Madonna, the iconic Queen of Pop, has candidly shared her reflections on life, loss, and the concept of death, in a deeply personal post on Instagram. On February 27, the 66-year-old music legend resurfaced a poignant note from November 2024, in which she recalls the passing of her mother, Madonna Louise Ciccone, who tragically passed away from breast cancer in 1966 when Madonna was just five years old. Through this reflection, the superstar also delves into why she no longer fears death.
“I was just a child when my mother died,” Madonna began, describing the haunting memory of kissing her mother’s red lips in the open casket. “It left me with a deep longing… a fear of abandonment,” she revealed. “I would follow my father everywhere, reminding him that if he ever died, I wanted to be buried with him.”
Growing up, Madonna became strangely fascinated by cemeteries, not as places of fear, but as sanctuaries where she could feel connected to the loved ones she had lost. “Death was not something to fear, but something that could reunite me with my mother,” she continued. “As life went on, I lost many people I loved dearly, and I began to see death as a doorway to eternal life.”
The post went on to explore the ritualistic acts Madonna performed in the face of heartbreak, using the symbolism of burial as a way to cope with abandonment. “When my lovers left me, I saw it as a kind of death,” she explained. “I would bury my fear of abandonment before it could overtake me.”
Madonna’s musings also included her comfort in visiting the graves of others. She shared that she often found peace there, hoping to reassure the souls of the departed that they were not alone. “We are all married to God,” she reflected, quoting the words of a beloved nun, Sister Mary Theresa. “I am the bride of Christ. I am the bride of love.”
The pop icon fondly recalled her childhood imagination of walking among the dead with Sister Mary Theresa, under the glow of the full moon, sharing her deepest secrets.
In addition to these personal reflections, Madonna gave fans a glimpse into her current projects. The “Like a Prayer” singer is preparing for the rerelease of her 1994 album Bedtime Stories, and she’s also working on a sequel to her 2005 album Confessions on a Dance Floor with famed producer Stuart Price. Fans can look forward to new music in 2025, as Madonna teases, “Songwriting and making music is the one area where I don’t need anyone’s permission. I’m so excited to share it with you.”
Madonna’s openness about death, loss, and her creative process offers an intimate look into the heart and soul of an artist who has continually evolved while grappling with deep personal loss. Her message is one of hope, connection, and the eternal nature of love.
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