Madonna (entertainer)

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Madonna (entertainer) : biography

August 16, 1958 –

Madonna released the Material Girl clothing line, which she designed with her daughter, Lourdes. The 1980s inspired clothing line, borrowed from Madonna’s punk-girl style when she rose to fame in the 1980s, was released under the Macy’s label. Madonna also opened a series of fitness centers around the world named Hard Candy Fitness. The gyms are a partnership between Madonna, her manager Guy Oseary and Mark Mastrov, the founder and CEO of 24 Hour Fitness. The first of the gyms was opened at Mexico City in November 2010, as Madonna believed that the city served as "a great test market before bringing the gyms to cities around the world." In November 2011, Madonna and MG Icon announced the release of a second fashion brand called Truth or Dare by Madonna to include footwear, underclothing, and accessories. The brand represents a second partnership between MG Icon and Macy’s.

She directed her second feature film, W.E., a biographical film about the affair between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson; it was co-written with Alek Keshishian. The film premiered out of the main competition at the 2011 Venice Film Festival, where it received mixed reviews. Critical response to the film has been overwhelmingly negative, as reflected at Rotten Tomatoes website. Madonna also contributed the ballad "Masterpiece" for the film’s soundtrack, which won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

Madonna performed at Super Bowl XLVI halftime show, which was visualized by Cirque Du Soleil and Jamie King and featured special guests LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A. and Cee Lo Green. It became the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show in history with 114 million viewers, higher than the game itself. It was revealed that the singer had signed a three-album deal with Interscope Records, who would act as the distributor in partnership with her 360 deal with Live Nation. Her twelfth studio album, MDNA, was released in March 2012. Reuniting with her long-time collaborator William Orbit, Madonna also worked with a variety of producers such as Martin Solveig, The Demolition Crew, Benny Benassi, Alle Benassi, Indiigo and Michael Malih. The album was well received by music critics. Priya Elan from NME called the album "a ridiculously enjoyable romp", citing its "psychotic, soul-bearing stuff" as "some of the most visceral stuff she’s ever done." MDNA debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and many other countries worldwide. Madonna surpassed Elvis Presley’s record for the most number-one album by a solo artist in the United Kingdom. The lead single "Give Me All Your Luvin’", featuring guest vocals from Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., became Madonna’s record-extending 38th top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Later, Madonna was criticised after her performance at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida for her reference to drug use while addressing the crowd.

The MDNA Tour, which further promoted the album, began in May 2012 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Madonna described the tour as "a journey from darkness to light". It was divided into four sections: Transgression, where guns and violence was the main theme, Prophecy, where a mix of joyful songs that bring people together are performed, Masculine/Feminine, a combination of sensuality and fashion with a few of Madonna’s classic songs performed in a French Cabaret-style, and Redemption, which Madonna labeled as "a big party and celebration". The tour has received positive reception, but featured controversial subjects such as violence, firearms, human rights, nudity and politics. Lawsuits threatened against Madonna have also been engaged from the tour. It was a box office success and many venues were instantly sold out. It was dubbed as the highest-grossing tour of 2012 by Billboard. The tour grossed $305.2 million from 88 sold-out shows, becoming the ninth highest-grossing tour of all time and surpassing Celine Dion’s Taking Chances Tour as the second highest-grossing tour among female artists, behind Madonna’s own Sticky & Sweet Tour. Madonna broke the record for occupying the top two highest-grossing female tours of all time. Madonna won the "Top Touring Artist", "Top Dance Artist", and "Top Dance Album" awards at the Billboard Music Awards for the MDNA Tour and album.