Madonna Louise Ciccone (born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. A leading presence during the emergence of MTV in the 1980s, Madonna is known for pushing the boundaries of lyrical content in mainstream popular music, as well as visual imagery in music videos and live performances. She has also frequently reinvented both her music and image while maintaining autonomy within the recording industry. Her diverse musical productions have been acclaimed by music critics and often generated controversy in media and public. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", Madonna is widely cited as an influence by other artists.
