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Madonna’s heartbreaking confession about late mom in emotional post

The Rebel Heart artist recalls her mother’s struggles

Faye James
Senior Editor
April 25, 2023
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At 64, the iconic singer Madonna took a moment to reminisce about her late mother in an emotional Instagram post on Monday. 

The Queen of Pop was visiting her storage vault filled with her legendary concert costumes to prepare for her upcoming world tour starting in July.

The visit prompted the mother of six to think about her own mother, also named Madonna, who tragically passed away from breast cancer at the age of 30 in 1963. 

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Madonna with her late mom© Instagram

The singer was only five years old at the time. Being in the vault felt like "a nostalgic trip down memory lane," which brought her late mom to her thoughts.

The typically strong-willed star revealed a more tender side as she recounted her mother's struggle with the cold due to her illness and financial constraints. 

She expressed her hope that her mother is now warm in heaven. This year marks 60 years since her mother's passing.

Madonna was going through her vault when she spoke of her mom© Instagram

In her post, Madonna reflected on her remarkable journey through music, the incredible outfits she has worn, and the amazing designers she has collaborated with. 

She wrote: "If I think about my journey through music over the last 4 decades— how could I not think about all the incredible clothes I got to wear and all the amazing designers I was lucky enough to work with!" 

She also shared insights about her challenging childhood in Michigan.

Madonna recalled the moments when her mom could't afford clothing

The "Rebel Heart" artist recalled how her mother, always cold and without a coat, would prioritize her children's warmth over her own. 

She shared: "When I was a little girl I remember my mother was always cold. Partly because she was sick but also because she never had a coat."

Years later, her mother's sister reminded her that her success allowed her to buy all the coats her mother could never afford. Madonna wrote: "Now you can buy all the coats your mother couldn't buy for herself!"

Madonna acknowledged the striking contrast between her mother's memory and her present life, being surrounded by her glamorous costumes. She expressed her gratitude for the experiences she's had throughout her career.

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The superstar wrote that she thinks of her mother every time she wears an exquisite coat, hoping that her late mother would approve of her fashion choices and be warm now. 

She added: "Every time I put on an incredible coat I think of my Mother. I hope she likes my taste in costumes but most of all, I hope she's warm!"

She concluded her post with a hashtag for her Madonna Celebration Tour, which kicks off on July 18, 2023, in Seattle, Washington.

Madonna kicks off her Celebration tour soon© Instagram

The post included photos of Madonna in a black and pink tie-dyed tracksuit, with her hair styled in clips and braids. Several celebrities responded to the touching post, including Andy Cohen, Diplo, Erykah Badu, Melanie Griffith, and Melissa Gilbert.

Though Madonna seldom discusses her late mother, she has previously admitted to Rolling Stone in 1989 that she would have been a completely different person had her mother been alive. 

She also praised her mother's resilience during an interview with the Chicago Tribune in the same year, saying: "I don't think she ever allowed herself to wallow in the tragedy of her situation. So in that respect, I think she gave me an incredible lesson."

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