Madonna

Madonna Louise Ciccone, known mononymously as Madonna, is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Dubbed the "Queen of Pop", Madonna is noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, and visual presentation. She has pushed the boundaries of artistic expression in mainstream music, while continuing to maintain autonomy over every aspect of her career.

After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, Madonna signed with Sire Records in 1982 and released her debut album Madonna the following year. She followed with a series of successful albums, including Like a Virgin (1984), True Blue (1986), Like a Prayer (1989), and Ray of Light (1998).

Throughout her career, Madonna has written most of her songs, with many of her compositions reaching number one on the record charts. Her works, which incorporate social, political, sexual, and religious themes, have generated both controversy and critical acclaim.

Madonna is the best-selling female recording artist of all time by Guinness World Records. She has sold more than 300 million records worldwide and is recognized as the best-selling female artist of all time by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Madonna is the most successful solo artist in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with 38 top-ten singles (including 12 number ones), and is the most successful female artist on the Billboard 200 chart, with 12 number-one albums. She has won seven Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, and a Brit Award. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.