Madonna Interesting Facts

Crazy for Madonna? Love the Material Girl? Find out facts that might not be found in another Madonna biography!

Madonna: Personal

• Madonna’s real name is Madonna Louise Ciccone.
• Madonna was born in Bay City, Michigan.
• Madonna became a ballet dancer while in elementary school.
• Madonna was a straight-A student and member of the cheerleading squad in high school.
• Madonna briefly attended the University of Michigan on a dance scholarship.
• In 1977, Madonna dropped out of college to pursue a dance career in New York City.
• Madonna has three children: Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon, born August 14, 1996; Rocco John Ritchie, born August 11, 2000; and David Banda Mwale Ciccone Ritchie adopted May 28, 2008.

Madonna: Early Career In the ‘80s

• Madonna worked as a backup dancer for French singer Patrick Hernandez in 1979.
• Madonna became the drummer for New York-based dance-pop act The Breakfast Club along with musician Dan Gilroy and fellow University of Michigan student Stephen Bray.
• Madonna released her first single “Everybody” on Sire Records in 1982.
• Madonna followed “Everybody” with her debut album Madonna in 1983.
• Madonna continued to work with Stephen Bray on her solo career.
• Madonna and Stephen Bray co-wrote some of Madonna’s biggest singles including “Into the Groove,” “True Blue” and “Express Yourself.”

Madonna: Like A Virgin Album

• Madonna released her second album Like A Virgin on November 12, 1984.
• Madonna became a female fashion icon in 1984 because of her bleached blonde locks and daring, sexy outfits in the ‘80s that included fishnet stockings, black rubber bracelets, cross necklaces, lace tops and skirts and Capri pants.
• Madonna received her first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Like A Virgin.”
• Madonna’s second single “Material Girl” inspired her nickname and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Madonna’s Like A Virgin sold over 12 million copies worldwide!

Madonna: Virgin Tour

• Madonna embarked on her first-ever concert tour, the Virgin Tour, with opening act the Beastie Boys.
• Madonna’s Virgin Tour visited 40 cities in two months, playing to fans with Madonna tickets all over the U.S.
• Madonna’s Virgin Tour was a smash hit with fans, as venues sold out of their Madonna tickets in a matter of hours!
• Madonna scrambled to find larger venues for her Virgin Tour so that more fans could buy Madonna tickets.
• Madonna’s Virgin Tour ended June 11, 1985, after a two-night stand at New York’s Madison Square Garden where 20,000 fans with Madonna tickets attended each night.

Madonna: Rise to Superstardom

• Madonna released her third album True Blue in 1986, featuring the hit singles “La Isla Bonita” and “Papa Don’t Preach.”
• In 1989, Madonna released Like a Prayer, featuring the singles “Express Yourself,” “Cherish” and “Like A Prayer.”
• Madonna’s Blonde Ambition Tour in 1990 stopped in over 50 cities in North America, Europe and Japan to play for fans with Madonna tickets.
• The Blonde Ambition Tour was filmed for the documentary Truth or Dare.
• The Blond Ambition Tour grossed over $60 million worth of Madonna tickets and merchandise.

Madonna: Pop Legend

• Madonna made her return to music with 1998’s electronic, dance-pop influenced Ray of Light.
• Ray of Light featured the hit Madonna songs “Frozen,” “Ray of Light” and “The Power of Goodbye.”
• Madonna released her eighth album Music on September 19, 2000 and eventually sold over 11 million copies worldwide.
• In 2005, Madonna released her 10th album Confessions on a Dance Floor, featuring the Madonna songs “Hung Up” and “Sorry.”
• Confessions on a Dance Floor won the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album.
• Madonna’s Confessions Tour is the highest grossing tour ever by a female artist, taking in over $190 million and playing for over 1 million fans with Madonna tickets.

Madonna: Films

• Madonna’s first major film role came in 1985’s Vision Quest, where she played a lounge singer.
• Madonna’s next film was 1985’s cult-classic Desperately Seeking Susan.
• In 1987, Madonna played Nikki Finn in Who’s That Girl, a modern adaptation of the Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn classic Bringing Up Baby.
• In Warren Beatty’s 1990 film Dick Tracy, Madonna played the role of lounge singer Breathless Mahoney.
• Madonna appeared as baseball player Mae Mordabito in 1992’s A League of Their Own.
• Madonna received a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Argentina’s First Lady Eva Peron in 1996’s Evita.
• Madonna made her directorial debut on 2008’s Filth and Wisdom, starring Gogol Bordello frontman Eugene Hütz.

Madonna: Sticky, Sweet Hard Candy

• Madonna released her 11th studio album Hard Candy on April 25, 2008.
• Hard Candy features the hit Madonna songs “4 Minutes” and “Give it 2 Me.”
• Madonna embarked on the Sticky & Sweet Tour on August 23, 2008, and will hit over 50 tour dates to play for fans with Madonna tickets nationwide.
• Madonna is sure to surpass the Confessions Tour gross, having already taken in over $100 million in Madonna tickets sold on the European leg alone.
• On Madonna’s Sticky and Sweet Los Angeles tour date, pop singer Britney Spears surprised fans with Madonna tickets by joining Madonna on the song “Human Nature.”
• Madonna was later joined by Justin Timberlake on the pair’s duet “4 Minutes.”