Madonna

Birth name: Madonna Louise Ciccone
Date of birth: 16 August 1958
Place of birth: Bay City, Michigan
Record labels: Warners/Maverick/Sire
Career highlights: Her UK top ten entries are more than the Beatles and the Stones combined. Five-time Grammy Award winner, Oscar winner, MTV Award and Brit Award winner Highest charting singles include: Into The Groove, number one, 1985, Papa Don’t Preach, number one, 1986, Vogue, number one, 1990, Frozen, number one, 1998, Hung Up, number one, 2005

The Queen of Pop began her reign in 1984, and has never been out of the gossip magazines and charts ever since. She holds the Guinness world record as the highest earning female singer of all time and has earned more on tour than any other female artist in history.

Born into a strict catholic family, and raised in Detroit, Madge upped sticks to the big smoke in 1978. She arrived in New York City determined to make it, with just $35 in her pocket.

She began to build her career as a dancer, after working low-paid jobs, including a stint at Dunkin’ Donuts and a spell as a nude model.

Never shy at coming forward, Madge wowed the top executives at Sire Records and bagged herself a deal within no time. Her debut album Madonna spawned top two hit Holiday in 1984, followed by Borderline which also reached number two that same year.

Since then, Madonna has put out a record-breaking 34 top 10 singles in a row, and has had more UK number one singles and albums than any other female solo singer.

Fiery Madge is said to be the first female artist to take control of her music and image, and through her songs, videos, books and overt sexuality, she has courted controversy since day one.