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Madonna turns 65! A look at the star in 65 key moments!

Be Interactive

2023-08-16 21:50:12

Revisit some iconic moments in Madonna's life and musical career with these 65 photos to celebrate her 65th birthday! A tribute to the Queen of Pop. What's your favorite Madonna song or era?

Madonna Louise Ciccone

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Madonna Louise Ciccone was born in Michigan on August 16, 1958. Her father's family is of Italian origin, while her mother's is from Quebec.

New York

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Madonna's career began in 1978. She moved to New York to become a modern dancer.

A first job

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In 1979, she got her first job in show business as a dancer on Patrick Hernandez's world tour (Born To Be Alive).

Everybody

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Madonna's musical career was launched in 1982. She signed a contract with Sire Records. In October 1982, she launched the song Everybody.

First LP

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In July 1983, Madonna's self-titled debut album is released. The first single, Holiday, soon became the singer's first international hit.

Top-10

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With this debut album, Madonna places two songs in the Billboard Top-10 (Borderline and Lucky Star).

The look

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Already, in addition to her music, Madonna's image plays an important role in her career. Over the years, she has paid particular attention to her clothing style.

Like A Virgin

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In November 1984, Madonna launches Like A Virgin. International success was immediate. It reaches number 1 in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, the UK and the USA.

Like A Virgin

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Over the months, Like A Virgin sells over 21 million copies worldwide.

Video clips

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Music videos have made a major contribution to Madonna's career. With the song Like A Virgin, she provoked and shocked. This was only the beginning of a long series of memorable videos.

Desperately Seeking Susan

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In 1985, Madonna entered the world of cinema. She starred in the comedy Desperately Seeking Susan. As well as starring in the film, she sings the song Into the Groove.

Playboy and Penthouse

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July 1985, Playboy and Penthouse magazines unveiled nude photos of Madonna. The images were taken in 1978 on her arrival in New York.

True Blue

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June 1986, Madonna releases her third album, True Blue. Five songs are taken from this album. It becomes number 1 in 28 countries and sells over 25 million copies.

World record

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According to the Guinness Book of World Records, True Blue is the best-selling female-fronted album in the history of music.

Shanghai Surprise

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Also in 1986, Madonna starred in the film Shanghai Surprise alongside her then lover Sean Penn. The film was a flop.

Who's That Girl

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The following year, in 1987, Madonna returned to the silver screen in the film Who's That Girl. She contributed four songs to the soundtrack, including Causing a Commotion.

First divorce

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January 1988, Madonna divorces her husband, actor Sean Penn.

Like a Prayer

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In 1989, Madonna released the song Like a Prayer. The video was highly controversial, even prompting the Vatican to condemn it.

Dick Tracy

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In 1990, Madonna co-starred with actor Warren Beatty in the film Dick Tracy. She also provided the film's soundtrack, including the song Vogue.

The Immaculate Collection

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Also in 1990, Madonna launches her first hit compilation, The Immaculate Collection. 30 million copies of this record are sold.

Truth or Dare

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In 1991, Madonna released the documentary film Truth or Dare. The film takes a behind-the-scenes look at the singer's Blond Ambition World Tour.

A League of Their Own

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The same year, Madonna returned to the cinema with the film A League of Their Own. The film is a box-office success.

Maverick

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1992 also marked a change for Madonna, who decided to take her career into her own hands. She founded Maverick with Warner Bros. Maverick became a record and publishing company.

Erotica

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Maverick publishes the sensual Erotica.

Sex

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1992, Madonna continues to provoke. She published the book Sex. It features the singer in erotic images.

Body of Evidence

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In 1993, Madonna added another layer of sensuality to her cinema career with Body of Evidence. The film, dealing with sadomasochism, is destroyed by the critics.

The Girlie Show World Tour

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The same year, Madonna went on tour. With "The Girlie Show World Tour", she pushed the erotic note even further, playing the dominatrix on stage.

Bedtime Stories

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After two years of pushing provocation to the limit, Madonna returns in 1994 with a more paused record, Bedtime Stories.

Evita

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In 1996, Madonna played the role of Eva Perón in the musical film Evita. The singer won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture.

Mom

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That same year, Madonna became a mother. In October 1997, she gave birth to Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon, a daughter she had with Carlos Leon.

Separation

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In May 1997, the couple separated, but remained on good terms.

Ray of Light

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1998 saw the release of Madonna's seventh studio album, Ray of Light. The album is a great success, winning four Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Album.

Guy Ritchie

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Madonna fell in love again in 1998. This time, she hooked up with British filmmaker Guy Ritchie.

The Next Best Thing

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Madonna returned to the silver screen in 2000. This time, she starred in The Next Best Thing. On the film's soundtrack, she covers Don McLean's song American Pie.

Music

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Also in 2000, Madonna launched Music. It was a huge success, reaching number 1 in 20 countries.

Rocco

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In 2000, Madonna married Guy Ritchie in Scotland. That same year, Madonna gave birth to Rocco John Ritchie in August.

Drowned World Tour

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After 8 years away from the stage, Madonna set off on her Drowned World Tour in June 2001. In 47 sold-out concerts, the show generated revenues of 75 million US dollars.

Swept Away

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In 2002, Madonna returned to cinema in Swept Away, directed by her husband Guy Ritchie. It was a flop.

Die Another Day

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October 2002, Madonna sings the title song of the new James Bond film, Die Another Day. She also makes a cameo.

American Life

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In 2003, Madonna released her 9th studio album, American Life. Despite positive reviews, it is the singer's worst-selling album of her career.

MTV Video Music Awards

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Madonna provokes again at the MTV Video Music Awards. On stage, she kisses Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.

The English Roses

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Also in 2003, the singer became an author. She launched a collection of children's books. The first book is called The English Roses.

Re-Invention World Tour

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2004 marks the singer's return to touring. The Re-Invention World Tour concert series generates revenues of US$120 million.

Confessions on a Dance Floor

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Madonna's 10th studio album, Confessions on a Dance Floor, is released in November 2005. It wins Best Electronic Album at the Grammy Awards.

Confessions Tour

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In spring 2006, Madonna hit the road again for her Confessions Tour. Over 1.2 million spectators will see this tour.

200 million records sold

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In 2006, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) announced that Madonna had now sold over 200 million records since the start of her career.

David Banda

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In the same year, Madonna adopted a baby boy, David Banda, from the African country of Malawi.

Filth and Wisdom

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Madonna stepped behind the camera for the first time in 2007. She directed the comedy-drama Filth and Wisdom. The film receives good reviews.

Hall of Fame

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March 2008, Madonna is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Hard Candy

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A month later, Madonna releases her 11th studio album, Hard Candy. The singer invited a host of stars to appear on the album, including Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Pharrell Williams and Nate "Danja" Hills.

Elvis Presley

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The song 4 Minutes is the first single from Hard Candy. The song becomes the singer's 37th top-10 hit in America, shattering the previous record held by Elvis Presley.

Second divorce

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In 2008, Madonna divorced Guy Ritchie. The couple will share custody of their two children, Rocco and David.

Mercy James

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In 2009, Madonna adopted another child from Malawi. This time, it was a little girl named Mercy James.

W. E.

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In 2011, Madonna makes her second film, W. E. This time, critics and audiences alike don't like it.

MDNA

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A few days after this performance, Madonna launches the MDNA album. An 88-concert world tour follows, grossing $305 million.

Raising Malawi

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Madonna set up a foundation called Raising Malawi following the adoption of her children. In 2013, the foundation is building 10 schools in this African country.

Rebel Heart

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Rebel Heart is Madonna's 13th studio album of 2015. The singer will spend much of 2015 and 2016 on tour.

Esther and Stella

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February 2017, Madonna adopts twin girls living in Malawi, Esther and Stella. She moves with her children to Lisbon, Portugal.

2018 MTV Video Music Awards

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In 2018, Madonna presented the video of the year at the MTV Video Music Awards and received much criticism following a bizarre tribute to Aretha Franklin, who had died earlier in the year.

Aging

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In recent years, the star has been criticized on numerous occasions for wanting to stay young at all costs and for having resorted too much to cosmetic surgery, which has completely changed the appearance of the singer's face over time. The star responds to the criticism by saying that "ageism and misogyny permeate the world we live in".

The Celebration Tour

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On January 17, 2023, Madonna announces a new tour entitled The Celebration Tour, where the singer will celebrate four decades of her career and her songs, much to the delight of her fans!

Madonna archives

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On the occasion of her upcoming tour, Madonna emotionally shares on Instagram her visit to the place where the most emblematic objects of her career are preciously preserved.

Hospitalization

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Madonna was suddenly hospitalized in intensive care in June 2023 and even had to be resuscitated and intubated following what was officially described as a serious bacterial infection. Her fans are concerned, however, and suspect other reasons.

The Celebration Tour postponed

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The star had to postpone her tour, which was due to start in the summer. On leaving hospital, she posts a touching message to her fans on Instagram.

65 years old!

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At 65, Madonna is doing better and officially resuming preparations for The Celebration Tour, which certainly gives her plenty of good reasons to celebrate!

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