Madonna, Lady Gaga’s catfight on live TV

Madonna and Lady Gaga drew gasps from the audience as they fought on live TV. But it turned out to be a sketch for US hit show Saturday Night Live.

The singers were performing on made up show ‘Deep Dish’ when they broke into a fierce brawl that involved hair pulling, wrestling, and put-downs.

Host Kenan Thompson tried to separate the warring pop stars on the couch, but in vain as they continued to exchange insults.

“Guess what, Madonna? I’m totally hotter than you,” the Sun quoted Lady Gaga as saying.

Madonna got back, saying: “I’m totally taller than you.”

The Queen of Pop added: “What kind of name is Gaga? Sounds like baby food!”

The ‘Poker Face’ hitmaker replied: “The kind of name that is number one on the Billboard chart.”

Madonna’s Celebration European top 100 album chart

Pop queen Madonna’s new album Celebration has beaten Muse’s The Resistance to reach the topspot of Billboard’s European Top 100 Albums countdown.

The third spot went to Pearl Jam’s new release, Backspacer, reports Contactmusic.

The ‘Material Girl’ tops album charts in the U.K., Germany, Italy, Ireland and Denmark and debuts at two in Spain, Portugal and Finland.

The album gives Madonna her 11th number one in her adopted Britain - equalling Elvis Presley as a solo artist and putting her four albums behind the Beatles.

Madonna’s deejay beau plans world tour

Madonna’s boyfriend Jesus Luz has revealed plans to travel around the world deejaying.

The New York Post quoted Luz as telling Glamurama Web site: “I’m going to travel around the world with my own tour, as a deejay.”

However, his listeners said Luz was not at all entertaining.

A source in Brazil said: “In his last gig at Pacha, in Buzios, guests at the club said his set list wasn’t captivating at all, and the dance floor was almost empty.”

Glamurama Web site did not think very highly of Luz’s world tour plans and said: “To think that only one year ago, he was only an Ipanema boy who earned 200-dollar per job as a model.”

Madonna cancelled her Marseille, France concert after a stage being collapsed

Madonna had to cancel her Marseille, France concert after a stage being built for her performance collapsed killing one and injuring six.

The stage at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille was being set up by technicians when the partially built roof fell in, bringing down a crane, and killing a 53-year-old French worker.

When the queen of pop heard of the mishap, she said she was devastated and the concert that was to be held on July 19 was cancelled.

“I am devastated to have just received this tragic news,” the BBC quoted her as saying in a statement released by organisers of the concert.

The 60,000-seater Velodrome is France’s second-biggest sports arena and home to the Olympique de Marseille football club.

Madonna’s duplicate is amazing Oh! man

Madonna has a look-alike that is ditto like her, but there is only one small difference between them - her duplicate is a man.

Elias Figueroa, 28, from Chile, started following Madonna at a very early age.

“I was still a schoolboy. I heard ‘Like a Virgin’ and it totally blew me away,” the Telegraph quoted him as saying.

He now earns 12,000 dollars a year as a Madonna impersonator, three times the national salary in Chile, and the equivalent of around 50,000 pounds in the UK.

The first time he performed as Madonna to an audience was in 1996 when, at the age of 15, he gave a karaoke style performance at a friend’s birthday party.

After going full-time eight years ago he’s now performing up to three times a week in front of crowds of up to 20,000, and earns up to 500 pounds a show, more than the average monthly wage in Chile.

But despite the incredible resemblance, Figueroa has yet to meet his idol.

Madonna honours Michael Jackson

Madonna honoured Michael Jackson during her London concert at the O2 Arena. The Queen of Pop hailed the late King of Pop, describing him as one of the greatest performers the world has seen.

A huge picture of Jackson as a child was displayed above the stage as the ‘Material Girl’ hitmaker carried out a short dance melody dedicated to the late star.

Jackson’s greatest hits, Billie Jean and Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin, were also performed in short versions.

“To one of the greatest performers the world has ever known - Michael Jackson,” the Daily Star quoted Madonna as saying.

Madonna take a break from her world tour

Madonna has taken a break from her world tour to concentrate on the girls school that she is building in Malawi.

Contactmusic.com reports that Madonna has filmed a brief video message about the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls and has posted it on her website to seek help from her fans.

In the message, Madonna writes: "After witnessing the potential of Malawi's girls firsthand, I made it my mission to give them an opportunity to become their personal best.

"There are very few girls in Africa in general who are encouraged or allowed to go to secondary schools so, after spending a lot of time there, I realised that one of the ways I could help was to build a girls school. I would really be grateful if you would get involved and help me in any way you can with donations, spreading the word, visiting my website, reading about the progress we've made so far. Please visit our website. I would appreciate any help you could give us."

Madonna has been a regular visitor to Malawi in recent years and adopted son David from an orphanage in the country.

Madonna dedicate her song to pope

Pop star Madonna, once accused by the Vatican of staging one of the most satanic shows in history, surprised fans by dedicating her hit "Like a Virgin" to the pope at a sold-out concert held in Rome.

"I dedicate this song to the pope, because I'm a child of God.the 50-year old "Queen of Pop" told.
Italian newspapers gushed over the singer's electric performance and called the dedication a surprising provocation.

"At the Roman leg of her tour, Madonna didn't miss the opportunity for a provocation that will certainly be discussed," Italy's top newspaper Corriere della Sera said in a front-page report.

Madonna, who comes from a devout Italian Catholic family, has raised the ire of the Catholic Church in the past with sexually charged antics designed to shock.

In 2006, she staged a mock-crucifixion at a concert in Rome to the backdrop of accusations from the Vatican of blasphemy.

The Vatican also condemned her controversial 1989 video for the song "Like a Prayer" that featured burning crosses, statues crying blood and Madonna seducing a black Jesus.

The Vatican later panned a show where she decked the stage out with religious imagery as one of the most "satanic shows in the history of humanity".

Madonna fashion's great chameleon

No matter what your taste, there's probably a Madonna for you.

The pop star, who is turning 50 Saturday, is one of fashion's great chameleons. She's been a punk princess and lady of the manor. She has channeled Marilyn Monroe, Eva Peron and a geisha.The whole underwear-as-outerwear trend came from Madonna.

Not to mention those '80s blondes who proudly showed their roots while wearing lace gloves and lots of chains. And would Kabbalah and yoga as lifestyle trends be where they are today without her? “She's become an adjective. Friends will go shopping with each other and say, `It's so Madonna.' That's what you want in fashion,'' says stylist and TV commentator Robert Verdi.

Lately Madonna has mostly been spotted in workout gear, perhaps in preparation for her ``Sticky & Sweet'' world tour that will be partially outfitted by Givenchy. Designer Riccardo Tisci has worked up two outfits: a frock coat in black stretch satin and a long cape worn over a black dress embellished with colored ribbons.

It's hard to say if the Gypsy look will start another trend. The cone-front corset Jean Paul Gaultier created for her Blond Ambition tour in 1990 didn't fully catch on with the masses.But whether her looks are influential or merely memorable,
Madonna always finds a way to connect with people and she never wears a look long enough for it to become stale, observes Verdi. If the disco revival look of her ``Hung Up'' era in 2005 clicked with him, her cowgirl-hat days in 2000 spoke to someone else.

“I don't love all her looks but can appreciate them all,'' he says. ``She's always operated from a position that's a good hybrid of contemporary pop culture, the psyche of the nation, but also an artistic slant and art always pushes the envelope.''

Stress taking toll on Madonna's health

The stress of the past month is taking its toll on Queen of pop Madonna. So much so, it’s now starting to affect not only her health, but also her work.

Madge, whose Sticky & Sweet world tour is commencing soon, has sacked two of her dancers in a fit. What’s more, her bad moods also have her tour manager threatening to walk out.

Along with rehearsals for her show not going well, her health has also started to deteriorate and doctors have discovered that Madge is anaemic, a definite sign that she is overdoing it.

The ‘Like a Virgin’ singer also suffered a painful knee injury and so she now has a doctor, physiotherapist and a chiropractor on duty during rehearsals for her forthcoming Sticky & Sweet world tour.

After having been told to take it easy she is now taking time out and resting in New York State’s Hamptons resort with close pal Gwyneth Paltrow.

The cause of her meltdown has been attributed to the crisis in her marriage to Guy Ritchie and allegations of a relationship between her and baseball star Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez.

The other blow came from her brother Christopher Ciccone, who penned a book about her. The strain has pushed her famous mood swings to terrifying new extremes.

“Madonna is doing less than OK. She has been rehearsing for the tour and she is totally miserable,” the Sun quoted a source in her camp as saying.

“She’s down physically and mentally. The situation with Guy is very, very tense. The way the press are going crazy with the A-Rod story, her brother’s book and her physical exhaustion are all taking their toll.

“Family tension with her father and two of her other siblings has also been awkward.

“She feels nobody has taken her side. One of her closest pals says she has never seen Madonna so low. She has been feeling low and looking really gaunt.

“Madonna was told to go soft on work and rehearsals, so she will now take one proper day off every week and go easy in the mornings.

“She has a blood analysis done every few days — including one during last Friday’s rehearsal in front of everyone,” the source added.

Sex with Guy is incredible...Madonna

In a magazine interview, she said: "Sex with Guy is incredible...and, surprise, surprise, it's his favourite song on the album. Actually, maybe it's not his favourite song but it's definitely his favourite line."

The singer has made sex the centre of her public image ever since her first No 1 hit, Like A Virgin, in 1984. Since then, she has published a book of erotic photographs of herself called Sex, had the explicit video for Justify My Love banned by MTV in 1990 and kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera at a music awards ceremony in 2003.

In recent months, however, Madonna has been dogged by rumours that her marriage is in crisis. Last month, the couple were forced to issue a statement denying a split, which read: "Mr and Mrs Guy Ritchie remain happily married."

She said: "I had to marry a challenge because otherwise I would just get bored. Whatever else Guy is, he's never boring... We're both there to help each other and challenge each other."

But she added that she was the one left to tell off their children, Lourdes, 11, Rocco, seven, and David, two.

"Guy's a softie with our kids," she said. "Lola [Lourdes] rules the roost. She is extremely maternal towards David. He is the apple of everyone's eye."

Madonna’s marriage on the rocks?

Rumours are abuzz that Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s marriage is on the rocks, as the couple is said to be leading virtually separate lives.

According to sources, the couple has spent most of the last six months away from each other. Speculations of trouble in the marriage camp were fuelled this week when Ritchie didn’t turn up for the pop star’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame triumph in America.

“Madonna and Guy are over. It’s all very amicable. They’ve just fallen out of love with each other,” News of the World quoted a source, as saying. “They just think it’s for the best, as after some great years together they’ve been going their separate ways.”

“Madonna’s been recording her new album Hard Candy and Guy has been trying to focus on putting a decent film out, so they are heading down different paths. “Guy has failed to show up at events which are important to Madge. He just hasn’t taken as much interest as he has previously in what she’s doing,” the source added.

Madonna is reportedly moving to New York with her kids Lourdes, 11, Rocco, 7, and adopted tot David, 2.

“They’ll try to keep things under wraps for the moment, but Guy will remain living in London and Madonna is set for New York with the kids,” another source said. “Guy will get as much access as he wants because there hasn’t been a massive falling-out... They’re agreeing to part on the best of terms. She has finally made the decision to go to America and has instructed her staff to prepare for the move. Everything will go — except Guy,” the source added.

Madonna gets $10m for hair ad

Pop diva Madonna was recently crowned the biggest earning pop artist by Forbes’ magazine. The 49-year-old singer approximately made around Rs 283. 5 crore between 2006-2007.

Now the lady has some more money piling up in her bank. She has apparently been paid $10 million to advertise for a hair care product.

She will be part of the cosmetic company’s global campaign called ‘Life Can’t Wait’ which will launch at the American Super Bowl on Sunday along with Shakira and the late Marilyn Monroe.

It’s reported to be a 30-second advertisement which will premiere during the fourth quarter of the American football game between New England Patriots and New York Giants.

The ad will include the old footage of Madonna, Shakira and Marilyn interwoven in a pop art style montage. While Madonna was paid a huge £10 million for the ad, Shakira only made $2.5 million.