Entertainmentomadonna and Elton John: Understand the more than 20 years of barbs, criticism and reconciliation

The reconciliation between Madonna and Elton Johncelebrated publicly after the Saturday Night Live day -to -day April 5, 2025marked the end of one of the most notorious rivalries of pop music. The reunion, entitled to hug and forgiveness, was shared by Madonna on social networks with the phrase: “We Finally Buried the Hatchet !!!” (“Finally we bury the war ax!”) The story between the two, however, began long before that – with compliments, provocations, awards, and impact phrases that crossed more than two decades.

1. 1997 – Photo with Donatella Versace

During the opening of the costume institute exhibition in Metropolitan Museum of Artin New York, dedicated to Gianni VersaceMadonna and Elton John posed together with Donatella Versace. The meeting was one of the first public records between the two.

1998: Union on stage

In a rare moment of partnership, Madonna and Elton John divided the stage in Rainforest Benefit Concertin Carnegie Hall, in New York. The duet was marked as one of the few joint presentations of the two artists.

2002: Start of barbs

The climate soured from time to time 2002when Elton publicly criticized music Die Another Daycomposed of Madonna for the 007 – A new day to die. He classified the song as “Bond’s worst theme song ever made” and stated that she “There is no melody”.

2004: Stage attack

During the award of Q AwardsIn London, Elton attacked again, this time questioning Madonna’s nomination the best live performance:

“Madonna, Best Live Show? F— Off. Since when is voice acting live?

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2012: Golden Globe dispute

Both were nominated for the category of best original song in the Golden Globe – He with HELLO HELLOand she with Masterpiece. Upon arrival at the event, Elton stated that Madonna “It would not have a chance to win”. She won. At the same time, he also said, in an interview, that the singer was “Finished” and compared it to a “Amusement Park stripper”accusing her of treating badly Lady Gaga.

2019: Memories and Repentance

In the book Me, Elton John He remembered the fight with Madonna and acknowledged that he regretted some comments. “I still think what she did with Gaga was wrong, but she didn’t need to have said what she said,” he wrote. “I apologized later.”

During an interview with ABC News in 2012, Madonna compared Born this wayhit Lady Gagawith your music Express Yourselflaunched in 1989. At the time, she stated that Gaga’s track was “an imitation” and later reinforced the provocation by mixing both songs in her tour Mdna.

2023: Public praise

The truce began to draw when Elton praised Madonna for his honor to the victims of AIDS on the tour Celebration Tour. The publication made by the singer and its foundation recognized the impact of the performance of Live to tell and its historical importance.

“Thanks, Madonna, for her defense and compassion, and for making aware of the continuous mission of ending AIDS,” John wrote in a post.

2025: Behind the scenes forgiveness

The reunion behind the scenes of the SNL sealed reconciliation. Madonna reported that, seeing Elton as a musical guest, she felt that she needed to face him:

“I knew that Elton It would be the musical guest in SNL And I decided to go. I needed to look into his eyes and understand, ”said the artist in an Instagram post. The surprise came right at the first moment of the meeting:“ The first thing he told me was: ‘Forgive me’. The wall between us fell, ”he added.

In the comments of the post, Elton replied:

“Thanks for forgiving me. I am not proud of what I said. I am glad we can move on.”

See this photo on Instagram

A publication shared by Madonna (@minonna)

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