Madonna: Too Many Achievements For Just One Lifetime
It's hard to imagine a time when Madonna isn't making headlines. Which is why it is so absurd that almost 20 years ago, the then-37-year-old singer got a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1996 Billboard Music Awards. Lourdes knows (GET IT?!) the singer wasn't anywhere near done being a performer, provocateur, and all-around pop culture icon. Sure, it's a testament to her ability and success as a performer that she was raking in awards usually reserved for older honorees at such a young age, but Madge ain't finished quite yet. When accepting her award in 1996, Madonna told the audience she was returning home immediately to be with her newborn baby. Here's a (somewhat comprehensive) list of the things Madonna has achieved in since then. Say what you will about her, but you can't accuse her of being lazy.
1996: Set new Guinness World Record for most costume changes--85 in all--in one movie for her role in "Evita," She trumped the previous record-holder, Elizabeth Taylor (who had a measly 65 changes in 1963's "Cleopatra").
1997: Found Kabbalah, still won't stop talking about it
2000: Met and married British director Guy Ritchie
2000: Gives birth to Rocco Ritchie
2003: Made out with Britney Spears & Christina Aguilera at the VMAs, pearls are clutched all around the world"
2003: Demonstrated her deep understanding of hip-hop and rapped about yoga and pilates on "American Life"
2005: Single-handedly brought back leotards--eat your heart out, Lady Gaga
2006: Condemmed by the Vatican for use of crucifix during "Live to Tell" performance during her Confessions tour, could care less
2006: Partnered with H&M on a clothing line called M by Madonna
2006 and 2008: Adopted two children from Malawi, raising controversy because the Material Girl was not a resident of the country
2007: Inducted in to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
2008: Divorced Ritchie
2008: Became #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 All-Time Artists (right after a little band by the name of The Beatles)
2008: With "4 Minutes," she saw her 37th Hot 100 top-ten hit—pushing her past Elvis Presley as the artist with the most top-ten hits, NBD
2008 and 2011: Directed two feature films: "Filth & Wisdom" in 2008 and "W.E."
2008: The Sticky & Sweet Tour (2008) was the highest-grossing tour ever by a solo artist, and the second highest-grossing tour of all time, with about $408 million in ticket sales.
2010: Launched Material Girl, an '80s punk inspired clothing line co-created with her daughter, Lourdes
2010: Glee dedicated an entire episode to Madonna music
2011: Created Truth or Dare shoe line
2012: Headlined the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show in history with 114 million viewers
2012: Ridiculous riders are leaked and the world learns about her 200-person entourage, the 20 international phone lines in her dressing room, and her penchant for lilies and white and pink roses with their stems cut to exactly six inches
2012: Madonna starts dating French dancer Brahim Zaibat--a man 30 years her junior. Get it, girl!
2013: Got her own clothing retrospective
Currently has the top-grossing tour for which she is being recognized at this year's Billboard Music Awards (May 19, 2013, 8/7c on ABC)
Ongoing:
Occasionally adopts a British accent
Put out SIX studio albums since 1996: Ray of Light (1998), Music (2000), American Life (2003), Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005), Hard Candy (2008), and MDNA (2012)
Nominated for 20 Grammys since 1999, won six
Becomes the unofficial spokesmodel for super-toned arms
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