Madonna Louise Ciccone (/tʃɪˈkoʊni/ chih-KOH-nee; born 16 August 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Known as the "Queen of Pop", she is recognised for her continual reinvention and versatility in music, songwriting, and visual presentation. Her work frequently incorporates social, political, sexual, and religious themes, generating both critical acclaim and controversy. Madonna is considered a significant cultural figure of the 20th and 21st centuries and is often regarded as one of the greatest popular musicians in history. Madonna moved to New York City in 1978 to pursue a career in dance. She initially performed as a drummer, guitarist, and vocalist in the rock bands Breakfast Club and Emmy before achieving solo success with her debut studio album, "Madonna" (1983). She has released eighteen multi-platinum albums, including "Like a Virgin" (1984), "True Blue" (1986), "The Immaculate Collection" (1990), and "Confessions on a Dance Floor" (2005). Albums such as "Like a Prayer" (1989), "Ray of Light" (1998), and "Music" (2000) have been ranked among Rolling Stone’s greatest albums of all time. Her top-charting singles include "Like a Virgin", "Material Girl", "La Isla Bonita", "Like a Prayer", "Vogue", "Take a Bow", "Frozen", "Music", "Hung Up", and "4 Minutes". Madonna has also acted in films, including "Desperately Seeking Susan" (1985), "Dick Tracy" (1990), "A League of Their Own" (1992), and "Evita" (1996), winning a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for the latter. Many of her other film roles received mixed or negative reviews. Her business ventures include the entertainment company Maverick (1992–2009), which encompassed Maverick Records, as well as fashion brands, written works, health clubs, and filmmaking. She has contributed to several charities, founding the Ray of Light Foundation in 1998 and Raising Malawi in 2006, and advocates for gender equality and LGBT rights. Madonna is the best-selling female music artist of all time and the first female performer to earn US$1 billion from concert tours. She is the most successful solo artist on the US Billboard Hot 100, with 44 number-one singles across major global markets. Her awards include seven Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, 20 MTV Video Music Awards, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility. She was the world’s highest-paid female musician for a record eleven years spanning four decades (1980s–2010s). Madonna has also been the subject of scholarly, literary, and artistic study, giving rise to a sub-discipline known as Madonna studies. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna Studio albums Madonna (1983) Like a Virgin (1984) True Blue (1986) Like a Prayer (1989) Erotica (1992) Bedtime Stories (1994) 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) CONFESSIONS II (2026)