There will never be another Madonna, but that hasn’t stopped present-day pop stars from trying to emulate the ’80s queen.
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Known for her outspoken nature, show-stopping costumes, risqué performances, and chart-topping hits, the “Material Girl” singer designed the blueprint to a successful career in pop music.
Now, artists including Chappell Roan, Lady Gaga, and Miley Cyrus are following the path Madonna laid out and seeing great success as they do.
Keep reading to find out why those pop stars may just be the next Madonna.
Chappell Roan
Dubbed “Gen Z’s Madonna” by the New York Post, the outlet likened Chappell Roan’s “elaborate outfits and raunchy stage moves”to that of the ’80s era star.
The “HOT TO GO!” singer’s similarities to Madonna don’t end there, though. Last year, Roan spoke out against fans who feel entitled to get photos with her while out and about, calling it “weird” that people think they know celebrities.
Afterwards, a 1991 Washington Post interview with the “Vogue” singer was unearthed, in which she expressed similar sentiments.
“I don’t mind when people come up to me in a restaurant and go, ‘God, I think you’re great.’ I love that. It’s the obsessive fanatics whose attention seems very hostile,” she said. “It’s beyond admiration. It’s very crazy.”
Roan has also been compared to Madonna for being an outspoken supporter of the LGBTQ community. In fact, Roan credited Madonna with being one of the artists who helped make queer music mainstream.
Lady Gaga
A rumored feud between Lady Gaga and Madonna can’t stop the comparisons between the two women. Their fashion style, musical similarities, and overwhelming stage presence make them easy to compare.
The women’s supposed disagreement dates back to 2011 when Gaga released “Born This Way.” Many Madonna fans compared the track to the ’80s star’s “Express Yourself,” an accusation Gaga called “completely ridiculous.” Madonna disagreed, calling Gaga’s song “reductive” and stating that the other singer “blatantly ripped off” her track.
Later, Gaga said she’s “very different” from Madonna because she writes her songs, produces music, and plays instruments.
The beef was apparently squashed in 2019 when Madonna told British Vogue that she and Gaga were “never enemies.”
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus’ dance moves, outfit choices, music videos, and singing style have all been compared to that of Madonna. The women themselves have done nothing to shut down the comparisons.
In 2014, the women took the stage together during MTV’s Unplugged, performing Madonna’s “Don’t Tell Me” and Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop” side-by-side.
“That was pretty cool, you guys,” Cyrus told the crowd afterwards. “It was one of those days that was pretty easy to get out of bed. I get to perform with Madonna in bedazzled cowboy boots. I can’t really complain about anything.”
2021, Cyrus performed a medley of Madonna songs during Stand By You, her Pride concert special. The following year, Cyrus performed a cover of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” wowing the crowd at the Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest.
Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images
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