Madonna causes stir at weekend music festival
Madonna caused a stir at a UK music festival this weekend — after other performers learned of her demands to have a helicopter fly her 37 miles from her home in London to the venue in Kent, southeast England.
“Madonna caused her share of backstage ructions when she jetted in for her 20-minute set,” said one backstage source.
“As well as her own VIP area, she had a 70-strong entourage and three dressing rooms. Her security was so tight, even hubby Guy Ritchie had trouble getting in!
“She had special Kabbalah water shipped in and demanded bouquets of white roses which remained unopened. While she only ate fresh fruit, the same can’t be said of her friends. (more…)
Madonna plays her first UK show of the year
Pop superstar Madonna made a glorious return to the stage as she played her first UK show of the year, closing the opening night of the Big Weekend music festival.
Dressed all in black, the 49-year-old singer performed a 40 minute set at Mote Park in Maidstone, Kent, Southeast England, pleasing fans with her number one smash 4 Minutes.
She also played a number of songs from her recent studio album Hard Candy, including Candy Shop and Miles Away. (more…)
Madonna to make $6m profit from sale of country mansion
Madonna is set to make a tidy profit — after selling the country home bought for $18m in 2001 for a whopping $24m.
The Material Girl star, 49, decided to put the Wiltshire pad on the market because she and hubby Guy Ritchie don’t spend enough time there.
The pop superstar used to spend her time riding horses around the 5-acre estate, but since focusing on her career again, the singer has not spent enough time at Ashcombe to make it worth running.
A source said: “She has been touring and promoting for months and not visited. (more…)
80s popstar blames Madonna for the demise of her music career
80s popstar Kim Wilde blames Madonna for the demise of her once flourishing music career.
Wilde, who had hits with Kids In America and You Keep Me Hanging On, said: “I hit the top of the charts two years before Madonna came on the scene and stole my thunder.
“I remember seeing her and thinking, ‘Here’s trouble!’ I’d be lying if I said it didn’t get to me, but I never disliked her.” (more…)
Madonna shocked by sexual cleansing ritual
Pop superstar Madonna was left shocked and appalled by a bizarre sex ritual which young widows in Malawi have to go through after their husbands die - because it fuels the spread of Aids in the country.
In her new documentary I Am Because We Are, Madonna chronicles the plight of the people in the African nation, where she adopted her son David in 2006, and she admits some local customs left her feeling sick.
In one segment of the harrowing new film, the star reveals a young widow is forced to have sex three times with a stranger from outside her village as part of a cleansing ritual. (more…)
Madonna opens up about Banda adoption
Pop superstar Madonna has opened up about her adoption of Malawian baby David Banda, revealing the series of humiliating tests she underwent — including being fingerprinted.
“I have been fingerprinted about 20 times and undergone psychological evaluations,” the singer, 49, said in an emotional interview on US TV.
“I’ve been visited every six weeks by social workers who make sure that you’re being a good parent and that David’s health is thriving and who ask you all kinds of invasive questions. (more…)
Guy Ritchie buys Madonna $20k dagger
Madonna’s husband, Guy Ritchie, has bought the pop superstar a $20,000 ice pick-style dagger.
The ‘Snatch’ director splashed out on the bizarre gift — designed by Mick Jagger’s daughter Jade — to mark the launch of the Material Girl’s new album Hard Candy and celebrate her No1 single 4 Minutes.
A source said: “Madge already has a limited-edition Jade Jagger dagger. Guy thought it would go with the other one — which cost $200,000 and is a one-off.” (more…)
Madonna defends Tom Cruise
Pop superstar Madonna has defended Tom Cruise, saying he is a “marginalized” person, just like those in Malawai.
The singer — who celebrates her 50th birthday later this year — spoke up about the ‘Top Gun’ star after he and wife Katie Holmes attended a reception for her charity, Raising Malawi.
When asked if she sympathized with Cruise, Madonna said: “I don’t care if people worship turtles or frogs – if they’re good people, that’s all I care about, and he is a good person.
“I think he gets a raw deal, just as I think the orphans in Malawi get a raw deal; just as I think a lot of marginalized people get a raw deal.” (more…)
Madonna asks for delay in David Banda adoption case
Madonna has asked a Malawian court to delay a hearing to finalize her adoption of 2-year-old tot David Banda — whom she adopted from the South African nation 18 months ago — a lawyer close to the case has said.
The pop superstar’s Malawian law firm reportedly filed an application requesting the High Court in Lilongwe hear her adoption of Banda on May 15 instead of April 22, as originally scheduled, the lawyer told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The reason for the delay, says the lawyer, is Madonna’s need to travel to the United States for business reasons. (more…)
Madonna to be paid $25m for two gigs
Madonna is set to be paid $25m for playing two gigs in the oil-rich Arab state of Dubai in November, it has been revealed.
One of the gigs — which runs to 90 minutes — will see the the singer pocket $15million — $160k a minute.
The singer, 49, is also in talks to perform at a private party for a mystery fan while she is out there which will earn her another $10million.
A source said: “Madonna is about to break another record by playing the most lucrative concert of her whole career – or anyone’s career for that matter. (more…)
