Madonna, original name Madonna Louise Ciccone, (born August 16, 1958, Bay City, Michigan, U.S.), American singer, songwriter, actress, and entrepreneur who became immensely popular in the 1980s.

In the ’90s she achieves levels of power and control that were nearly unprecedented for a woman in the entertainment industry. Born into a large Italian American family, Madonna studied dance at the University of Michigan and with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City.