For more than two decades, there was an ongoing tension between the biggest names in the biz who shaped pop music as we know it: Madonna and Elton John. Known for hits like “Material Girl” and “Your Song” and their larger-than-life sense of style, they’ve influenced generations of artists ranging from Lady Gaga to Chappell Roan. But...they didn’t always get off on the right foot.
So, when Madge attended Saturday Night Live on April 5 with Elton and Brandi Carlile as the musical guests, it came as a shock to those of us who pledge allegiance to pop culture. Especially because she shared that she and Elton have forgiven each other and “finally buried the hatchet” amid their on-again-off-again feud that spanned 22 years.
The “4 Minutes” hitmaker penned a lengthy Instagram caption, which she started with the origin of her longtime admiration for Elton. When she was growing up in Detroit, she would sneak out to see him perform. “It was an unforgettable performance that helped me understand the transformative power of music,” she wrote, in part.
She continued, “Over the decades it hurt me to know that someone I admired so much shared his dislike of me publicly as an artist. I didn’t understand it. I was told Elton John was the musical guest on SNL and I decided to go.”
“I needed to go backstage and confront him,” she added. “When I met him, the first thing out of his mouth was, ‘Forgive Me’ and the wall between us fell down. Forgiveness is a powerful tool. Within minutes. We were hugging. Then he told me he had written a song for me and he wanted to collaborate. It was like everything came full circle!!”
According to People, the tension between the two cultural icons reportedly began in 2002, when Elton said Madonna’s track “Die Another Day” was “the worst Bond tune ever.”
In 2004, he made a harsh dig at her during his classic songwriter award speech at the Q Awards, saying, “Madonna, best live act? Fuck off. Since when has lip-syncing been live? Anyone who lip syncs in public on stage when you pay 75 pounds to see them should be shot. Thank you very much.”
He had a change of heart when he praised Madonna for an AIDS tribute she performed in 2023, and now, he’s left a comment in response to the “Like a Prayer” performer’s post.
Elton showed his gratitude for Madge watching his SNL performance before writing, “I’m not proud of what I said. Particularly when I think about all the groundbreaking work you have done as an artist - paving the way for an entire generation of female artists to succeed and be true to themselves. You were also one of the very first people to rise up against HIV/AIDS in the 80’s, bringing love and compassion to so many who desperately needed it.”
He added, “I’m grateful we can move forward. 🙏🏻🚀 I’m increasingly distressed by all the divisiveness in our world at the moment. Both you and I have wholeheartedly been accepted and embraced by communities who are under threat around the world. By pulling together, I’m hopeful that we can make great things happen for those who really need support. And have a lot of fun doing it!! ❤️❤️🚀🚀”
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be waiting impatiently for their massive musical collab.
