Biography:

Birth name
Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone

Nickname
Nonnie
Maddy
Mo
The Material Girl
Madge

Height
5' 4½" (1.64 m)

Spouse
Guy Ritchie (22 December 2000 - present) 2 children
Sean Penn (16 August 1985 - 14 September 1989) (divorced)


Trivia
Attended the University of Michigan.

Brother Christopher Ciccone designs restaurant interiors. Renovated a mansion overlooking Hudson River north of New York City in the same West Nyack community that's home to Rosie O'Donnell and director Jonathan Demme.

Her videos "Justify My Love" and "What it feels like for a girl" were banned from VH1 & MTV. "Erotica" (1992), though not banned, was only played after midnight on MTV.

Her record company Maverick Records signed a distribution deal with A Band Apart Records, a record company founded by Quentin Tarantino and Lawrence Bender. A Band Apart Records will focus on film soundtracks. [30 July 1997]

Gave birth to baby daughter. The baby is named Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon. The father is Carlos Leon, Madonna's fitness trainer. [14 October 1996]

Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world. [1991]

Performed with the Alvin Ailey dance troupe.

Unanimously condemned by the Puerto Rican House of Representatives for pulling a Puerto Rican flag between her legs in an October 26, 1993 concert.

Her song, "Vogue", is a tribute to the glamour of classic Hollywood. Celebrities mentioned in the song are Greta Garbo, Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich, Joe DiMaggio, Marlon Brando, James Dean, Grace Kelly, Jean Harlow, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Rita Hayworth, Lauren Bacall, Katharine Hepburn, Lana Turner, and Bette Davis.

Was supposed to play the lead in Music of the Heart (1999) but dropped out two weeks before filming was set to begin.

High school cheerleader.

Marched with the Bridgemen Drum and Bugle Corps.

Her daughter Lourdes was named as a tribute to Madonna's mother, who wanted to visit Lourdes, France, where the Virgin Mary, the Madonna, appeared in 1858, but died before doing so.

Gave birth to a baby boy, Rocco Ritchie, three weeks premature. [11 August 2000]

Was considered for the role in Casino (1995) that eventually went to Sharon Stone.

Turned down the lead in Fabulous Baker Boys, The (1989).

Turned down a role in Showgirls (1995).

Good friends with Gwyneth Paltrow.

In his 38th annual Worst Dressed List published in January 1998, Mr. Blackwell wrote about her questionable taste in clothing the previous year, "Let's be blunt, yesterday's Evita is today's Velveeta."

Owns Maverick Records label.

Graduated from Rochester Adams High School in 1976. Won a scholarship because of her excellent grades and studied modern dance and drama for 3 semesters at the University of Michigan.

One of 7 siblings. Her mother died of breast cancer on December 1st, 1963.

Her infamous 1994 appearance on "Late Show with David Letterman" (1993) had her saying the "f" word 13 times.

Has an IQ of 140.

Her birthday is also the anniversary of Elvis Presley's death.

Bought mansion in the Hollywood Hills originally built for Rudolph Valentino.

Born at 7:05 AM MST.

Named one of People Magazine's '50 Most Beautiful People of 1991', and '25 Most Intriguing People of 2001'.

In 1989, she had a multi-million dollar contract with Pepsi to promote their product as well as cross-promote her new album, "Like a Prayer". However, when the video for the first single, "Like a Prayer", was released, it caused international controversy, with images of burning crosses, murder, and racism, and Pepsi soon retracted their contract, and the 13-minute commercial was only viewed once, at the Superbowl. The single later soared to Number 1 on the charts and stayed there for 3 weeks. She later thanked Pepsi for creating such controversy.

Appeared in a 1988 stage play with Ron Silver and Joe Mantegna called "Speed-the-Plow".

Did a Japanese commercial for Panasonic in 1987.

Her film Shanghai Surprise (1986) was a box-office disaster, costing $17 million and grossing only $2.

Appeared in a filmed stage play in 1980 called "In Artificial Light", in which she wrote her own part.

Appeared in a stage play in 1986 called "Goose & Tomtom" with then-husband Sean Penn.

Her first film, Certain Sacrifice, A (1985), was released in 1985, after she became a star, but was actually shot in two parts, the first in 1979, and the other, in 1981.

A September 2000 Rolling Stone article estimated her worth as $650 million. Since then, she has released the album "Music", which sold 12 million copies, has had a 47-date sold-out worldwide tour, completed a movie, and released a greatest hits compilation.

As of 2001, her albums have sold 153 million copies worldwide.

As of early 2002, has had 15 solo albums: "Madonna" (1983); "Like a Virgin" (1984); "True Blue" (1986); "Who's That Girl" (1987); "You Can Dance" (1987); "Like a Prayer" (1989); "I'm Breathless" (1990); "The Immaculate Collection" (1990); "Erotica" (1992); "Bedtime Stories" (1994); "Something to Remember" (1995); "Evita" (1996); "Ray of Light" (1998); "Music" (2000); "GHV2: Greatest Hits Volume 2" (2001).

Turned down the role of Frida Khalo in the movie Frida (2002), which was later given to Salma Hayek.

Named one of E!'s "top 20 entertainers of 2001".

Sister of Christopher Ciccone

Gwyneth Paltrow was the Matron of Honor at Madonna's wedding to Guy Ritchie.

Her grandparents are Michelina and Gatano Ciccone.

Her father is Italian, her mother was French-Canadian.

Sister-in-law of Joe Henry

Measurements: 34C-23-33 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

In October 2000, Madonna won her fight against a cybersquatter using the domain name madonna.com to operate a pornography website. The UN World Intellectual Property Organization found that site operator Dan Parisi "lacks rights or legitimate interests in the domain name." Parisi claims that he was in the process of handing over the rights to the domain name to a US hospital, Madonna Rehabilitation, which has the domain name madonna.org, when the case started.

She started fashion trends in 1984 with her unique look using rosaries and crosses as jewelry and black rubber typewriter bands as bracelets. Legions of adolescent girls mimicked her look and a Madonna clothing store was opened in New York. Again in 2001, another huge fashion trend was set off by the "Material Mom", this time with western wear - cowboy hats and mud-splattered jeans.

In November 2000, Madonna held a live concert at the Brixton Academy in London which was broadcast over the Internet. A record nine million people watched the event, making it the largest live webcast of all time.

Her mother was born on July 11, 1932.

Madonna's song 'Little star' is dedicated to her daughter Lourdes

Madonna is featured on the sleeve of the album "Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors" by former Marillion singer Fish. She is also mentioned in his song "Big Wedge".

Madonna and Céline Dion share the same French-Canadian heritage through a common ancestor named Zacharie Cloutier.

Madonna is mentioned in the lyrics of the song "You Were Right" by Damon Gough, aka Badly Drawn Boy.

Attended St. Andrews Patrick Catholic school.

Attended West Junior High for the 8th grade.

Her parents were married at Visitation Catholic Church in Bay City, Michigan on July 2, 1955.

Her mother and her two uncles were buried at Calvary Cemetery in Bay City, Michigan.

Purchased a mini mansion for daughter Lourdes in 2003. Produced by Posh Tots, a mini-mansion ranges in price from US$6,500 to US$125,000, and can even be installed with cable TV and running water.

December 2003 - announced she was starting a merchandising line of dolls, apparel, home decor, etc. as a tie-in to her best-selling children's book, "The English Roses".

Her first children's book, "The English Roses", was published in September, 2003.

Ranked #8 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll

Her wedding dress for her 2000 wedding to director Guy Ritchie was designed by her friend Stella McCartney.

Received a career award at the 2004 French NRJ Awards (January 2004).

"Madonna - Drowned World Tour 2001" home video release certified platinum in the U.S. (video sales of over 100,000 copies) (March 2002)

#6 in Life's 100 Greatest Rockers List (March 2002)

Won Best Solo Dance Artist at the 17th International Dance Music Awards held at the Winter Music Conference in Miami. (March 2002)

Voted #3 on the reader-voted Favorite Female List for Rolling Stone Magazine's 2001 Music Awards list, following Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez (January 2002)

"The Immaculate Collection" voted #1 on Blender magazine's 100 Greatest American Albums of All Time List. (Januray 2002)

"Nothing Fails" hits #1 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Club Play chart, making it her 32nd Dance/Club play chart #1 and her 14th Top Five consecutive hit on that chart (all but three of her entries have been top ten singles on this chart). (Week ending 7th February 2004)

Her 1985 hit "Into The Groove" was ranked #40 on VH1's 100 Greatest Dance Songs, while "Vogue" placed in the top 10 at #4.

Won Best Chart Act at the 2004 Dancestar USA Awards, in Bayfront Park, Miami. (9th March 2004)

Is good friends with Björk, who also wrote the song 'Bedtime Story' for her 1994 album, Bedtime Stories.

Parodied by Amy Poehler on "Saturday Night Live" (1975).

In 2003, three different action figures were made of her likeness based on her character, Susan, from the movie Desperately Seeking Susan (1985).

Fifth single from album "Madonna", "Lucky Star" becomes Madonna's 1st US Top 5 hit peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and also the 1st in a string of 17 US Top 5 singles. In total "Lucky Star" spent 16 weeks on the US Hot 100 and 2 weeks at #2 on the Japan charts. The single was initially released in the UK in 1983, instead of "Burning Up / Physical Attraction", where it did not chart. Reissued in the UK in 1984, it would peak at #14. Other chart activity includes: #16 in Canada. #29 in Europe. #36 in Australia. The single did not chart in France or Germany, and it was not released in Japan. (August 1984)

Fourth single from album "Madonna", "Borderline" peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Madonna her first US top 10 single, as well as her 1st US Gold single. The song remained in the Billboard Top 100 for 30 weeks. The only other Madonna to match this is "Take A Bow" in 1994. The songs video was nominated for Best New Artist in a Video at the MTV Music video Awards. Other chart activity includes: #12 in Australia. #22 in Canada. #26 in Japan. #56 in Europe. (February 1984)

Produced by Mark Kamins, her debut single "Everybody" peaks at #3 on the Billboard Dance Charts. The single unfortunately failed to chart on the US Billboard Top 100 Chart, Canada, Europe, the UK, Germany, France & Japan. The single was not released in Australia. (October 1982)

Second single from the album "Madonna", the double-sided 12" single "Burning Up / Physcial Attraction" peaks at #3 on the Billboard Dance Chart. Madonna's debut single in Australia, peaking at #13 on the Australian AMR chart. The single failed to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, Europe, Germany, France & Japan. The single was not released in the UK. (March 1983)

Third single from the album "Madonna", "Holiday" peaks at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 giving Madonna's her first Top 40 & Top 20 single. On the Billboard Dance Chart it became Madonna's first #1. The single also stayed at #13 on the European charts for 2 weeks. Certified Silver in the UK & France. Other chart activity includes: #4 in Australia. #6 in the UK. #9 in Germany. #10 in Japan. #24 in France. #34 in Canada. (July 1983)

Her debut album Madonna peaked at #8 on the Billboard Top 200, where it spent 168 weeks. 5 of the 8 tracks were written by Madonna. Peaking at #8 for 3 weeks, the album as of October 2000 has now sold over 5 million copies in the US alone. US Billboard Chart figures include: 5 weeks in the Top 10, 36 weeks in Top 40, 99 weeks in Top 100 & 168 weeks in Top 200. 5 million units shipped in the US, 3.3 million shipped internationally, totalling 8.3 million all up. Singles from this album include: Everybody, Burning Up/Physical Attraction, Holiday, Borderline & Lucky Star. Originally peaking at #44 in Germany, it would later be re-issued as Madonna: The First Album and peak at #28. Certified 5xPlatinum in the US, 3xPlatinum in the UK & Australia, 1xPlatinum in France, and Gold in Germany Other chart activity includes: #6 in the UK. #8 in France. #10 in Australia. #19 in Canada. (July 1983)

She is a fan of Katharine Hepburn.