Madonna has revealed that she has finally "put aside her differences" with Sir Elton John, hinting at a potential collaboration, after witnessing the pianist and singer's electrifying performance alongside Brandi Carlile on Saturday Night Live (SNL). Their tumultuous relationship dates back to 2002, when John, quoted by CBS News, disparaged her theme song for Die Another Day as "the worst Bond tune ever." Further escalating tensions, during the Q Awards in 2004, John famously declared on stage, "Madonna, best live act? Fuck off," and accused her of lip-syncing. Despite numerous barbed remarks exchanged between them over the years, Madonna, born Madonna Ciccone, posted on Instagram on Monday, stating, "We have finally buried the hatchet."
Reflecting on John's recent SNL appearance, Madonna recounted how, as a teenage outsider, she had sneaked out of her house to see him perform in Detroit. She described it as an "unforgettable" concert that steered the course of her life. "Feeling like an outsider, his performance on stage taught me that being different, standing out, and taking the less trodden path were not only acceptable but essential," she shared. "For decades, it pained me to know that someone I deeply admired openly disdained my artistry. I was puzzled. When I learned Elton John was the musical guest on SNL, I decided to attend."
Madonna revealed that she confronted John backstage, where he sought her forgiveness. Embracing, they made amends, with John revealing he had composed a song for her and expressed a desire to collaborate. Meanwhile, John and Carlile mesmerized audiences with their rendition of Little Richard's Bible on SNL, taken from their collaborative album Who Believes In Angels?, poised to become John's tenth UK No. 1 album.
Responding to Madonna, John expressed gratitude for her SNL visit and forgiveness of his "loose lips." On Instagram, he admitted regret for his past remarks, commending her pioneering work for HIV/AIDS awareness in the 1980s and her "groundbreaking contributions" that paved the way for a generation of female artists. "I'm thankful we can move forward," he penned. "The divisiveness in our world today distresses me deeply."
John emphasized that both he and Madonna have been warmly embraced by communities facing threats worldwide, expressing hope for their collaboration to "bring about great things" for those in need.
