Madonna

Madonna (Madonna Louise Ciccone) (mudon'u, chikō'nē) [key], 1958–, American pop singer and actress, b. Bay City, Mich. She trained as a dancer at the Univ. of Michigan before moving to New York City to begin her music and dance career. Her albums Madonna (1983) and Like a Virgin (1984) secured her position as a sexual and pop icon. In 1985 she won critical praise for her part in the Hollywood film Desperately Seeking Susan. Truth or Dare (1991) was a revealing backstage performance film that paved the way for her book Sex (1992), which garnered enormous publicity. She has her own recording company and produces her own films and videos.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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