Madonna

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Madonna (Madonna Louise Ciccone) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman, often referred to as the "Queen of Pop" since the 1980s. Madonna is known for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, and visual presentation. She has pushed the boundaries of songwriting in mainstream popular music and is recognized for her social, political, sexual, and religious themes.

Early Life

Madonna was born on August 16, 1958, in Bay City, Michigan, and raised in Rochester Hills, Michigan. She moved to New York City in 1978 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, Madonna signed with Sire Records (an affiliate of Warner Bros. Records) in 1982 and released her self-titled debut album the following year.

Career

Madonna's music career took off with her second studio album, Like a Virgin (1984), which topped the charts in several countries. She achieved further critical and commercial success with subsequent albums such as True Blue (1986), Like a Prayer (1989), and Ray of Light (1998), showcasing her musical diversity across pop, dance, electronic, and rock genres.

Madonna is also noted for her visually elaborate music videos and stage performances, which have been a significant part of her career. Her tours, including the Blond Ambition World Tour (1990) and the Confessions Tour (2006), are among the highest-grossing concert tours of all time.

In addition to her music career, Madonna has acted in several films, with varying degrees of success. Her role in Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) was well received, while her performances in Evita (1996), for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, showed her acting abilities.

Business Ventures

Madonna has also engaged in various business ventures, including fashion design, children's books, health clubs, and filmmaking. She founded her own entertainment company, Maverick, in 1992, which was a joint venture with Time Warner. This move was instrumental in controlling her music and videos, leading to further success in the industry.

Legacy

Madonna has sold more than 300 million records worldwide, making her the best-selling female music artist of all time according to the Guinness World Records. She has received numerous awards, including 7 Grammy Awards and 20 MTV Video Music Awards (including the 1986 Video Vanguard Award). Madonna was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, her first year of eligibility.

Madonna's impact on music, culture, fashion, and music videos set her apart as a major figure in pop culture history. Her work has influenced many artists across various music genres, and her style and images have become iconic in popular culture.

Discography

• Madonna (1983)
• Like a Virgin (1984)
• True Blue (1986)
• Like a Prayer (1989)
• Erotica (1992)
• Ray of Light (1998)
• Music (2000)
• American Life (2003)
• Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
• Hard Candy (2008)
• MDNA (2012)
• Rebel Heart (2015)
• Madame X (2019)

Filmography

• Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
• Shanghai Surprise (1986)
• Who's That Girl (1987)
• Dick Tracy (1990)
• A League of Their Own (1992)
• Evita (1996)

See Also

• List of best-selling music artists
• Women in music