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |first=Joey |last=Nolfi |access-date=February 27, 2025 |date=July 16, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Nolfi |first1=Joey |title=Madonna 'struggling' over producers wanting to 'downsize' biopic, teases potential TV series instead: 'We cannot shrink' |url=https://ew.com/madonna-biopic-movie-potential-tv-series-8747273 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=December 16, 2024 |date=November 18, 2024}}</ref>

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", adding that songwriting allows her full artistic freedom without needing anyone's approval.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Aniftos |first1=Rania |title=Madonna Reveals She's Working on New Music for 2025 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/madonna-working-on-new-music-2025-1235858019/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=December 16, 2024 |date=December 16, 2024}}</ref> In February 2025, she confirmed that she was working on a follow-up to ''Confessions on a Dance Floor'' (2005), also produced by Price, scheduled for release in 2026 through Warner Records.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Dailey |first1=Hannah |title=Madonna Says Her 'Valentine's Day Gift' to Fans Is New Music Coming Soon |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/madonna-working-new-music-valentines-day-gift-fans-1235901650/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=February 13, 2025 |date=February 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Blistein |first1=Jon |title=Madonna Returns to the Dancefloor -- And Warner Records -- for New Album |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/madonna-new-album-2026-warner-records-1235427964/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=September 18, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250918121608/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/madonna-new-album-2026-warner-records-1235427964/ |archive-date=September 18, 2025 |date=September 18, 2025 |issn=0035-791X |oclc=969027590 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> That May, ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' reported that Madonna had partnered with Netflix and producer [[Shawn Levy]] to develop a separate television series based on her life, unrelated to the biographical film project.<ref name="Mnetflix">{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=Madonna Teams With Shawn Levy For Limited Series About Her Life In Works At Netflix |url=https://deadline.com/2025/05/madonna-shawn-levy-biopic-limited-series-netflix-1236390151/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=May 12, 2025 |date=May 12, 2025}}</ref> In July 2025, she released ''[[Veronica Electronica]]'', a remix album initially intended to be released after ''Ray of Light'' (1998), including original versions of songs previously unreleased officially.<ref name="b806">{{cite web |last=Murray |first=Robin |title=Madonna Is Finally Releasing 'Veronica Electronica' |website=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]] |date=June 5, 2025 |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/madonna-is-finally-releasing-veronica-electronica/ |access-date=December 20, 2025}}</ref> In November 2025, Madonna released the [[extended play]] ''[[Bedtime Stories: The Untold Chapter]]''. Commemorating the 30th anniversary of her album ''Bedtime Stories'' (1994), the set contained demos, alternative versions, and rarities from the original album sessions.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/madonna-bedtime-stories-untold-chapter-reissue-demos-rarities-1236085260/ |title=Madonna Announces ''Bedtime Stories - The Untold Chapter'' 30th Anniversary Reissue Featuring Demos, Alternative Versions, and Rarities |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=October 9, 2025 |accessdate=October 9, 2025 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>

== Artistry ==
=== Musical style and composition ===
{{quote box||align=|width=25em|quote=[Madonna] is a brilliant pop melodist and lyricist. I was knocked out by the quality of the writing [during ''Ray of Light'' sessions]... I know she grew up on [[Joni Mitchell]] and [[Motown]], 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.|source=—[[Rick Nowels]], on co-writing with Madonna.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.idolator.com/7444244/madonna-ray-of-light-anniversary-15-backtracking |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140129070222/http://www.idolator.com/7444244/madonna-ray-of-light-anniversary-15-backtracking |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 29, 2014 |title=Madonna's ''Ray Of Light'' Turns 15: Backtracking |first=Stephen |last=Sears |date=March 4, 2013 |publisher=[[Idolator (website)|Idolator]] |access-date=January 29, 2014}}</ref>
}}

Madonna's work has been the subject of critical analysis and debate. [[Robert M. Grant (economist)|Robert M. Grant]], author of ''Contemporary Strategy Analysis'' (2005), observed that her musical career is a continual process of experimentation with new sounds and images.{{sfn|Grant|2005|p=3}} In ''Pop 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.{{sfn|Harrison|2017|p=213}} 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".{{sfn|Fouz-Hernández|Jarman-Ivens|2004|pp=55–58}} 

''Rolling Stone'' included Madonna at number thirty-six on its list of the "[[Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time|100 Greatest Artists of All Time]]" (2004).<ref name="c856">{{cite magazine |title=100 Greatest Artists |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=December 3, 2010 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-artists-147446/ |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> She has managed all aspects of her career; she writes and produces most of her recordings.<ref name="Rolling Biography">{{cite magazine |last=Ganz |first=Caryn |year=2004 |title=Biography – Madonna |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/madonna/biography |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315190324/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/madonna/biography |archive-date=March 15, 2011 |access-date=April 29, 2008}}</ref><ref name="music credit">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/madonna-mn0000237205/credits |title=Madonna: Credits |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=March 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803190953/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/madonna-mn0000237205/credits |archive-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref name=PopMatterLTT>{{cite magazine |last1=Chola |first1=Enio |title=The top 15 Madonna singles of all time |url=http://www.popmatters.com/post/154220-the-top-15-madonna-singles-of-all-time/P2/ |magazine=[[PopMatters]] |access-date=December 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110011933/http://www.popmatters.com/post/154220-the-top-15-madonna-singles-of-all-time/P2/ |archive-date=November 10, 2014 |date=February 8, 2012}}</ref>{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|p=76, 117–119}} According to Stan Hawkins, author of ''Settling 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".{{sfn|Hawkins|2017|page=59}} Producer [[Stuart Price]] similarly remarked that "you don't produce Madonna, you collaborate with her{{nbsp}}[...] she has her vision and knows how to get it".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.popjustice.com/articles/stuart-price-interview/ |title=Stuart Price interview |publisher=[[Popjustice]] |date=November 16, 2005 |access-date=November 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105224609/https://www.popjustice.com/articles/stuart-price-interview/ |archive-date=November 5, 2016}}</ref> Although often described as a "control freak", Madonna has stated that she values creative input from those she works with.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/madonna-205-1271319 |title=Madonna: 'I'm not a control freak' |magazine=[[NME]] |date=March 17, 2012 |access-date=January 18, 2020}}</ref> She further explained:{{sfn|Michael|2004|p=40}}
{{blockquote|
I like to have control over most of the things in my career but I'm not a [[tyrant]]. 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 (band)|Breakfast Club]] in 1979, and was the sole writer of five tracks on her debut studio album.<ref name="r084">{{cite web |last=Skolnik |first=Jj |title=How Madonna made herself |publisher=[[PBS]] |date=March 29, 2024 |url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/how-madonna-made-herself/31922/ |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref>{{sfn|Bego|2000|p=85}}<ref name="c884">{{cite web |last=Lynch |first=Joe |title=Ranking All the Songs on Madonna's Iconic Debut: 'Holiday,' 'Borderline' & Beyond |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=July 27, 2023 |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/madonna-debut-album-songs-ranked/holiday-2/ |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> As a songwriter, Madonna has registered more than 300 works with the [[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers]], including 18 written entirely by herself.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#ace/writer/125053706/CICCONE%20MADONNA%20L |title=ACE Repertory: Madonna L. Ciccone |publisher=[[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers]] |access-date=November 11, 2017}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' deemed her "an exemplary songwriter with a gift for [[Hook (music)|hooks]] and indelible lyrics",<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/madonna/albumguide|title=Madonna: Album Guide|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=January 7, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705190231/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/madonna/albumguide|archive-date=July 5, 2011}}</ref> 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".<ref name="RSsongwriters"/> [[Patrick Leonard]], who co-wrote many of her songs, lauded her grasp of [[Melody type|melodic structure]] and said that "many times she's singing notes that no one would've thought of but her".<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/madonnas-ray-of-light-6-things-you-didnt-know-197343/ |title=Madonna's 'Ray of Light': 6 Things You Didn't Know |first=Barry |last=Walters |date=February 22, 2018 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=January 18, 2020}}</ref> [[Spin (magazine)|''Spin'']]{{'}}s Barry Walters similarly credited her songwriting for the consistency of her music.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Ten That Matter Most: Madonna |date=April 19, 1995 |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |volume=11 |issue=1 |page=48}}</ref> Madonna was nominated for [[List of Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees|induction]] into the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]] in 2014,<ref name="i776">{{cite web |last=Michaels |first=Sean |title=Ray Davies and Donovan for Songwriters Hall of Fame list |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=February 12, 2014 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/feb/12/ray-davies-donovan-songwriters-hall-of-fame |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> 2016,<ref name="w138">{{cite web |first=Mesfin |last=Fekadu |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |title=George Harrison, Madonna among those nominated for Songwriters Hall of Fame |website=[[Toronto Star]] |date=October 5, 2015 |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/george-harrison-madonna-among-those-nominated-for-songwriters-hall-of-fame/article_1e03f7d9-f302-5236-a8a7-81e20abc554b.html |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> and 2017,<ref name="h971">{{cite web |last=Dandridge-Lemco |first=Ben |title=Jay Z Has Been Nominated For The Songwriters Hall Of Fame |website=[[The Fader]] |date=October 20, 2016 |url=https://www.thefader.com/2016/10/20/jay-z-madonna-songwriters-hall-of-fame |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> and was ranked number fifty-six on ''Rolling Stone''{{'}}s list of the "[[Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time|100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time]]" (2015).<ref name="RSsongwriters">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-songwriters |title=The 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=April 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813101755/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-songwriters |archive-date=August 13, 2015}}</ref>

{{listen
|type = music
|title = "Live to Tell" (1986)
|filename = Madonna - live to tell.ogg
|pos = left
|description = Madonna wrote all the lyrics and partial melodies of "Live to Tell", an [[adult contemporary]] ballad, which was noted as her first musical reinvention.<ref name="auto1">{{harvnb|Taraborrelli|2002|p=122}}</ref>
|title2 = "Ray of Light" (1998)
|filename2 = Madonna - ray of light.ogg
|pos2 = left
|description2 = An uptempo [[electronic dance]] song, "Ray of Light" showcases Madonna's post-''Evita'' upper [[vocal register]].<ref name="vocal" />
}}

Madonna's discography is often categorized as [[pop music|pop]],{{sfnm|1a1=Taraborrelli|1y=2002|1p=86, 242|2a1=Bego|2y=2000|2p=3, 319|3a1=Metz|3a2=Benson|3y=1999|3pp=130, 162}} [[electronica]],{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|p=301–302, 327–329}}<ref name="o819">{{cite web |last=Lynch |first=Joe |title=7 Ways Madonna Changed Dance Music |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=July 25, 2025 |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/madonna-dance-music-electronica/giving-trip-hop-an-early-chart-look/ |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> and [[dance music|dance]].{{sfnm|1a1=Taraborrelli|1y=2002|1p=129|2a1=Metz|2a2=Benson|2y=1999|2p=121}} Her earliest work began with rock-oriented projects through the bands Breakfast Club and Emmy.<ref name="rock star">{{cite news |url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23298744 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310190607/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23298744/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 10, 2008 |title=Madonna: A true blue rock star |last=Sclafani |first=Tony |date=March 7, 2008 |access-date=January 14, 2011 |publisher=[[MSNBC]]}}</ref> With the latter, she recorded tracks that reflected the [[punk rock]] style of the early 1980s.<ref name="x394">{{cite web |last=Hunt |first=El |title=Remembering The Arctic Monkeys, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen's long-forgotten former band names |website=[[NME]] |date=March 4, 2020 |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/remembering-the-arctic-monkeys-madonna-and-bruce-springsteens-long-forgotten-former-band-names-2619811 |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> She left rock before signing with [[Gotham Records]], which dropped her because of their dissatisfaction with her shift to [[funk]].{{sfn|Rooksby|2004|p=4}} In his book ''American Pop'', [[Arie Kaplan]] referred to Madonna as "a pioneer" of [[dance-pop]].{{sfn|Kaplan|2017|p=31}} 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 of [[rock and roll]], noting that her music "refuses to be defined by narrow boundaries of gender, sexuality, or genre".{{sfn|Fouz-Hernández|Jarman-Ivens|2004|pp=55–58}}

The "cold and emotional" ballad "Live to Tell" and its parent album ''True Blue'' (1986) are regarded as Madonna's first significant musical reinvention.<ref name="peterPiatkowski">{{cite web |first=Peter |last=Piatkowski |title=35 Years Ago Madonna Staged on Her (First) Bid for Artistic Credibility with ''True Blue'' |website=[[PopMatters]] |date=June 29, 2021 |url=https://www.popmatters.com/madonna-true-blue-35atr |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref><ref name="o063">{{cite web |title=Songbook: How Madonna Became the Queen of Pop & Reinvention, From Her 'Boy Toy' Era to the Celebration Tour |publisher=[[Grammy Awards]] |date=November 20, 1998 |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/madonna-albums-songs-celebration-tour-queen-of-pop-legacy-40th-anniversary |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> ''[[PopMatters]]'' critic Peter Piatkowski described the song as a "deliberate effort to present Madonna as a mature and serious artist".<ref name="peterPiatkowski"/> Although she continued to record ballads alongside her more upbeat material, some of her albums, such as ''Madonna'' (1983) and ''Confessions on a Dance Floor'' (2005), are composed entirely of dance tracks.<ref name="b414"/><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/madonnas-50-greatest-songs-w430518/ |title=Madonna's 50 Greatest Songs |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=July 27, 2016 |access-date=August 8, 2017 |archive-date=July 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730115550/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/madonnas-50-greatest-songs-w430518 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=3570 |title=Madonna&nbsp;– Confessions on a Dance Floor |first=Thomas |last=Inskeep |magazine=[[Stylus Magazine]] |date=November 21, 2005 |access-date=October 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010013207/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=3570 |archive-date=October 10, 2009}}</ref> With ''Ray of Light'' (1998), critics credited her with popularizing electronica and integrating it into mainstream pop music.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/lat-madonna6_evmr0mgy20080424112140,0,2759342.photo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421090736/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/lat-madonna6_evmr0mgy20080424112140,0,2759342.photo |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 21, 2014 |title=Madonna, Ray of Light |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 30, 2014}}</ref>{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|p=301}}  Her other stylistic departures include 1930s [[big-band]] [[jazz]] on ''I'm Breathless'' (1990);{{sfn|O'Brien|2007|p=207}} smooth [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] arrangements on ''Bedtime Stories'' (1994);<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/all-82-madonna-singles-ranked/5/ |title=All 82 Madonna Singles Ranked |date=April 14, 2020 |access-date=June 1, 2020 |magazine=[[Slant Magazine|Slant]]}}</ref> [[opera]]tic [[show tunes]] on ''Evita'' (1996);{{sfn|O'Brien|2007|p=307}} [[guitar]]-based [[folk music]] on ''American Life'' (2003);<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/madonna-american-life-1417 |title=Madonna: ''American Life'' |last=Cinquemani |first=Sal |date=July 11, 2008 |magazine=[[Slant Magazine|Slant]] |access-date=August 11, 2011}}</ref> and multilingual [[world music]] influences on ''Madame X'' (2019).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Juzwiak |first1=Rich |title=Madonna: ''Madame X'' Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/madonna-madame-x/ |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=January 7, 2020 |date=June 18, 2019}}</ref>

=== Influences ===
{{multiple image
| total_width = 420
| direction = horizontal
| align             = left
| image1            = Monroe 1953 publicity (cropped).jpg
| alt1              = Black-and-white photo of a woman with short, blonde hair
| image2            = Frida Kahlo, by Guillermo Kahlo 2.jpg
| alt2              = Black-and-white photo of a young woman
| image3            = David Bowie - Zagreb.jpg
| alt3              = A man performing on stage holding a guitar
| footer            = From left to right: Madonna has been inspired by film stars such as [[Marilyn Monroe]] (pictured in 1953), artists such as [[Frida Kahlo]] (1926), and musicians like [[David Bowie]] (1990).
}}
Madonna has cited [[Nancy Sinatra]] as one of her idols and said that her song "[[These Boots Are Made for Walkin']]" (1965) left a large impression on her.<ref name="hot">{{cite magazine |last=Worrell |first=Denise |date=May 27, 1985 |title=Now: Madonna On Madonna |url=https://time.com/vault/issue/1985-05-27/page/91/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=May 24, 2023 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> As a young woman, she sought to expand her artistry through literature, art, and music, developing a particular interest in [[Classical music|classical compositions]].{{sfn|Michael|2004|pp=34–35}} She identified [[baroque]] as her preferred style and admired [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]] and [[Frédéric Chopin]], praising the "feminine quality" in their works.{{sfn|Michael|2004|pp=35, 40}} Among Madonna's principal influences are [[Debbie Harry]],<ref name="q580">{{cite web |last=Morse |first=Erik |title=Debbie Harry and Chris Stein Look Back on Blondie's Wild Ride |website=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]] |date=August 23, 2022 |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/blondie-against-the-odds-debbie-harry-chris-stein-interview |access-date=December 21, 2025}}</ref> [[Chrissie Hynde]],<ref name="c632">{{cite web |last=Nelson |first=Jeff |title=Chrissie Hynde Memoir Paperback: Madonna, Sexism, Feminism, Kardashians |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=August 10, 2016 |url=https://people.com/tv/chrissie-hynde-memoir-paperback-madonna-sexism-feminism-kardashians/ |access-date=December 21, 2025}}</ref> [[Patti Smith]],{{sfn|Garber|2025|p=279}} [[Karen Carpenter]],<ref name="g366">{{cite web |last=Grein |first=Paul |title=Remembering Carpenters, 50 Years After Their Hot 100 Debut |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=February 12, 2020 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/carpenters-50-years-hot-100-debut-8550341/ |access-date=December 21, 2025}}</ref> [[the Supremes]],<ref name="h269">{{cite web |last=Holden |first=Stephen |title=Madonna Goes Heavy on Heart |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 29, 1986 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/29/arts/madonna-goes-heavy-on-heart.html |access-date=December 21, 2025 |url-access=limited}}</ref> [[Joni Mitchell]],<ref name="d502">{{cite web |last=Walker |first=Andrew |title=Joni Mitchell |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=April 9, 2007 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6532705.stm |access-date=December 21, 2025}}</ref> and [[Led Zeppelin]],{{sfn|Edmondson|2013|p=680}} as well as dancers [[Martha Graham]] and [[Rudolf Nureyev]].{{sfnm|O'Brien|2007|1pp=242, 284|Edmondson|2013|2p=680}}

Madonna grew up listening to [[David Bowie]], whose concert was the first performance she ever attended, and is also inspired by American writer [[James Baldwin]].<ref name="o084">{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Eric Renner |title=Madonna Shares David Bowie Tribute |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=January 11, 2016 |url=https://ew.com/article/2016/01/11/madonna-david-bowie-tribute/ |access-date=December 21, 2025}}</ref><ref name="d690">{{cite web |last=Beaumont-Thomas |first=Ben |title='We Cannot Lose Our Humanity': Madonna Addresses Israel-Hamas war on stage in London |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=October 18, 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/oct/18/we-cannot-lose-our-humanity-madonna-addresses-israel-hamas-war-on-stage-in-london |access-date=December 21, 2025}}</ref> As a child, Madonna drew inspiration from Hollywood actresses such as [[Carole Lombard]], [[Judy Holliday]], and [[Marilyn Monroe]], admiring their blend of femininity, strength, and sex appeal, and remarking that she "saw [her]self in them".<ref name="hot"/> Her music video for "Material Girl" recreated Monroe's performance of "[[Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend]]" from the film ''[[Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953 film)|Gentlemen Prefer Blondes]]'' (1953).{{sfnm|Guilbert|2002|1p=43|Elias|2024|2p=12}} In preparation for her role in ''Who's That Girl'', Madonna studied the 1930s [[screwball comedy|screwball comedies]] of Lombard, whose style she sought to emulate.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|p=85}} The visual concept for her "Express Yourself" (1989) video drew influence from [[Fritz Lang]]'s silent film ''[[Metropolis (1927 film)|Metropolis]]'' (1927),{{sfn|Guilbert|2002|pp=120–121}}<ref name="w381">{{cite web |title=The Making of Madonna's 20 Greatest Videos: 1. Express Yourself (1989) |website=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=February 25, 2015 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/express-yourself-the-making-of-madonnas-20-greatest-music-videos-140803/express-yourself-1989-68572/ |access-date=December 22, 2025}}</ref> while "Vogue" paid homage to the [[Hollywood glamour|golden age of Hollywood glamor]], referencing the photography of [[Horst P. Horst]] and channeling the screen presence of [[Marlene Dietrich]], Lombard, and [[Rita Hayworth]].{{sfn|Victor|2001|p=23}}

{{quote box|
| width = 25em
| quote = 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.
| source = —[[National Geographic Society]] on Madonna's influences.<ref name="Natgeo">{{cite web |url=http://ipod-ngsta.test.nationalgeographic.org/thisday/aug16/happy-birthday-madonna/ |title=Aug 16, 1958 CE: Happy Birthday, Madonna |access-date=August 16, 2022 |archive-date=June 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613083457/http://ipod-ngsta.test.nationalgeographic.org/thisday/aug16/happy-birthday-madonna/ |publisher=[[National Geographic Society]] |url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

Madonna also drew inspiration from the [[visual arts]], particularly from Mexican painter [[Frida Kahlo]].<ref name="l919">{{cite web |last=Cano |first=Natalia |title=M Is for Mexico: Madonna Justifies Her Love for Frida Kahlo, Brings Celeb Guests Onstage at Mexico City Concert |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=April 24, 2024 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/madonna-celebration-tour-mexico-frida-kahlo-celebrity-guests-1235665422/ |access-date=December 22, 2025}}</ref> The music video for "[[Bedtime Story (Madonna song)|Bedtime Story]]" (1995) incorporated imagery influenced by the works of Kahlo and [[Remedios Varo]].{{sfn|Gabriel|2023|p=385}} A collector of [[Tamara de Lempicka]]'s [[Art Deco]] paintings, Madonna has featured them throughout her music videos and stage productions.{{sfn|Cross|2007|p=47}}<ref name="s310">{{cite web |last=Mimms |first=Walker |title=Art Deco's Bad Girl, Still Ahead of Her Time |website=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=limited |date=November 7, 2024 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/07/arts/design/tamara-de-lempicka-san-francisco-madonna-survey-de-young.html |access-date=December 22, 2025}}</ref> Her video for "Hollywood" (2003) paid tribute to the photography of [[Guy Bourdin]], though it later prompted a lawsuit filed by Bourdin's son over the unauthorized use of his father's images.<ref name="j380">{{cite web |title=Madonna Sued for Copying Images for Video |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=September 30, 2003 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/madonna-sued-for-copying-images-for-video-68868/ |access-date=December 22, 2025}}</ref> The [[sadomasochistic]] motifs in [[pop artist]] [[Andy Warhol]]'s [[underground film]]s were echoed in the videos for "Erotica" and "Deeper and Deeper".{{sfn|Guilbert|2002|p=69}} 

Madonna's Catholic upbringing has remained a consistent influence throughout her career, from her use of the [[rosary]] as a fashion piece to the her musical inputs, including albums such as ''Like a Prayer'' (1989).{{sfnm|1a1=O'Brien|1y=2007|1pp=126–131|2a1=Fouz-Hernández|2a2=Jarman-Ivens|2y=2004|2pp=67–70}} During 2011, she attended meetings and services at an [[Opus Dei]] center, a Catholic institution that promotes sanctity through daily life.<ref name="p553">{{cite web |last=Groote |first=Michael De |title=Spiritual girl: Madonna's shifting beliefs |website=[[Deseret News]] |url-access=limited |date=May 10, 2011 |url=https://www.deseret.com/2011/5/10/20190702/spiritual-girl-madonna-s-shifting-beliefs/ |access-date=December 22, 2025}}</ref> Her study of Kabbalah has also influenced her creatively, prominently on the album ''Ray of Light'' (1998).{{sfnm|Rooksby|2004|1p=50|O'Brien|2007|2p=319|Friskics-Warren|2006|pp=71–73}} In a 2016 interview with ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', Madonna remarked that she has always felt an "inexplicable connection" to Catholicism and stated that it consistently manifests throughout her work.<ref name="t035">{{cite web |title=Madonna Gives Surprise 2018 Met Gala Performance |publisher=[[E!]] |date=May 8, 2018 |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/933254/madonna-sings-like-a-prayer-in-surprise-2018-met-gala-performance |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref>

=== Voice and instruments ===
[[File:HungUpSticky3.jpg|thumb|alt=Madonna in a silver dress, playing electric guitar|upright|Madonna playing the [[Riff|guitar riff]] of "A New Level" by [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Pantera]] during the 2008 [[Sticky & Sweet Tour]]<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://decibelmagazine.com/blog/featured/that-time-monte-pittman-taught-madonna-a-pantera-riff |title=That Time Monte Pittman Taught Madonna a Pantera Riff |magazine=[[Decibel (magazine)|Decibel]] |date=January 20, 2014 |access-date=May 18, 2016}}</ref>]]
Madonna possesses a [[mezzo-soprano]] [[vocal range]] and is self-conscious about her singing voice.{{sfnm|1a1=Dean|1y=2003|1p=34|2a1=Fouz-Hernández|2a2=Jarman-Ivens|2y=2004|2pp=59–61}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/madonna-like-a-prayer/ |title=Madonna: Like a Prayer |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=August 16, 2017 |access-date=November 19, 2017 |first=Maura |last=Johnston}}</ref> [[Mark Bego]], author of ''Madonna: Blonde Ambition'', described her as "the perfect vocalist for lighter-than-air songs" despite not being a "heavyweight talent".{{sfn|Bego|2000|p=122}} According to Tony Sclafani of [[MSNBC]], 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]] and [[Bob Dylan]].<ref name="rock star" /> In her early recordings, Madonna employed a bright, girlish timbre that she later tried to abandon after critics compared her voice to "[[Minnie Mouse]] on [[helium]]".{{sfn|Fouz-Hernández|Jarman-Ivens|2004|pp=59–61}} While filming ''Evita'' (1996), she took vocal training, which expanded her range. Of the experience, she said, "I studied with a vocal coach for ''Evita'' 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."<ref name="vocal">{{cite magazine |last1=Lamsweerde |first1=Inez van |first2=Barry |last2=Walters |date=April 1998 |title=Madonna Chooses Dare |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |volume=14 |issue=4 |pages=70–76 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jq-A2xEoAHIC&pg=PA70 |access-date=February 26, 2010}}</ref>

Madonna plays several musical instruments. She first learned to play the piano as a child.{{sfn|Morton|2001|p=47}} During the late 1970s, she was taught drums and guitar by her then-boyfriend [[Dan Gilroy]], later joining his band, the Breakfast Club, as a drummer.{{sfn|Gnojewski|2007|p=57}} Madonna then performed guitar with the group Emmy.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|p=54}} After her commercial breakthrough, she rarely performed instruments publicly, though she was credited with playing the [[cowbell]] on ''Madonna'' (1983) and the [[synthesizer]] on ''Like a Prayer'' (1989).<ref name="music credit"/> In 1999, she undertook three months of [[violin]] training to prepare for a role as a violin teacher in the film ''[[Music of the Heart]]'' (1999), but withdrew from the project before filming.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/1999/nov/01/slashmeister-craven-tackles-different-genre-with-m/ |title='Slashmeister' Craven tackles different genre with 'Music' |first=Valerie |last=Kuklenski |newspaper=[[Las Vegas Sun]] |date=November 1, 1999 |access-date=March 22, 2014}}</ref> She returned to performing with the guitar during promotion for ''Music'' (2000) with guidance from guitarist [[Monte Pittman]] to improve her technique.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/monte-pittman-reveals-what-its-like-on-tour-with-madonna-1.1030924 |title=Monte Pittman reveals what it's like on tour with Madonna |first=Kelly |last=Crane |newspaper=[[Gulf News]] |date=June 3, 2012 |access-date=March 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130150854/https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/monte-pittman-reveals-what-its-like-on-tour-with-madonna-1.1030924 |archive-date=November 30, 2020}}</ref> Since then, Madonna has featured guitar performances into her studio recordings and concert tours.<ref name="music credit" /><ref name="f016">{{cite web |last=Mier |first=Tomás |title=Madonna Performs 'Express Yourself' for First Time on Celebration Tour |website=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=January 9, 2024 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/madonna-performs-express-yourself-celebration-tour-1234943032/ |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> She was nominated for the Les Paul Horizon Award at the 2002 [[Gibson Guitar Corporation|Orville H. Gibson Guitar Awards]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1452328/madonna-next-guitar-god.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223145736/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1452328/madonna-next-guitar-god.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |title=Madonna: The Next Guitar God? |publisher=[[MTV News]] |first=Abbey |last=Goodman |date=February 15, 2002 |access-date=March 14, 2014}}</ref>

=== Music videos and performances ===
{{main|Madonna videography}}
In ''The Madonna Companion'', biographers Allen Metz and Carol Benson observed that Madonna used [[MTV]] and the [[music video]] to build 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.{{sfn|Metz|Benson|1999|p=161}} Cultural critic [[Mark C. Taylor (philosopher)|Mark C. Taylor]] described the [[postmodern art]] form [[wiktionary:par excellence|par excellence]] as the music video, declaring Madonna its "reigning queen" in his book ''Nots'' (1993).{{sfn|Taylor|1993|p=191}} He argued that "the most remarkable creation of MTV is Madonna", and that public reactions to her provocative videos were "predictably contradictory".{{sfn|Taylor|1993|p=191}} Critical and public discussions surrounding some of her most controversial songs—primarily "Like a Prayer"—have often focused more on their videos and cultural impact than on the songs themselves.{{sfn|Metz|Benson|1999|p=161}} According to Morton, "artistically, Madonna's songwriting is often overshadowed by her striking pop videos".{{sfn|Morton|2001|p=15}} Madonna was ranked as the greatest music video artist of all time by MTV in 2003 and ''Billboard'' in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/90893349/ |title=Madonna tops list of 'Greatest Video Stars' on MTV |newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |page=99 |date=April 25, 2003 |access-date=June 3, 2021 |first=Terry |last=Morrow}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=August 27, 2020 |title=The 100 Greatest Music Video Artists of All Time: Staff List |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/9440075/100-best-music-video-artists |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827203952/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/9440075/100-best-music-video-artists |archive-date=August 27, 2020 |access-date=August 28, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

{{multiple image
| perrow            = 1
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| align             = left
| image1            = VogueBlondAmbitionUndergGround (cropped).jpg
| alt1              = Madonna dancing with a group of dancers wearing black outfits
| image2            = Madonna - Rebel Heart Tour Cologne 2 (22851518577).jpg
| alt2              = Madonna in a jeweled black dress playing a ukulele while singing to a microphone
| footer            = Madonna's live performances vary from choreographed routines such as [[Vogue (dance)|voguing]] (above) to stripped-down ones with only a [[ukulele]] (below).
}}

Madonna's early music videos fused American and Hispanic [[street style]] with flamboyant glamor. Through the visuals, she introduced her avant-garde [[Downtown Manhattan]] fashion sensibility to an American audience.{{sfn|Metz|Benson|1999|pp=161–163}} The recurring use of Hispanic cultural motifs and Catholic symbolism continued into the ''True Blue'' era.{{sfn|Fouz-Hernández|Jarman-Ivens|2004|p=145}} According to author [[Douglas Kellner]], Madonna's embrace of "multiculturalism" and her "culturally transgressive moves" proved to be effective in appealing to a wide range of young audiences.{{sfn|Kellner|1995|p=271}} Scholars have noted that through her visual narratives, Madonna often subverted traditional gender norms by symbolically reversing male dominance.{{sfn|Welton|1998|pp=53–57}} 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 [[cross burning|burning crosses]].{{sfn|Cross|2007|p=70}}

Madonna's acting has often been met with negative reviews from film critics.<ref name="c579">{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Nigel M. |title=Is Madonna's acting really that bad? A career retrospective lets you be the judge |website=The Guardian |date=August 21, 2016 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/aug/21/madonna-acting-career-metrograph-new-york-retrospective |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> Biographer [[Andrew Morton (writer)|Andrew Morton]] said that although Madonna publicly dismissed the criticism, privately she was deeply affected by it.{{sfn|Morton|2001|p=218}} Following the critical and commercial failure of ''Swept Away'' (2002), she vowed never to act in another film.<ref name="b232">{{cite web |title=Hey Madonna, don't give up the day job! |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=March 24, 2008 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/18/madonna.movies/ |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> In a retrospective of her screen career titled ''Body of Work'' (2016) at New York's [[Metrograph]], ''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".<ref name="filmcareerretro">{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Nigel M. |title=Is Madonna's Acting Really That Bad? A Career Retrospective Lets You Be the Judge |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=August 21, 2016 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/aug/21/madonna-acting-career-metrograph-new-york-retrospective |access-date=August 25, 2016}}</ref> 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".{{sfn|Diamond|1996|p=202}} 

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]".{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2002|p=90}} Chris Nelson of ''The New York Times'' observed that artists like Madonna redefined standards of live performance with concerts "that included not only elaborate costumes and precision-timed [[pyrotechnics]] but also highly athletic dancing"—often at the expense of live vocals.<ref name="sync">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/01/arts/music/01NELS.html?pagewanted=1 |title=Lip-Synching Gets Real |last=Nelson |first=Chris |date=February 1, 2004 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=February 25, 2010 |url-access=limited}}</ref> A writer for the ''[[Orlando 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.<ref name="v501">{{cite web |last=Christensen |first=Thor |title=Lip-Syncing Isn't a Secret, Faux Sure |website=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |date=September 15, 2001 |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2001/09/15/lip-syncing-isnt-a-secret-faux-sure/ |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> To support simultaneous singing and movement, Madonna began using a hands-free radio-frequency [[Headset (audio)|headset microphone]], secured over the head or ears with a boom extending to the mouth.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/wimbledons-no-1-seat-455502.html |title=Wimbledon's No 1 seat |last=Castle |first=Andrew |date=July 2, 2007 |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=March 17, 2010 |author-link=Andrew Castle}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
{{Main|Cultural impact of Madonna}}
{{Quote box|align=right|width=20%|quote=She's a major [[historical figure]] and when she passes, the retrospectives will loom larger and larger in history.|source=—Academic [[Camille Paglia]] on Madonna (2017).<ref name="Paglia2017">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.chatelaine.com/living/books/camille-paglia-free-women-free-men/ |title=Camille Paglia cuts the 'malarkey': Women just need to toughen up |first=Sarah |last=Boesveld |magazine=[[Chatelaine (magazine)|Chatelaine]] |date=June 27, 2017 |access-date=April 4, 2021 |archive-date=May 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525091538/https://www.chatelaine.com/living/books/camille-paglia-free-women-free-men/ |url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Over a career spanning more than five decades—encompassing both the 20th and 21st centuries—Madonna has profoundly influenced [[popular music]], earning her the nickname "[[Honorific nicknames in popular music|Queen of Pop]]".<ref>{{multiref|{{cite web |last=Blistein |first=Jon |ref=none |title=Madonna to Celebrate Five Decades of Club Dominance with ''Finally Enough Love'' Comp |website=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=May 4, 2022 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/madonna-finally-enough-love-compilation-dance-club-remixes-1347356/ |access-date=December 23, 2025}}|{{cite web |last1=Iqbal |first1=Nosheen |last2=Ktena |first2=Natalie |last3=Khaleeli |first3=Homa |title=How Madonna changed pop culture for ever – podcast |website=[[The Guardian]] |ref=none |date=December 15, 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2023/dec/15/how-madonna-changed-pop-culture-for-ever-podcast |access-date=December 23, 2025}}|{{cite web |last=Craik |first=Laura |title=Madonna at 60: How the Queen of Pop Changed Fashion |ref=none |website=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |url-access=subscription |date=August 16, 2018 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/people/madonna-60how-queen-pop-changed-fashion-world/ |access-date=December 23, 2025}}|{{cite web |last=Hodgkinson |first=Will |author-link=Will Hodgkinson |title=The Queen of Pop at Her Emotional Best |ref=none |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=July 22, 2025 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/madonna-veronica-electronica-review-real-treasure-from-her-imperial-phase-3z9trvz66 |access-date=December 23, 2025}}|{{harvnb|Cross|2007|p=31}}}}</ref> Her legacy transcends music and is a subject of analysis among [[sociologist]]s, historians, and other scholars, giving rise to [[Madonna studies]], a subfield of American [[cultural studies]].<ref>{{multiref|{{Cite news |ref=none |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2943458/madonna-billboard-woman-of-the-year-2016/ |title=Madonna Is the Queen of Pop (And Also 2016, According to Billboard) |date=October 14, 2016 |access-date=March 29, 2021 |last=Hughes |first=Hilary |publisher=[[MTV]] |archive-date=July 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725194954/http://www.mtv.com/news/2943458/madonna-billboard-woman-of-the-year-2016/}}|{{cite news |url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1991-01-06/news/9101030989_1_madonna-ciccone-madonna-videos-thesis |title=The Madonna Thesis Is Madonna Just A Well-toned Rock Star, Or Is She Affecting Your View of the World? Graduate Student Chip Wells Thinks His Master's Thesis Holds The Answer |date=January 6, 1991 |access-date=February 10, 2015 |ref=none |newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |first=Barbara |last=Stewart |pages=1–3 |archive-date=January 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126062811/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1991-01-06/news/9101030989_1_madonna-ciccone-madonna-videos-thesis |url-status=dead}}|{{cite web |ref=none |date=August 5, 1990 |title=Who's That Girl? |website=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |access-date=March 1, 2022 |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/08/05/who-s-that-girl/ |first=Anne V. |last=Hull |author-link=Anne Hull |archive-date=April 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200430050857/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/08/05/who-s-that-girl/}}|{{harvnb|Hall|2006|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=A7LOEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA445 445–446]}}}}</ref> According to [[Rodrigo Fresán]], describing Madonna merely as a pop star "is as inappropriate as saying that [[Coca-Cola]] is just a [[Soft drink|soda]]", deeming her a symbol of [[Made in USA]].{{sfn|Aguilar Guzmán|2010|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=5fn7cpnmEQ0C&pg=PA88 88]}} The Spanish edition of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' wrote that Madonna became "the first master of [[Viral phenomenon|viral pop]] in history", achieving omnipresence across television, radio, magazines, and bookstores, an unparalleled pop dynamic not seen since [[the Beatles]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://rollingstone.es/specials/view/mujeres-que-cambiaron-las-reglas-del-rock |title=Mujeres que cambiaron las reglas del rock |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=April 14, 2013 |date=April 14, 2012 |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110210540/http://rollingstone.es/specials/view/mujeres-que-cambiaron-las-reglas-del-rock |archive-date=November 10, 2013}}</ref> ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' remarked that Madonna "changed the world"s social history",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/profiles/2530197/Madonna-mistress-of-metamorphosis.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/profiles/2530197/Madonna-mistress-of-metamorphosis.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Madonna, mistress of metamorphosis |first=William |last=Langley |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=August 9, 2008 |access-date=April 6, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> with scholar Diane Pecknold noticing that "nearly every poll of the greatest or most influential figures in popular culture includes Madonna".{{sfn|Hall|2006|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=A7LOEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA445 445–446]}} Critics often regard Madonna as one of the greatest figures in popular music.<ref>{{multiref|{{cite web |url=http://www.vh1.com/news/1238/the-100-greatest-women-in-music/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418005547/http://www.vh1.com/news/1238/the-100-greatest-women-in-music/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 18, 2015 |ref=none |title=VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Music |first=Mark |last=Graham |publisher=[[VH1]] |date=February 13, 2012 |access-date=February 14, 2012}}|{{cite web |title=Madonna voted greatest female artist |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=September 27, 2002 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2284705.stm |access-date=December 23, 2025}}|{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/madonna-60-birthday-how-became-famous-icon-career-imagery-feminism-lgbt-legacy-a8488336.html |title=Madonna at 60: How one woman turned herself into an icon |date=August 16, 2018 |access-date=April 1, 2021 |ref=none |work=[[The Independent]] |first=Ben |last=Kelly}}|{{cite web |last=Lipchik |first=Saul |title=The King and Queen of Pop: Michael Jackson and Madonna's failed relationship |ref=none |website=[[South China Morning Post]] |date=September 7, 2022 |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3191703/inside-michael-jackson-and-madonnas-failed-relationship |access-date=December 23, 2025}}|{{cite web |last=Crane |first=Kelly |title=Madonna at 54: Still the Queen of Controversy |website=[[Gulf News]] |ref=none |date=August 15, 2012 |url=https://gulfnews.com/lifestyle/madonna-at-54-still-the-queen-of-controversy-1.1062118 |access-date=December 23, 2025}}}}</ref>

[[File:Madonna at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong (retouched).jpg|alt=A wax figure with a long ponytail and large cone bra|thumb|upright|left|Wax figure of Madonna at [[Madame Tussauds Hong Kong|Madame Tussauds]] museum in Hong Kong]]

''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.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.spin.com/2020/12/the-most-influential-artists-3-madonna/ |title=The Most Influential Artists: #3 Madonna |first=Bianca |last=Gracie |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date=December 4, 2020 |access-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220140243/https://www.spin.com/2020/12/the-most-influential-artists-3-madonna/ |archive-date=December 20, 2020}}</ref> Madonna became the first artist to be named the "[[Billboard's Greatest Pop Stars|Greatest Pop Star]]" of the year twice by ''Billboard'' (1985 and 1989).<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/billbaord-greatest-pop-star-by-year-winners-9351151/ |title=20 Fun Facts About Billboard's 'Greatest Pop Star by Year' Selections |date=April 3, 2020 |first=Paul |last=Grein |access-date=April 28, 2022 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-date=April 23, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423103418/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9351151/billbaord-greatest-pop-star-by-year-winners}}</ref> According to Sclafani, before Madonna, "most music mega-stars were guy rockers; after her, almost all would be female singers{{nbsp}}[...] 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."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26164523/ns/today-entertainment/t/has-madonna-surpassed-beatles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722173117/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26164523/ns/today-entertainment/t/has-madonna-surpassed-beatles |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 22, 2011 |title=At 50, has Madonna surpassed the Beatles? |publisher=[[MSNBC]] |first=Tony |last=Sclafani |date=August 12, 2008 |access-date=April 29, 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{multiref|{{cite web |ref=none |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a308116/britney-wants-career-like-madonnas/ |title=Britney wants career like Madonna's |publisher=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=August 27, 2024 |first=Lewis |last=Corner |date=March 10, 2011}}|{{cite news |ref=none |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-08-01/beyonce-shouts-out-madonna-queen-mother-during-show |title=Beyoncé shouts out Madonna, her 'Queen Mother', during Renaissance show in New Jersey |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=August 27, 2024 |first=Nardine |last=Saad |date=August 2, 2023}}|{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a330967/rihanna-madonna-is-my-biggest-inspiration/ |title=Rihanna: 'Madonna is my biggest inspiration' |ref=none |publisher=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=August 27, 2024 |first=Lewis |last=Corner |date=July 21, 2011}}|{{cite magazine |title=Freddie Mercury inspired Katy Perry to 'Kiss a Girl' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/queen/40017 |magazine=[[NME]] |ref=none |date=September 26, 2008 |access-date=February 3, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106041511/http://www.nme.com/news/queen/40017 |archive-date=January 6, 2014}}|{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/01/13/madonna-lady-gaga-born-this-way/ |title=Madonna talks Lady Gaga, 'Born This Way' comparisons |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=August 27, 2024 |first=Erin |last=Strecker |ref=none |date=January 13, 2012}}}}</ref> Madonna has also influenced male artists, inspiring rock frontmen [[Liam Gallagher]] of [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] and [[Chester Bennington]] of [[Linkin Park]] to become musicians.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/madonna-inspired-liam-gallagher-to-become-a-musician-117090100160_1.html |title=Madonna inspired Liam Gallagher to become a musician |newspaper=[[Business Standard]] |date=September 1, 2017 |access-date=September 1, 2017 |agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://elvisduran.iheart.com/content/2017-07-20-remembering-our-time-with-chester-bennington/ |title=Remembering Our Time with Chester Bennington |work=[[Elvis Duran and the Morning Show]] |date=February 21, 2017 |access-date=September 1, 2017}}</ref>

[[Madonna and sexuality|Madonna's use of sexual imagery]] has ignited widespread discussions regarding sexuality and [[feminism]].{{sfn|Fouz-Hernández|Jarman-Ivens|2004|pp=81, 105, 165–168}} Media scholar [[John Fiske (media scholar)|John Fiske]] remarked that the empowerment Madonna conveys is closely tied to the gratification of asserting control over self-definition, sexuality, and social dynamics.{{sfn|Fiske|1989|p=102}} As discussed in ''Doing Gender in Media, Art and Culture'' (2009), Madonna's status as a female celebrity, performer, and [[pop icon]] continues to challenge and reinterpret established feminist discourses.{{sfn|Buikema|van der Tuin|2009|p=119}} According to lesbian feminist [[Sheila Jeffreys]], Madonna embodies what [[Monique Wittig]] terms "the category of sex" as a site of power, while deliberately embracing the performance of women's assigned sexual labor.{{sfn|Jeffreys|2005|p=96}} Similarly, communication scholar Sut Jhally has described her as "an almost sacred feminist icon".{{sfn|Jhally|2006|p=194}}

Writer [[Matt Cain (writer)|Matt Cain]] observed that Madonna has helped break social barriers and elevated [[Social exclusion|marginalized groups]] by prominently incorporating [[LGBTQ culture|LGBTQ]], [[Culture of Latin America|Latino]], and [[African-American culture|Black culture]] into her artistic works.<ref name="v524">{{cite web |last=Rogers |first=As told to Jude |title=Matt Cain on Madonna: 'She opened up gay culture to the mainstream' |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=July 15, 2018 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jul/15/matt-cain-on-madonna-homophobic-interviewers-gay-culture |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref><ref name="k560">{{cite web |last=Cain |first=Matt |title=How Madonna transformed pop culture |website=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=July 31, 2018 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/how-madonna-transformed-pop-culture-20180731-p4zukc.html |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref><ref name="h359">{{cite web |last=Cinquemani |first=Sal |title=Madonna's Enduring Love Affair With Latin Culture, From 'La Isla Bonita' to 'Madame X' |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=June 12, 2019 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/madonna-latin-music-madame-x-8515581/ |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> One author remarked that "by making culture generally available, Madonna becomes the culture of all social classes".<ref name="McMillanIndia">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=em4LAQAAMAAJ&q=Madonna |title=Madonna: The Politics of Sex |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers]] |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-4039-2988-4 |page=143 |url-access=limited |via=Google Books}}</ref> Canadian scholar [[Karlene Faith]] similarly said that Madonna's peculiarity lies in her ability to "move freely across diverse cultural terrains", describing her as a "[[cult following|cult figure]]" within multiple self-sustaining subcultures even as she achieved mainstream success.{{sfn|Faith|1997|p=88}} [[GLAAD]] president [[Sarah Kate Ellis]] has affirmed that Madonna "always has and always will be the LGBTQ community's greatest [[Straight ally|ally]]",<ref name="Ally">{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/duty-honor-madonna-reflects-decades-lgbtq-activism-n1002166 |title='A duty and an honor': Madonna reflects on decades of LGBTQ activism |date=May 5, 2019 |access-date=March 29, 2021 |publisher=[[NBC News]] |first=Brian |last=Latimer |archive-date=June 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606050910/https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/duty-honor-madonna-reflects-decades-lgbtq-activism-n1002166 |url-status=live}}</ref> while ''[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]'' characterized her as "the greatest gay icon".<ref name="Advocate">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.advocate.com/print-issue/cover-stories/2012/02/02/madonna-truth-she-never-left-you |title=Madonna: The Truth Is She Never Left You |magazine=[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]] |date=February 2, 2012 |access-date=February 3, 2012 |first=Ari |last=Karpel |archive-date=February 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203171357/http://news.advocate.com/post/16914705360/madonna-the-truth-is-she-never-left-you |url-status=dead}}</ref> Madonna stated in 2024, "Aside from my birthday, [[NYC Pride March|New York Pride]] is the most important day of the year".<ref name=NYCPrideMostImportantDay>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2024/06/30/madonna-pride-new-york-ladyland-festival/74262346007/ |title=Madonna celebrates NYC Pride at queer music fest: 'Most important day of the year' |first=Brendan |last=Morrow |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=June 30, 2024 |access-date=July 7, 2024}}</ref>

Madonna has been praised as a [[Business of Madonna|role model for businesswomen]], having "achieved the kind of financial control that women had long fought for within the industry", and amassing over $1.2{{nbsp}}billion in sales during the first decade of her career.{{sfn|Kramarae|Spender|2004|p=1408}} According to Gini Gorlinski in ''The 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.{{sfn|Gorlinski|2010|p=330}} Scholars at the [[London 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.<ref name=LBS>{{cite news |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/career_and_jobs/graduate_management/article1293585.ece |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110515015953/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/career_and_jobs/graduate_management/article1293585.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 15, 2011 |title=Case Study: Madonna |first1=Jamie |last1=Anderson |first2=Martin |last2=Kupp |newspaper=The Times |date=January 18, 2007 |access-date=August 3, 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Morton |first=Andrew |title=Madonna |publisher=St. Martin's Paperbacks |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-312-98310-9 |location=New York |pages=89 |oclc=49701778}}</ref>

== Achievements ==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Madonna|List of Madonna records and achievements}}
[[File:Madonna's hands at Square of Fame.jpg|alt=Madonna's handprints in concrete|thumb|Madonna was the first person to be inducted into the [[Wembley Square of Fame]] in London.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5236386.stm |title=Madonna gets first Wembley honour |agency=BBC News |date=August 2, 2006 |access-date=December 7, 2010}}</ref>]]

''[[Forbes]]'' estimated Madonna's [[net worth]] at $850&nbsp;million as of 2025, making her one of the [[List of music artists by net worth|wealthiest musicians in the world]].<ref name="FB">{{cite magazine |title=Forbes Profile: Madonna |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/madonna/?sh=206ae89327ac |access-date=July 24, 2025 |magazine=[[Forbes]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250724170231/https://www.forbes.com/profile/madonna/?sh=206ae89327ac |archive-date=July 24, 2025}}</ref> She became ''Forbes''{{'}}s annual [[Forbes list of the world's highest-paid musicians#Female|highest-paid female musician]] 11 times across the 1980s,<ref>Annual earning list:
*1987: {{cite news |ref=none |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-07-fi-4174-story.html |title=Of the Show Biz Rich, Bill Cosby Is Top Star |date=September 7, 1987 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=July 27, 2022}}
*1988: {{cite news |ref=none |url=https://apnews.com/article/1f09f14d8a483ef74af98ecd963d44e6 |title=Michael Jackson Overtakes Cosby as Highest-Paid Entertainer |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |date=September 19, 1988 |access-date=July 27, 2022}}
*1989: {{cite magazine |ref=none |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1989/CB-1989-09-30.pdf#page=6 |title=Tickertape: Million Dollar Bash |magazine=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]] |page=6 |date=November 30, 1989 |first=Billy |last=Barty |author-link=Billy Barty |access-date=July 27, 2022}}</ref> 1990s,<ref>Annual earning list:
*1990: {{cite magazine |ref=none |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u68DAAAAMBAJ&dq=Madonna&pg=PA54 |title=Cosby Heads Forbes List of Highest Paid in Show Biz: The 'Forbes' Top 40 |magazine=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]] |page=54 |date=October 1, 1990 |volume=78 |number=25 |access-date=July 27, 2022}}
*1991: {{cite news |ref=none |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-26-vw-4266-story.html |title=High Life : A Weekly Forum for High School Students: Foothill Teen Wins Poster Prize |date=September 26, 1991 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=July 27, 2022}}
*1992: {{cite magazine |ref=none |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n1gEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Madonna&pg=PA13 |title=Hollywood Grapevine: The 44th Annual Emmy Awards: Disaster |magazine=[[The Crisis]] |page=13 |date=October 1992 |volume=99 |number=7 |first=Ron |last=Brewington |access-date=July 27, 2022}}
*1993: {{cite magazine |ref=none |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WsEDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Madonna&pg=PA13 |title=Oprah Tops Forbes List of Highest Grossing Celebs |magazine=Jet |page=13 |date=September 27, 1993 |volume=84 |number=22 |access-date=July 27, 2022}}</ref> 2000s,<ref>Annual earning list:
*2005: {{cite magazine |ref=none |url=http://www.forbes.com/lists/2005/53/Musicians_Pay_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060307033514/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2005/53/Musicians_Pay_1.html |archive-date=March 7, 2006 |title=The Celebrity 100 > Musicians |date=March 7, 2006 |magazine=Forbes}}
*2007: {{cite magazine |ref=none |url=https://www.forbes.com/2007/09/19/music-madonna-rolling_stones-biz-media-cx_lh_0919musicians.html |title=The Top-Earning Musicians |magazine=Forbes |date=September 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727110557/https://www.forbes.com/2007/09/19/music-madonna-rolling_stones-biz-media-cx_lh_0919musicians.html |archive-date=July 27, 2022 |access-date=July 28, 2022 |url-status=bot: unknown}}
*2009: {{cite magazine |ref=none |url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/06/22/top-eaning-musicians-business-entertainment-musicians_slide.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220727055559/https://www.forbes.com/2009/06/22/top-eaning-musicians-business-entertainment-musicians_slide.html |title=In Pictures: The Year's Top-Earning Musicians |magazine=Forbes |date=June 22, 2009 |archive-date=July 27, 2022 |access-date=July 27, 2022}}</ref> and 2010s.<ref name="earning2013">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-madonna-top-earning-celebrity-2013-forbes-mdna-20130828,0,2147727.story |title=Madonna is Forbes' top-earning celebrity thanks to MDNA tour |first=Nardine |last=Saad |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=August 28, 2013 |access-date=August 31, 2013 |archive-date=August 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831002536/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-madonna-top-earning-celebrity-2013-forbes-mdna-20130828,0,2147727.story |url-status=live}}</ref> She is recognized as the best-selling female music artist of all time by the ''[[Guinness World Records]]'',{{efn|name="sales"|In 2006, the [[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry]] (IFPI) officially announced that Madonna had sold over 200&nbsp;million copies of her albums alone worldwide.<ref name="ifpi.org">{{Cite press release |url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat_month_20060913.html |title=Keane, Shakira, Coldplay and Madonna scoop summer Platinum Awards |publisher=[[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry]] |date=September 13, 2006 |access-date=November 10, 2017 |archive-date=November 4, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061104041040/http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat_month_20060913.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> Since then, her total [[record sales]] have varied from 300 million<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/madonnas-top-40-most-downloaded-tracks-revealed-1309/ |title=Madonna's Top 40 most downloaded tracks revealed! |last=Lane |first=Dan |date=March 29, 2012 |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=January 27, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/u2-strike-a-chord-in-the-best-albums-from-2009-1997058.html |title=U2 strike a chord in the best albums from 2009 |last=Egan |first=Barry |date=January 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520113144/http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/u2-strike-a-chord-in-the-best-albums-from-2009-1997058.html |archive-date=May 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |newspaper=[[Irish Independent]] |access-date=July 23, 2010}}</ref> to 400 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2023/10/madonna-cements-status-as-biggest-selling-female-recording-artist-of-all-time-760147 |title=Madonna cements status as biggest-selling female recording artist of all time |first=Vicki |last=Newman |work=[[Guinness World Records]] |date=October 25, 2023 |access-date=January 5, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/becoming-madonna-documentary-sky-1236071618/ |title='Becoming Madonna' Promises "Immersive, Archive-Driven" Look at Singer's Rise to Stardom |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |first=Lily |last=Ford |date=November 26, 2024 |access-date=January 5, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/entertainment/becoming-madonna-trailer-unveils-the-untold-story-of-the-queen-of-pop-1503377781.html |title='Becoming Madonna' trailer unveils the untold story of the queen of pop |date=December 20, 2024 |newspaper=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]] |access-date=January 5, 2025}}</ref>}} and has a total of 18 albums certified [[multi-platinum]] in multiple countries.{{efn|Madonna has 12 albums certified [[RIAA certification|multi-platinum]] by the RIAA.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/barbra-streisand-other-19-top-slideshow-wp-061558932/photo-p-madonna-58-tied-streisand-photo-061558849.html |title=Barbra Streisand and the Other 19 Top-Selling Female Recording Artists of All Time |publisher=[[Yahoo! News]] |first=Paul |last=Grein |date=April 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502051052/https://ca.news.yahoo.com/barbra-streisand-other-19-top-slideshow-wp-061558932/photo-p-madonna-58-tied-streisand-photo-061558849.html |archive-date=May 2, 2020 |access-date=December 24, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Her other albums certified [[List of music recording certifications|multi-platinum]] outside the US are ''[[Who's That Girl (soundtrack)|Who's That Girl]]'' (1987),<ref name="snep">{{cite certification |region=France |type=album |artist=Madonna |access-date=July 8, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/80s/1987/M&M-1987-12-26.pdf |title=Gold & Platinum Awards 1987 |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |pages=44–46 |date=December 26, 1987 |access-date=July 7, 2019}}</ref> ''[[GHV2]]'' (2001),<ref name="bpi">{{cite certification |region=United Kingdom |artist=Madonna |type=album |access-date=March 18, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue650.pdf |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20021001140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20021002-0000/Issue650.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 1, 2002 |title=ARIA Report: Issue No 650 |access-date=May 18, 2018 |publisher=ARIA Charts. Australian Web Archive}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> ''[[Confessions on a Dance Floor]]'' (2005),<ref name="bpi"/><ref name="snep"/> ''[[Hard Candy (Madonna album)|Hard Candy]]'' (2008),<ref>{{cite web |title=Чарт продаж. Россия 39-2009 |url=http://www.2m-online.ru/news/detail.php?ID=5479 |publisher=National Federation of Phonogram Producers (NFPF) |access-date=December 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091218061148/http://www.2m-online.ru/news/detail.php?ID=5479 |archive-date=December 18, 2009 |language=ru |date=September 30, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Madonně vychází DVD z nejúspěšnějšího turné historie |url=https://www.tyden.cz/rubriky/kultura/hudba/madonne-vychazi-dvd-z-nejuspesnejsiho-turne-historie_163733.html?showTab=nejctenejsi-7 |magazine=[[Týden]] |access-date=December 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312180319/https://www.tyden.cz/rubriky/kultura/hudba/madonne-vychazi-dvd-z-nejuspesnejsiho-turne-historie_163733.html?showTab=nejctenejsi-7 |archive-date=March 12, 2021 |language=cs |date=March 29, 2010}}</ref> ''[[Celebration (Madonna album)|Celebration]]'' (2009),<ref name="bracert"/><ref name="bpi"/> and ''[[MDNA (album)|MDNA]]'' (2012).<ref name="bracert">{{cite certification |region=Brazil |artist=Madonna |type=album |access-date=September 4, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://lenta.ru/articles/2012/12/28/chart/ |publisher=Lenta.ru |title=2012 Year-End Top Russian Albums Chart |access-date=December 28, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231131125/http://lenta.ru/articles/2012/12/28/chart/ |archive-date=December 31, 2012 |language=ru}}</ref>}} According to the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA), she is the best-selling female rock artist of the 20th century and the fourth [[List of highest-certified music artists in the United States|highest-certified female artist in the US]], with 65.5&nbsp;million certified [[album-equivalent units]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=top_tallies&ttt=TAA#search_section |title=Top Selling Artists |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] |access-date=June 9, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/newsitem.php?news_year_filter=1999&resultpage=2&id=3ABF3EC8-EF5B-58F9-E949-3B57F5E313DF |title=The American Recording Industry Announces Its Artists of the Century |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |date=November 10, 1999 |access-date=January 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930200852/http://www.riaa.com/newsitem.php?news_year_filter=1999&resultpage=2&id=3ABF3EC8-EF5B-58F9-E949-3B57F5E313DF |archive-date=September 30, 2007}}</ref> In Japan, the world's second largest market, Madonna has received 17 [[Japan Gold Disc Awards|Gold Disc Awards]] from the [[Recording Industry Association of Japan]], including the most [[Japan Gold Disc Awards#List of the Artists of the Year|Artist of the Year]] wins by a solo artist (five).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gdlist/pdf/gd1-20_list.pdf |script-title=ja:ゴールドディスク大賞受賞者一覧 |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of Japan]] |date=1987–2006 |access-date=November 26, 2010 |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513221245/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gdlist/pdf/gd1-20_list.pdf |archive-date=May 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://wmg.jp/artist/madonna/news_23642.html |script-title=ja:第２３回日本ゴールドディスク大賞で"アーティスト・オブ・ザ・イヤー"を受賞！ |language=ja |date=March 3, 2009 |access-date=March 4, 2009 |publisher=[[Warner Music Group|Warner Music Japan]] |archive-date=August 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812211904/https://wmg.jp/artist/madonna/news_23642.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Madonna has generated over US$1.6&nbsp;billion from ticket sales of her concert tours throughout her career.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Frankenberg |first=Eric |title=Madonna Is Only Woman to Achieve This Boxscore Feat as The Celebration Tour Wraps |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/madonna-the-celebration-tour-225-million-1235674536/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510023201/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/madonna-the-celebration-tour-225-million-1235674536/ |archive-date=May 10, 2024 |date=May 9, 2024}}</ref> She was the [[List of highest-grossing live music artists|highest-grossing female touring artist]],<ref name="Poll">{{cite magazine |title=Top Touring Artists Of The Pollstar Era |url=https://data.pollstar.com/Chart/2022/07/072522_top.touring.artists_1020.pdf |access-date=August 3, 2022 |magazine=[[Pollstar]] |pages=1, 3 |date=July 7, 2022 |archive-date=August 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805190603/https://data.pollstar.com/Chart/2022/07/072522_top.touring.artists_1020.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> before being overtaken by [[Taylor Swift]] in 2023, according to ''[[Pollstar]]''.<ref name="Poll"/><ref name="pollstar2023">{{cite news|url=https://news.pollstar.com/2023/12/08/taylor-swift-sets-all-time-touring-record-with-billion-dollar-gross/|title=Taylor Swift Sets All-Time Touring Record With $1 Billion Gross|last=Gensler|first=Andy|magazine=[[Pollstar]]|date=December 8, 2023|access-date=December 8, 2023|archive-date=December 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208150250/https://news.pollstar.com/2023/12/08/taylor-swift-sets-all-time-touring-record-with-billion-dollar-gross/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://news.pollstar.com/2025/12/08/coldplay-u2-sheeran-dmb-top-pollstars-25-most-popular-touring-artists-of-the-millennium/|title=Coldplay, U2, Ed Sheeran, Dave Matthews Band, Taylor Swift Top Pollstar’s 25 Most Popular Touring Artists Of The Millennium|first=Bob|last=Allen|date=December 8, 2025|magazine=[[Pollstar]]|access-date=December 9, 2025}}</ref> [[List of highest-attended concerts|Her biggest solo concerts by paying attendance]] include her [[Who's That Girl World Tour]]'s concert in [[Sceaux, Hauts-de-Seine|Parc de Sceaux]], Paris (130,000 audience) and [[The Girlie Show (Madonna)|the Girlie Show]]'s concert in [[Maracanã Stadium]], Rio de Janeiro (120,000 audience).<ref name="paris1987">{{cite news |url=http://elpais.com/diario/1987/08/31/cultura/557359210_850215.html |title=Madonna convocó en París a 130.000 personas |language=es |access-date=May 4, 2009 |newspaper=[[El País]] |last=Bassets |first=Luis |date=August 31, 1987 |archive-date=November 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118090803/http://elpais.com/diario/1987/08/31/cultura/557359210_850215.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-22545124.html |title=Madonna Concert Draws 120,000 |date=November 8, 1993 |newspaper=[[The Buffalo News]] |access-date=November 29, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129123752/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-22545124.html |archive-date=November 29, 2017}}</ref> The closing performance of [[the Celebration Tour]], in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, on May 5, 2024, drew over 1.6&nbsp;million people, setting a record for the [[List of most-attended concerts#Free concerts|largest audience for a stand-alone concert by any artist]] at the time.<ref name="record1"/> She has also won seven [[Grammy Award]]s and twenty [[MTV Video Music Award]]s, including the 1986 [[MTV Video Vanguard Award|Video Vanguard Award]] for which she became the first female recipient.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/madonna |title=Madonna |publisher=[[Grammy Award]] |access-date=August 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117043843/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/madonna |archive-date=November 17, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Who has won the most MTV Video Music Awards? |date=March 2008 |magazine=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]] |issn=1070-4701 |volume=16 |issue=2 |page=58}}</ref> ''Like a Prayer'' (1989), ''The Immaculate Collection'' (1990), ''Ray of Light'' (1998), and ''Music'' (2000) have each been included among ''Rolling Stone''{{'}}s list of the [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|500 greatest albums of all time]].<ref name="b906">{{cite web |title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time |website=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=December 31, 2023 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/ |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/music-madonna-19691231 |title=500 Greatest Albums: Music – Madonna |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=May 31, 2012 |access-date=September 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219094110/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/music-madonna-19691231 |archive-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref> It listed "Into the Groove" (1985), "Like a Prayer" (1989), and "Vogue" (1990) among the [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|500 greatest songs of all time]].<ref name="n311">{{cite web |title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time |website=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=February 16, 2024 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/ |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref>

From "Like a Virgin" (1984) to "Give Me All Your Luvin'" (2012), a total of [[Madonna singles discography|44 Madonna singles]] have topped the [[record chart|official chart]] in at least one of the [[List of largest recorded music markets#Statistics|world's top-ten music markets]], including the [[List of artists who reached number one in the United States|United States]] (12),<ref name="hot100">{{cite news |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/madonnas-40-biggest-billboard-hits/ |title=Madonna's 40 Biggest Billboard Hits |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc |first=Keith |last=Caulfield |date=August 16, 2024 |access-date=January 11, 2025}}</ref> the [[List of artists by number of UK Singles Chart number ones|United Kingdom]] (13),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/artists-with-the-most-number-1-singles-on-the-uk-chart__23765/ |title=Artists with the most Number 1 singles on the UK chart |first=Justin |last=Myers |publisher=Official Charts Company |date=January 3, 2020 |access-date=March 22, 2020}}</ref> [[List of artists by number of Canadian number-one singles (RPM)|Canada]] (24),{{efn|Madonna has more number-one singles than any other act in Canadian music history, with 18 singles during the ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' era, 2 singles during the [[Canadian Hot 100]] era, and 4 singles between 2000 and 2007 on the [[Canadian Singles Chart]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/list.aspx?OCRText=Madonna& |title=Madonna – Canada Top Singles |magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] |publisher=[[Collections Canada]] |access-date=January 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206190455/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=v2a76h62to0aart05gg0u3agj2&q1=Madonna |archive-date=December 6, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/madonna/chart-history/can/ |title=Madonna – Canadian Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 26, 2019}}</ref>}} [[List of artists who reached number one on the Australian singles chart|Australia]] (11),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/news/all-the-aria-singles-chart-1s |title=All The ARIA Singles Chart #1s |publisher=[[ARIA Charts]] |date=June 1, 2022 |access-date=January 11, 2025}}</ref> [[List of artists who reached number one on the Italian Singles Chart|Italy]] (23),<ref>{{cite book |last=Spinetoli |first=John Joseph |title=Artisti In Classifica Singoli: 1960–1999 |url=https://www.musicaedischi.it/pubblicazioni.php |date=January 2000 |publisher=[[Musica e dischi]] |location=Milan |pages=217–222}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://italiancharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Madonna |title=Madonna Discography: Italy |publisher=Italiancharts.com at Hung Medien |access-date=December 2, 2009}}</ref> and [[List of artists who reached number one on the Spanish Singles Chart|Spain]] (21).{{sfn|Salaverri|2005}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spanishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Madonna |title=Madonna discography |access-date=November 14, 2010 |publisher=[[Productores de Música de España]] Spanishcharts.com at Hung Medien}}</ref> At the 40th anniversary of the [[GfK Entertainment|GfK Media Control Charts]], Madonna was ranked as the most successful singles artist in German chart history.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7942027/germany-official-music-charts-40th-anniversary |title=Germany's Music Charts Turn 40: Facts and Milestones in the 4th Biggest Music Market |first=Wolfgang |last=Spahr |date=August 28, 2017 |access-date=August 28, 2017 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> According to ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', Madonna is the most successful solo artist on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100—second overall behind [[the Beatles]]—and the most successful dance club artist of all time.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-hot-100-artists |title=Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Artists Chart |magazine=Billboard |date=November 12, 2015 |access-date=March 20, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250706060947/https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-hot-100-artists/ |archive-date=July 6, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/top-dance-club-songs-artists-madonna-greatest-of-all-time/ |title=Greatest of All Time: Madonna Is Billboard's No. 1 Dance Club Songs Artist |first=Gordon |last=Murray |date=November 30, 2016 |access-date=December 1, 2016 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> She has achieved 38 top-ten singles on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, the most by any artist in pre-[[Music streaming|streaming]] era.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-53565332 |title=Drake overtakes Madonna and The Beatles to break US Billboard chart record |first=Mark |last=Savage |date=July 28, 2020 |access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref> A dominant [[physical single]]s seller, she has the most number ones on the [[Hot 100 Singles Sales]] (16) and the [[Dance Singles Sales]] (33) of any artist.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/celebration-madonnas-40-most-impressive-instants/ |title='Celebration': Madonna's 40 Most Impressive Instants |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=September 15, 2009 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=September 15, 2009 |archive-date=December 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213151414/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/267393/celebration-madonnas-40-most-impressive-instants |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2015-07-04/hot-singles-sales |title=Hot Singles Sales |date=July 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529065930/https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2015-07-04/hot-singles-sales |archive-date=May 29, 2019 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref> With a total of 50 [[Dance Club Songs]] chart-toppers, Madonna became the artist with the most number ones on any singular [[Billboard charts|''Billboard'' chart]], pulling ahead of [[George Strait]] with 44 number-one songs on the [[Hot Country Songs]] chart.<ref name="DanceRecord"/>

== Discography ==
{{Main|Madonna albums discography|Madonna singles discography|List of songs recorded by Madonna}}

{{div col}}
* ''[[Madonna (album)|Madonna]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Like a Virgin (album)|Like a Virgin]]'' (1984)
* ''[[True Blue (Madonna album)|True Blue]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Like a Prayer (album)|Like a Prayer]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Erotica (album)|Erotica]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Bedtime Stories (Madonna album)|Bedtime Stories]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Ray of Light]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Music (Madonna album)|Music]]'' (2000)
* ''[[American Life]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Confessions on a Dance Floor]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Hard Candy (Madonna album)|Hard Candy]]'' (2008)
* ''[[MDNA (album)|MDNA]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Rebel Heart]]'' (2015)
* ''[[Madame X (album)|Madame X]]'' (2019)
{{div col end}}

== Filmography ==
{{Main|Madonna filmography}}
'''Films starred'''
{{div col}}
* ''[[Desperately Seeking Susan]]'' (1985)
* ''[[A Certain Sacrifice]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Shanghai Surprise]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Who's That Girl (1987 film)|Who's That Girl]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989 film)|Bloodhounds of Broadway]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Dick Tracy (1990 film)|Dick Tracy]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Madonna: Truth or Dare]]'' (1991)
* ''[[A League of Their Own]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Body of Evidence (1993 film)|Body of Evidence]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Dangerous Game (1993 film)|Dangerous Game]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Four Rooms]]'' (1995)
* ''[[Girl 6]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Evita (1996 film)|Evita]]'' (1996)
* ''[[The Next Best Thing]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Swept Away (2002 film)|Swept Away]]'' (2002)
* ''[[I'm Going to Tell You a Secret]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Arthur and the Minimoys (film)|Arthur and the Invisibles]]'' (2006)
* ''[[Madame X (2021 film)|Madame X]]'' (2021)
{{div col end}}

'''Films directed'''
* ''[[Filth and Wisdom]]'' (2008)
* ''[[W.E.]]'' (2011)
* ''[[secretprojectrevolution]]'' (2013)

== Tours ==
{{Main|List of Madonna concerts}}
{{div col}}
* [[The Virgin Tour]] (1985)
* [[Who's That Girl World Tour]] (1987)
* [[Blond Ambition World Tour]] (1990)
* [[The Girlie Show (Madonna)|The Girlie Show]] (1993)
* [[Drowned World Tour]] (2001)
* [[Re-Invention World Tour]] (2004)
* [[Confessions Tour]] (2006)
* [[Sticky & Sweet Tour]] (2008–2009)
* [[The MDNA Tour]] (2012)
* [[Rebel Heart Tour]] (2015–2016)
* [[Madame X Tour]] (2019–2020)
* [[The Celebration Tour]] (2023–2024)
{{div col end}}

== Enterprises ==
{{Main|Business of Madonna}}
{{See also|Madonna fashion brands}}
* [[Maverick (company)|Maverick]] (1992–2004)
* [[Ray of Light Foundation]] (1998)
* [[Raising Malawi]] (2006)
* [[Hard Candy Fitness]] (2010–2019)
* [[Truth or Dare by Madonna]] (2011–2018)

== See also ==
{{Portal|Biography|Pop music|United States}}
{{div col}}
* [[List of largest music deals]]
* [[List of organisms named after famous people (born 1950–present)]]
* [[List of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees]]
{{div col end}}
{{clear}}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Book sources ===
{{See also|Bibliography of works on Madonna}}
{{refbegin|colwidth=30em|indent=yes}}
* {{Cite book |last=Aguilar Guzmán |first=Marcela |title=Domadores de historias. Conversaciones con grandes cronistas de América Latina |publisher=RIL Editores |year=2010 |isbn=978-956-284-782-7 |language=es}}
* {{Cite book |last=Bego |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Bego |title=Madonna: Blonde Ambition |publisher=Cooper Square Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-8154-1051-5}}
* {{cite book |first1=Rosemarie |last1=Buikema |first2=Iris |last2=van der Tuin |title=Doing Gender in Media, Art and Culture |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-203-87680-0}}
* {{cite book |last=Chapman |first=Roger |title=Culture Wars: An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints, and Voices |publisher=[[M. E. Sharpe]] |date=2010 |isbn=978-0-7656-2250-1}}
* {{Cite book |last=Claro |first=Nicole |title=Madonna |year=1994 |publisher=[[Infobase Publishing|Chelsea House Publishers]] |isbn=978-0-7910-2330-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/madonna00clar}}
* {{Cite book |last=Clerk |first=Carol |title=Madonnastyle |year=2002 |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |isbn=978-0-7119-8874-3}}
* {{Cite book |last=Cross |first=Mary |title=Madonna: A Biography |year=2007 |publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]] |isbn=978-0-313-33811-3}}
* {{Cite book |last=Dean |first=Maury |title=Rock 'n' Roll Gold Rush: A Singles Un-Cyclopedia |year=2003 |publisher=Algora Publishing |isbn=978-0-87586-207-1}}
* {{Cite book |last=Diamond |first=Elin |year=1996 |title=Performance and Cultural Politics |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-12767-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Edmondson |first=Jacqueline |author-link=Jacqueline Edmondson |title=Music in American Life |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]] |date=2013 |isbn=978-0-313-39348-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Elias |first=Simone O. |title=Old Films, Young Eyes |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |date=2024 |isbn=978-1-4766-9659-1}}
*{{cite book |jstor=10.3138/j.ctt2tv4xw# |title=Madonna, Bawdy & Soul |url=https://archive.org/details/madonnabawdysoul0000fait |url-access=registration |last=Faith |first=Karlene |author-link=Karlene Faith |date=1997 |publisher=[[University of Toronto Press]] |isbn=1-4426-7688-4}}
* {{Cite book |last=Fiske |first=John |author-link=John Fiske (media scholar) |title=Reading the Popular |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=1989 |isbn=978-0-415-07875-7}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Fouz-Hernández |first1=Santiago |first2=Freya |last2=Jarman-Ivens |title=Madonna's Drowned Worlds |publisher=[[Ashgate Publishing]] |isbn=978-0-7546-3372-3 |year=2004 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/madonnasdrownedw0000unse}}
* {{cite book |last=Freedman |first=Russell |title=Martha Graham |publisher=[[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt]] |date=1998 |isbn=978-0-395-74655-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Fretz |first=Eric |title=Jean-Michel Basquiat |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]] |date=2010 |isbn=978-0-313-38057-0}}
* {{Cite book |last=Friskics-Warren |first=Bill |title=I'll Take You There: Pop Music and the Urge for Transcendence |year=2006 |publisher=[[Continuum International Publishing Group]] |isbn=978-0-8264-1921-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Fuhrer |first=Margaret |title=American Dance: The Complete Illustrated History |publisher=[[Quarto Publishing]] |date=2014 |isbn=978-0-7603-4599-3}}
* {{cite book |last=Gabriel |first=Mary |author-link=Mary Gabriel (author) |title=Madonna: A Rebel Life |publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]] |date=2023 |isbn=978-0-316-45644-9}}
* {{cite book |last=Garber |first=Michael G. |title=Songs She Wrote |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]] |date=2025 |isbn=978-1-5381-5866-1}}
* {{Cite book |editor-last=George-Warren |editor-first=Holly |editor-last2=Romanowski |editor-first2=Patricia |editor-last3=Pareles |editor-first3=Jon |editor-link3=Jon Pareles |year=2001 |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster|Fireside]] |isbn=978-0-7432-0120-9 |title=The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll |url=https://archive.org/details/rollingstoneency00holl}}
* {{Cite book |title=Guinness World Records 2007 |first=Craig |last=Glenday |publisher=[[Bantam Books]] |isbn=978-0-553-58992-4 |year=2007 |url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec0700guin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Gnojewski |first=Carol |title=Madonna: Express Yourself |publisher=[[Enslow Publishers]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7660-2442-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/madonnaexpressyo0000gnoj}}
* {{Cite book |last=Gorlinski |first=Gini |title=The 100 Most Influential Musicians of All Time |publisher=[[Rosen Publishing Group]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-61530-056-3}}
* {{Cite book |last=Grant |first=Robert M. |author-link=Robert M. Grant (economist) |title=Contemporary Strategy Analysis |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |year=2005 |isbn=978-1-4051-1999-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/contemporarystra00gran_4}}
* {{Cite book |last=Guilbert |first=Georges-Claude |title=Madonna as Postmodern Myth |publisher=McFarland |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-7864-1408-6}}
* {{Cite book |last=Hall |first=Dennis |title=American Icons |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]] |year=2006 |isbn=0-313-02767-6}}
* {{Cite book |last=Harrison |first=Thomas |title=Pop Goes the Decade: The Eighties |year=2017 |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |isbn=978-1-4408-3667-1}}
* {{Cite book |last=Hawkins |first=Stan |title=Settling the Pop Score: Pop Texts and Identity Politics |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-351-54910-3}}
* {{Cite book |last=Havranek |first=Carrie |title=Women Icons of Popular Music |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]] |date=2008 |isbn=978-1-57356-783-1}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Horton |first1=Ros |last2=Simmons |first2=Sally |title=Women Who Changed the World |year=2007 |publisher=Quercus |isbn=978-1-84724-026-2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Jeffreys |first=Sheila |author-link=Sheila Jeffreys |title=Beauty and Misogyny: Harmful Cultural Practices In The West |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-415-35183-6}}
* {{Cite book |last=Jhally |first=Sut |title=The Spectacle of Accumulation: Essays in Culture, Media, And Politics |publisher=[[Peter Lang (publishing company)|Peter Lang]] |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-8204-7904-0 |author-link=Sut Jhally}}
* {{cite book |last=Kaplan |first=Arie |author-link=Arie Kaplan |title=American Pop |publisher=Millbrook Press |date=2017 |isbn=978-1-5124-5649-3}}
* {{Cite book |last=Kellner |first=Douglas |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Media_Culture/9XJUL2h00PsC |title=Media Culture: Cultural Studies, Identity, and Politics Between the Modern and the Postmodern |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=1995 |author-link=Douglas Kellner |isbn=978-0-415-10570-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Koopmans |first=Andy |title=Madonna |publisher=[[Lucent Books]] |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-590-18138-6}}
* {{cite book |last1=Kramarae |first1=Cheris |author-link1=Cheris Kramarae |last2=Spender |first2=Dale |author-link2=Dale Spender |title=Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |date=2004 |isbn=978-1-135-96315-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Lofton |first=Kathryn |title=Consuming Religion |publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]] |date=2017 |isbn=978-0-226-48212-5}}
* {{cite book |last=McFarlan |first=Donald |title=Guinness Book of World Records |publisher=[[Sterling Publishing]] |date=1989 |isbn=978-0-8069-5790-6}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Metz |first1=Allen |first2=Carol |last2=Benson |title=The Madonna Companion: Two Decades of Commentary |publisher=[[Music Sales Group]] |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-8256-7194-4}}
* {{Cite book |last=Michael |first=Mick St. |title=Madonna Talking: Madonna in Her Own Words |year=2004 |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |isbn=978-1-84449-418-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/madonnatalkingma0000stmi}}
* {{cite book |last=Morgan |first=Michelle |title=Madonna |publisher=[[Constable & Robinson]] |date=2015 |isbn=978-1-4721-1886-8}}
* {{Cite book |last=Morton |first=Andrew |title=Madonna |publisher=[[Michael O'Mara Books]] |year=2001 |isbn=978-1-85479-888-6 |location=London |author-link=Andrew Morton (writer) |title-link=Madonna (book)}}
* {{Cite book |last=O'Brien |first=Lucy |title=Madonna: Like an Icon |year=2007 |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |isbn=978-0-593-05547-2 |author-link=Lucy O'Brien |title-link=Madonna: Like an Icon}}
* {{cite book |last1=Parish |first1=James Robert |author-link1=James Robert Parish |last2=Pitts |first2=Michael R. |title=Hollywood Songsters: Singers Who Act and Actors Who Sing: A Biographical Dictionary |publisher=[[Routledge]] |date=2003 |isbn=978-0-415-94333-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Perone |first=James E. |title=Listen to Pop! |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]] |date=2018 |isbn=978-1-4408-6377-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Pohlen |first=Jerome |title=Oddball Michigan: A Guide to 450 Really Strange Places |publisher=[[Chicago Review Press]] |date=2014 |isbn=978-1-61374-893-0}}
* {{cite book |last=Moore |first=Jennifer |title=Fashion Fads Through American History |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]] |date=2015 |isbn=978-1-61069-902-0}}
* {{Cite book |last=Rooksby |first=Rikky |title=The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna |year=2004 |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |isbn=978-0-7119-9883-4 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/madonnacompleteg0000rook}}
* {{cite book |last=Salaverri |first=Fernando |title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |edition=1st |date=September 2005 |publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE |location=Spain |isbn=84-8048-639-2}}
* {{cite book |last1=Shonk Jr. |first1=Kenneth |last2=McClure |first2=Daniel |title=Historical Theory and Methods Through Popular Music, 1970–2000 |publisher=[[Springer Publishing]] |date=2017 |isbn=978-1-137-57072-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Smith |first=Chris |title=101 Albums that Changed Popular Music |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |date=2009 |isbn=978-0-19-970616-7}}
* {{cite book |last1=Stein |first1=Steven J. |last2=Bartone |first2=Paul T. |title=Hardiness |publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]] |date=2020 |isbn=978-1-119-58445-2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Taraborrelli |first=J. Randy |author-link=J. Randy Taraborrelli |title=Madonna: An Intimate Biography |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-7432-2880-0 |title-link=Madonna: An Intimate Biography}}
* {{Cite book |last=Taylor |first=Mark C. |author-link=Mark C. Taylor (philosopher) |title=Nots |publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]] |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-226-79131-9}}
* {{Cite book |last=Victor |first=Barbara |title=Goddess, Inside Madonna |publisher=Cliff Street Books |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-06-019930-2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Voller |first=Debbie |title=Madonna: The Style Book |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-7119-7511-8}}
* {{Cite book |last=Welton |first=Donn |title=Body and Flesh: A Philosophical Reader |publisher=[[Wiley-Blackwell]] |year=1998 |isbn=978-1-57718-126-2}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{sister project links|display=Madonna|b=no|commons=Madonna (entertainer)|d=Q1744|n=no|q=Madonna (entertainer)|s=no|v=no|wikt=no}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p64565|label=Madonna}}
* {{IMDb name|187|Madonna}}
* {{Rockhall}}
* {{TCMDb name}}

{{Madonna|state=expanded}}
{{Madonna songs}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Madonna|Awards for Madonna]]
|list =
{{American Music Award for Artist of the Year}}
{{Billboard Year-End Top Artists}}
{{Brit International Female}}
{{Golden Globe Award Best Actress Motion Picture Musical or Comedy}}
{{Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song}}
{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress}}
{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress}}
{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Combo}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Music Video}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Music Film}}
{{Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award}}
{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best Electronic}}
{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best Female}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Long Form Video}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year}}
{{MTV Video Music Award – Viewer's Choice}}
{{Japan Gold Disc Award for Artist of the Year}}
{{2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
{{UK best-selling albums (by year) 1970–1989}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Madonna| ]]
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
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[[Category:Founders of charities]]
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[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
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[[Category:LGBTQ rights activists from Michigan]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Maverick Records artists]]
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[[Category:Obscenity controversies in music]]
[[Category:People from Bay City, Michigan]]
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[[Category:People named in the Paradise Papers]]
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[[Category:American women human rights activists]]