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Pop Icons Madonna and Elton John End Decades-Long Feud
In a surprising turn of events, Madonna and Elton John, two of pop music’s most enduring icons, have officially ended their long-standing feud. The “Material Girl” singer shared an image on social media showing her and the “Rocket Man” crooner backstage at “Saturday Night Live” (SNL), indicating they have “buried the hatchet” after years of public disagreements. This reconciliation marks a significant moment in pop culture history, resolving a conflict that has captivated fans and media for decades.
Unexpected Reunion and Forgiveness
Madonna revealed in her recent Instagram post that she attended Elton John‘s “Saturday Night Live” performance with the intention of addressing their strained relationship. She recounted her teenage admiration for John, recalling attending his Detroit concert, an experience she described as transformative and pivotal in shaping her understanding of music’s power.
She explained that seeing him perform as a young woman profoundly impacted her, reinforcing her belief in individuality and charting an unconventional path. However, she also acknowledged the pain caused by John’s public criticisms over the years, admitting she struggled to understand his disapproval.
According to Madonna, their backstage meeting took an unexpected turn when Elton John immediately offered an apology. She wrote that his first words were “Forgive Me,” which instantly dissolved the tension between them. She emphasized the potency of forgiveness, noting that they were embracing within moments of their encounter.
Adding to the positive nature of their renewed connection, Madonna disclosed that John mentioned writing a song for her and expressed interest in a collaboration. She described the moment as feeling like “everything came full circle,” quoting lyrics from John’s classic hit, “Your Song.”
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Elton John reciprocated the sentiment, reposting Madonna’s message on his Instagram story and labeling their reconciliation as “a healing moment.”
Timeline of the Madonna-Elton John Feud
2004: Lip-Synching Accusations Begin the Conflict
The public spat between Elton John and Madonna ignited publicly over two decades ago. During his acceptance speech at the Q Awards in 2004, John openly questioned Madonna’s status as a “best live act,” accusing her of lip-synching.
“Madonna, best live act? F— off,” John stated emphatically. “Since when has lip-synching been live? Sorry about that, but I think everyone who lip-syncs on stage in public when you pay, like, 75 quid to see them should be shot.”
In a subsequent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Elton John clarified his remarks, indicating a desire to de-escalate the situation and mentioned he would apologize to Madonna. He admitted his comments were made in the “heat of the moment” and were likely inappropriate.
“Would I apologize to her if I saw her?” he said. “Yeah, because I don’t want to hurt any artist’s feelings. It was my fault. I instigated the whole thing. But it applies to all those bloody teenage singers.”
2004: Madonna’s Representative Denies Lip-Synching Claims
Following Elton John‘s accusations, Madonna‘s spokesperson, Liz Rosenberg, issued a firm denial. Rosenberg asserted that Madonna performs live and does not engage in lip-synching, refuting John’s allegations.
“Madonna does not lip-sync nor does she spend her time trashing other artists,” Rosenberg stated in October 2004. “She sang every note of her Re-Invention tour live and is not ashamed that she was well paid for her hard work.”
January 2012: Further Criticism from Elton John’s Husband
The tension escalated in 2012 when Elton John‘s husband, David Furnish, voiced his displeasure after Madonna won the Golden Globe for Best Original Song for “Masterpiece” from her film “W.E.” over John’s nominated song “Hello Hello.”
“Madonna. Best song???? F— off!!!” Furnish posted on Facebook in a message that was later removed.
Days later, Furnish issued an apology, attributing his outburst to his passion for John’s song. He explained that his emotions got the better of him due to his strong belief in the quality of “Hello Hello.”
“Wow! What a tempest in a teapot. My comments regarding The Golden Globes have been blown way out of proportion,” Furnish wrote. “My passion for our film ‘Gnomeo & Juliet’ and belief in Elton’s song really got my emotional juices going. But I must say for the record that I do believe Madonna is a great artist, and that Elton and I wish her all the best for next week’s premiere of the film ‘W.E.’”
January 2012: Madonna Acknowledges John’s Dislike
Following the 2012 Golden Globes, Madonna responded to the ongoing controversy, acknowledging that she was aware of Elton John‘s negative feelings towards her. She told reporters she hoped he would still communicate with her despite the awards outcome and past tensions.
“I hope he speaks to me for the next couple of years,” she said after her win. “He’s been known to get mad at me so I don’t know. He’s brilliant and I adore him so he’ll win another award. I don’t feel bad!”
August 2012: Elton John Declares Madonna’s Career “Over”
In a 2012 interview with Australia’s Channel 7 “Sunday Night,” Elton John intensified his criticism of Madonna, calling her “a nightmare” and critiquing her stage attire as resembling a “fairground stripper.” During this interview, he also infamously declared that “her career is over.”
In response to these harsh remarks, Madonna‘s spokesperson reiterated her client’s focus on her own work rather than engaging in public disputes with other artists.
August 2013: Feud Declared “Over and Done With” Initially
The following year, in 2013, Elton John announced to “Extra” that the feud with Madonna was behind them. He indicated they had reconciled during a chance encounter at a restaurant in France.
“She came in, I sent over a note, she was very gracious,” he recounted. “I apologized profusely because what I said should never have appeared in public. She was very gracious. She accepted my apology. We bought her dinner — and that’s over and done with.”
David Furnish concurred, noting their shared desire to avoid negativity and their embarrassment over the public nature of their prior disagreements.
At the time, Elton John remarked that Madonna was justified in potentially wanting to avoid further interaction with him.
However, Madonna‘s recent Instagram post suggests that a full reconciliation and acceptance of the apology took nearly another decade to materialize.
2024/2025: Renewed Friendship and “Buried Hatchet”
Madonna‘s recent Instagram post clarifies her motivation for approaching Elton John backstage at “Saturday Night Live.” She reiterated her long-standing admiration for John and the emotional impact of his past public criticisms.
Ultimately, their recent meeting led to forgiveness and a resolution to their long-running conflict. Elton John‘s description of the moment as “a healing moment” further underscores the positive and conclusive nature of their reconciliation, signaling a new chapter in their relationship.