Madonna expressed that she “built a bridge” with Sir Elton John and indicated that she would collaborate with him after witnessing the pianist and singer perform alongside Brandi Khalil on Saturday Night Live (SNL).
Their complicated relationship originates from 2002, when John was cited by CBS News referring to her theme of dying as “the worst Bond song of all time” on another occasion.
He later accused her of lip-syncing at the 2004 Q Awards, stating “Madonna, Best Live Act? Fuck off” while on stage.
The two have traded many remarks since that time, but in an Instagram update on Monday, Madonna, whose full name is Madonna Shikoon, remarked:
The artist mentioned John’s recent performance on SNL reminded her of sneaking out of her home to see him perform in Detroit during high school.
She stated: “I always felt like I was an outsider growing up. Watching him on stage helped me understand that it was okay to be different, to stand out, and take less conventional paths. In fact, it was crucial.
“It saddened me to realize that for many years, the figures I admired as an artist shared his disdain. I was confused by that. Once I learned Elton John was an SNL musical guest, I decided to attend.”
Madonna mentioned that she confronted John backstage, seeking his forgiveness. She noted that they embraced, and the pianist expressed a desire to write a song for her and collaborate.
John and Carlyle performed Little Richard’s Bible on SNL from their co-album, Believing in the Angels.
In reply to Madonna, John showed gratitude for her presence on SNL and thanked her for allowing him to speak his mind.
He posted on Instagram that he regretted his previous comments, commended her advocacy for HIV/AIDS in the 1980s, and acknowledged the “groundbreaking work” she did that paved the way for an entire generation of female artists.
He stated: “We are thankful that we can progress forward. We are increasingly grappling with all the divides present in our world at this moment.”
John remarked that both he and Madonna were genuinely accepted by marginalized communities globally, and they wished to “create impactful work” together for those in need of support.
