Madonna Just Turned 60. She's Still Afraid of Thunder

Everything you ever wanted to know about the 'Material Girl' is coming out on milestone occasion
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 16, 2018 9:55 AM CDT
'Material Girl' Turns 60, and the Internet Is Celebrating
Madonna speaks to the press at a news conference in Blantyre, Malawi, on July 16, 2018.   (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi)

Who would've thought we'd live to tell the tale of seeing the Material Girl turn 60? Madonna Louise Ciccone enters sexagenarian territory Thursday, and the internet is, not surprisingly, throwing a no-holds-barred party. USA Today features a chronological timeline of 60 of the superstar's greatest moments, from her first single, 1982's "Everybody," all the way through to her Catholic-inspired get-up at this year's Met Gala. Meanwhile, the New York Times also highlights 60 notable items, documenting how Madonna has influenced culture and merged "power, innovation, [and] identity … and much more into a singular career in music, fashion, movies, and beyond that's crossed boundaries and obliterated the status quo." Let's get into the groove of what everyone else is saying about her momentous milestone:

  • E! Online tries to fill in any gaps for those who haven't kept up on their Madonna studies, listing "60 crazy facts about Madonna you probably didn't know." Here's a teaser: She's afflicted with brontophobia, a terror of thunder and lightning.
  • Opinions may obviously vary on what Madonna's best songs are, but Entertainment Weekly takes a crack at it, ranking her top 60 singles. You may be surprised at the ordering. No. 1 is "Like a Prayer." Meanwhile, NewNowNext lists what it thinks are Madonna's most underrated songs (and if you're not a superfan, you likely haven't heard of many of these picks).
  • It's impossible to talk about Madonna without noting her fashion influences. From her famous "Boy Toy" belt buckle to her "bullet bra," CNN Style and Yahoo Lifestyle check out her most provocative and controversial outfits.

  • Yeah, yeah, the art, fashion, and culture and all that, but Forbes dives into the real nitty-gritty: namely, her net worth, how much she makes on her tours, and how many YouTube views she gets. Per the magazine, she's No. 26. on the list of America's richest self-made women with a net worth of $590 million.
  • A more pensive take on Madonna appears in USA Today. Maeve McDermott writes on "the painful lessons she taught us about aging while female," touching on everything from how the star was "famously smeared as a slut" in her early years to how she's "endured a different, sneering tone from the public over the past decade."
  • In case none of these deep dives are deep enough for you, Pitchfork offers what it says are the best books on the performer, including Andrew Morton's unauthorized biography and the 604-page Encyclopedia Madonnica 20: Madonna From A to Z, by Matthew Rettenmund, a "thorough, opinionated, saucy leap into Madonna's career."
  • Meanwhile, a message from the birthday girl herself, straight from Marrakech. "In case someone forgot!" Madonna tweeted from Morocco early Thursday, filling her post with celebratory emoji (including a birthday cake) and a picture of herself holding a sign that reads "The Queen."
(More Madonna stories.)

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