In a surprising turn of events, two of pop music’s biggest legends have put an end to their long-standing feud. Madonna and Elton John have finally reconciled after more than two decades of tension — and a new musical collaboration may be on the horizon.
On Monday, April 7, Madonna shared the news with her fans via Instagram. “We finally buried the hatchet!” the 66-year-old pop icon wrote, revealing she had attended Saturday Night Live over the weekend to see Elton John perform. The moment was not just about the music — it marked a personal milestone for both artists.
“I remembered sneaking out in high school to see Elton perform live in Detroit,” Madonna recalled in her caption. “It was an unforgettable performance that opened my eyes to the power of music.” Seeing Elton on stage as a teenager had a lasting impact on her. “As someone who always felt like an outsider, watching him made me believe it was okay to be different — even necessary.”
Despite her admiration, their relationship became rocky over the years. Madonna admitted that she had been hurt by Elton’s public criticism of her as an artist. “It was painful knowing someone I looked up to expressed such dislike for me,” she wrote.
But when she learned Elton would be performing at SNL on April 5, she decided it was time to face the issue. “I needed to go backstage and confront him,” Madonna shared. “When I met him, the first thing he said was, ‘Forgive me.’ And just like that, the wall between us crumbled.”
What followed was a heartfelt reconciliation. “Forgiveness is powerful,” she said. “Within minutes, we were hugging.” To her surprise, Elton revealed that he had written a song for her and expressed his desire to collaborate. “It felt like everything had come full circle,” Madonna added.
She ended her post with a nod to one of Elton’s classic songs: “And you can tell everybody, this is your song.”
Elton John responded in the comments with sincere gratitude. “Thank you for coming to see me at SNL. And thank you for forgiving me and my big mouth. I’m not proud of the things I said,” he admitted. The 78-year-old praised Madonna’s influence, calling her work groundbreaking and recognizing her role in inspiring generations of female artists.
He also honored her advocacy work. “You were one of the first to stand up during the HIV/AIDS crisis in the ’80s. Your love and compassion meant everything to so many,” he wrote.
Their renewed friendship comes at a time when both artists are emphasizing unity. “I’m increasingly distressed by all the divisiveness in our world,” Elton added. “By coming together, I believe we can do great things for the communities that need us most — and have fun doing it!”
The feud between Madonna and Elton John dates back to 2002. That year, Elton openly criticized Madonna’s James Bond theme, “Die Another Day,” calling it “the worst Bond tune ever” in an interview with Sky News. He went on to say, “It hasn’t got a tune. Bond themes are supposed to be campy — they missed the mark.”
The tension escalated in 2004 when Elton took another jab at Madonna during the Q Awards. Questioning her nomination for best live act, he declared, “Since when has lip-synching been live? Anyone who lip-synchs at a $75 concert should be shot.” Madonna’s team denied the accusation.
Elton reflected on his remarks in a 2011 interview with Rolling Stone, saying, “I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings, and I’ve since apologized. I think she’s paved the way for many, but I stand by what I said — live should mean live.”
Despite the tension, there were occasional signs of respect. In 1998, they performed together at the Rainforest Benefit Concert in New York. And more recently, in 2023, relations appeared to thaw when the Elton John AIDS Foundation praised Madonna’s tribute to AIDS victims during her Celebration Tour.
“We were deeply moved by Madonna’s performance of ‘Live to Tell’ honoring the 40.4 million lives lost to AIDS,” the foundation said in a statement. “Thank you for raising awareness and continuing the fight to end AIDS.”
During Saturday’s SNL episode, Elton performed “Little Richard’s Bible” and “Who Believes in Angels?” alongside Brandi Carlile, promoting their new album Who Believes in Angels? Jack Black hosted the show.
The possibility of a Madonna-Elton duet has fans buzzing, especially after years of public disagreements. While no official collaboration has been confirmed yet, the door is clearly open.
Their renewed friendship highlights the power of forgiveness, shared history, and a mutual commitment to making a difference — both in music and the world.
As Elton put it, “I’m grateful we can move forward.”
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