Madonna Trends Amid 40th Anniversary Tour Announcement

January 17, 2023

Today, Madonna trends as she announced her “Celebration Tour” in honor of the 40th anniversary of the start of her music career. The tour will feature work from all of her albums, and special guest Bob the Drag Queen will open the show.

Madonna has just announced ‘The Celebration Tour’: 4 decades of music and her greatest hits!!

Watch the tour announcement video: https://t.co/e5BKBi8lvj

Full tour itinerary and ticket info: https://t.co/SMg2SqwAbk#madonnacelebrationtour pic.twitter.com/cgvbJJxI7t

— Madonna (@Madonna) January 17, 2023

The tour was first announced via Madonna’s official YouTube channel, where she invited celebrities, including Bob the Drag Queen, to a round table game of truth or dare, which pays homage to her 1991 documentary Truth or Dare, which chronicled her “Blond Ambition” Tour.

The tour will pay homage to New York City, where Madonna began her career in music and earned her unofficial title of the “Queen of Pop.”

The announcement has prompted fans to share some of their favorite Madonna moments on TikTok and Twitter, and even Jennifer Lopez shed some light on a famous performance she was almost a part of in a recent interview with E News.

.@JLo reveals to @ENews she was supposed to perform at the 2003 VMAs with Madonna and Britney Spears:

“I was filming a movie in Canada. Madonna, Britney, and I had met at her home to do it. And then I just couldn't get off the film … then they got Christina Aguilera to do it.” pic.twitter.com/pllq3eVzYK

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) January 17, 2023

Madonna has been known over the course of her career for her bold self expression and artistic  commentary on the Catholic Church. She was one of the first mainstream female artists to include themes of sexuality and religion into her music and performances, setting the stage for later artists like Lady Gaga. A 1984 clip of her seemingly predicting her future career on American Bandstand with Dick Clark surfaced on Twitter today.

Jan. 14, 1984: Madonna appears on the U.S. TV show “American Bandstand.” Host Dick Clark asks her a question & the answer remains iconic.

“What do you hope will happen…for the rest of your professional life…what are your dreams? What’s left?”

Madonna: “To rule the world.” pic.twitter.com/1CgXvunCPI

— Keith Caulfield (@keith_caulfield) January 14, 2023

The Queen of Pop’s 1989 song “Like a Prayer” famously was banned by the Vatican for its depiction of burning crosses and other “blasphemous behavior in a church.” In May 2022, Madonna tweeted at current Pope Francis asking to rejoin the church. Some fans felt that this controversy just showed how much global star power Madonna holds, even when she was so young.

The Met Gala theme is "Fashion and the Catholic Imagination." What this really means is "Madonna, Please Show Up And Rail Against Your Childhood."

— Louis Virtel (@louisvirtel) May 7, 2018

Demi Lovato’s recent album cover for HOLY FVCK was received similarly in the UK for its religious imagery, causing the British press to draw comparisons between the two.

Demi’s poster being banned in the UK is being compared with Madonna’s ‘Like A Prayer’ era by British Talk TV. pic.twitter.com/TuRskDoqFM

— Demi Lovato News (@DevonnesMuse) January 12, 2023

Madonna’s hits “Vogue” and “Material Girl” have soundtracked thousands of videos on TikTok in the past two years, cementing her influence on Gen Z. From trying out new styles to dressing in parents’ hand-me-down 80s clothes, the trends could drive more Gen Z concertgoers for the upcoming tour.

Madonna, who has always been a vocal ally to the LGBTQ+ community, also received praise today for her long history of activism and her inclusion of Bob the Drag Queen in her upcoming tour.

THE QUEEN IS BAAAACK!

Madonna has always been an LGBTQ+ icon, we can't wait for a big ol' queer party #MadonnaCelebrationTour #Madonna pic.twitter.com/nfNYkg1Y7B

— PinkNews (@PinkNews) January 17, 2023

Vivienne, a fellow queen and winner of Rupaul’s Drag Race UK, voiced her support for Bob in a heartfelt tweet about many of her fellow Rupaul alumni.

What a world for drag right now! We’re in the west end! @JinkxMonsoon is on Broadway! Prime time TV. @thatonequeen is touring with Madonna, every time I see a new announcement from a sister I’m jumping up and down in my head screaming ‘GO ON GIRLLL!!!’ So proud!!! X

— TheVivienne (@THEVIVIENNEUK) January 17, 2023

The presale for North American shows begins on January 20 at 10 a.m. local time, and will be available to purchase through Madonna’s official website. General public sales begin January 27.