Thank you to thesweetescapeblog

"Madonna was incredibly beautiful and to deliver such a poignant message with the Malawi children and wilderness as the backdrop only magnified the fact that she is and always will be a beautiful, incredible and relevant person despite what the media says about her. I don't know about you guys but when she hugged the little Malawian kid, a part of me wished I was that kid. If only to experience the beauty of her magnificence... and yes I donated too!" - Maddavesky

"American Idol" is all about giving young people a chance to fulfill their potential. This special event allows you to help children and young people in need in the U.S. and in Africa to fulfill theirs. Even a small donation can make a big difference.

APRIL 29, 2007

The couple have spent a lot of time apart in recent weeks, sparking speculation that they may be feeling the strain of the intense media circus surrounding her Malawi trip.

Source: Daily Mail by Kristina Pedersen

Madonna and Guy Oseary's Maverick Red production genre label and Angel Baby Entertainment are producing Digger, a grave-digging horror film directed by Angel Baby partner John A. Gallagher.

The Hollywood Reporter says the feature, set for a late-summer production in Connecticut, follows Joshua Bauer, a man forced to dig graves by hand as a youth who seeks revenge through a brutal killing spree.

Angel Baby's Gregory Segal and Gallagher will serve as producers with Maverick Films' Oseary, Mark Morgan and Eric Thompson. Cheri Wozniak, who brought the project into the new horror label, will executive produce. The screenplay is written by Stephen Lancellotti.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

APRIL 26, 2007

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The "American Idol" charity shows raised more than $60 million and inspired tens of thousands of Americans to join global anti-poverty campaigns, organizers said on Thursday.

Although some fans said the two-hour special failed to live up to its star-studded promise, the show of inspirational songs, skits and video clips of child poverty in Africa and the United States drew a 26.4 million television audience on Wednesday, the Fox network said.

Fox said the event had already raised $60 million in corporate and viewer donations, and more money was coming in. An updated total will be announced when "American Idol" returns to its regular format next week.
The "Idol Gives Back" two-night special was the first venture by a U.S. reality show into mass fund-raising. It cemented the credentials of what has grown from cheesy summer talent competition into a cultural phenomenon and the nation's most watched TV show.

Save the Children said traffic had increased significantly on its Web site.

"They took a risk by using their show to raise issues of poverty and asking people to contribute, and that is a huge accomplishment," Mark Shriver, vice president of U.S. programs for Save the Children, told Reuters.

"The 'American Idol' format is hugely successful and they introduced starving, dying children in Africa and children struggling with poverty in the United States, and brought that to prime time television," Shriver said.


Fox donated $5 million and presenter Ellen DeGeneres said she would contribute $100,000. A spokesman for normally acerbic British "Idol" judge Simon Cowell said he had made a "significant six figure donation."

"The details we've gotten have been vague and sketchy, " wrote a blogger on www.TVsquad.com.

Sponsors Coca-Cola and Ford declined on Thursday to say how much they had donated, citing business confidentiality. Ford said its contribution was tied to Internet downloads of its "Idol" music videos. AT&T could not be reached for comment.normally acerbic British "Idol" judge Simon Cowell said he had made a "significant six figure donation."
But some viewers expressed concern about silence over early pledges that the show's main corporate sponsors would match each vote cast by viewers with donations. A record 70 million votes were cast by text or telephone.

Source: Reuters by Jill Serjeant

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Television singing talent show "American Idol" proved its clout as a U.S. cultural phenomenon on Wednesday by raising more than $30 million for young people in Africa and the United States.
A two-hour show filled with inspirational songs, movie, television and music stars and stories of poverty from Africa and the United States rounded off the two-night special.

"People say you can't be the generation that ends brutal, stupid poverty, but we can and we will," Bono, U2's lead singer and leading spokesman for the ONE Campaign to Make Poverty History, said in a prerecorded segment.

"I have been in front of 70,000 people here in L.A. and its a pretty amazing feeling. I can't think of any feeling better except perhaps the feeling that you can save somebody's life and there is not one person watching this program tonight who cannot save a life," he said.

The six Idol contestants closed the "Idol Gives Back" show with "American Prayer" -- the song written by Bono and Dave Stewart some years ago about the AIDS emergency in Africa.

The show's contestants received more than 70 million votes -- a new record and almost double last week's 38 million -- but the so-called "shocking" result promoted by host Ryan Seacrest was that none of the remaining six contestants were voted off.

Each vote cast by viewers via text and telephone triggered an undisclosed donation to charities by the corporate sponsors of "Idol" -- Ford, Coca-Cola and AT&T. News Corp., which owns the Fox TV network, donated $5 million after the vote tally hit 50 million.

Viewers were also invited to phone in donations that will go to Save the Children, UNICEF, Malaria No More, The Global Fund and Nothing But Nets for youth relief programs in Africa and poverty-hit areas of the United States, including hurricane ravaged Louisiana.

Throughout the show Seacrest regularly crossed to comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres at a concert she hosted at the Disney Hall in Los Angeles for musical performances by stars such as opera group Il Divo, Annie Lennox and former Idol winner Kelly Clarkson. DeGeneres herself donated $100,000.

Stars prerecorded appeals for donations, including Madonna, who was in Malawi -- the African nation where she adopted her son David -- and Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, who was in Uganda where he filmed "The Last King of Scotland."

Once dismissed as a cheesy summer talent contest, Fox network's "American Idol" has become the nation's most watched TV show with an average of 30 million viewers.

Source: Washington Post

APRIL 25, 2007

MADONNA is celebrating 25 years in pop - a far cry from her arrival in New York in the late Seventies as a teenage dancer with just $35 in her pocket.

The singer later said it was the bravest thing she'd ever done - she had to resort to nude modelling and serving coffee in Dunkin' Donuts to make ends meet at first.

But in 1982 Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone took the first tentative steps towards becoming the world icon she is today.

She is now the most successful female artist of all time, with more than 200 million album sales under her belt and a fortune worth more than £172million.

To celebrate her silver jubilee, here we chart her rise to Queen of Pop.
1982 Madonna signs a deal with Sire Records and releases her first single, the self-written Everybody. Despite being a club hit, it fails to impact on singles charts.

1983 The dance chart success of Madonna's second single, adouble A-side 12 inch of Burning Up and Physical Attraction, convinces Sire Records to put up the cash for an album. Simply called Madonna, it sells three million copies worldwide and young girls everywhere start to copy the singer's style.

1984 The Madonna album spawns three hit singles - Holiday, Lucky Star and Borderline - then the star cleans up with her follow-up album, Like A Virgin. She also sparks controversy by appearing at the first MTV Music Video Awards in a bridal bustier and stockings.

1985 Madonna receives mixed reviews of her acting in the film Desperately Seeking Susan, but one of her songs from the soundtrack, Into The Groove, becomes her first UK No1. She marries actor Sean Penn.

1986 Her third album True Blue spawns five chart-topping singles, including Papa Don't Preach and La Isla Bonita.

1987 Not a good year for the Material Girl. She and Penn are rowing and her film Who's That Girl flops at the box office.

1988 The Vatican urge fans to boycott the Italian leg of the Who's That Girl tour declaring Madonna an unfit role model, but residents of Pacentro want to honour her with a 13ft statue of her dressed in a bustier.

1989 The singer divorces Penn, but signs an endorsement deal with Pepsi which sees her debuting new single Like A Prayer in an advert for the drinks giant.

1990 She appears as Breathless Mahoney in a film adaptation of comic book series Dick Tracy. The Thirties feel of the film inspires her fifth album, I'm Breathless, and November sees the release of The Immaculate Collection, her first greatest hits compilation.

1991 Madonna stars in her first documentary, In Bed With Madonna, which follows her on stage and behind the scenes of her Blonde Ambition Tour.

1992 The release of the Erotica album brought the singer yet more controversy due to its high sexual content.

1993 The Girlie Show World Tour saw Madonna dress as a whip-cracking dominatrix surrounded by topless dancers and caused yet more outrage around the world.

1994 With all the sex out of her system, Madonna turned to amore R'n'B flavoured sound for her seventh album Bedtime Stories. This was also the year she starts a relationship with fitness trainer Carlos Leon.

1995 Starts work on the role of Eva Peron in a film adaptation of the musical Evita. The soundtrack becomes her 12th platinum album.

1996 Evita is released to huge critical acclaim and Madonna gives birth to her first child, Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon.

1997 Madonna ends her relationship with Leon.

1998 The singer storms back into the charts with the Ray Of Light album, which later wins four Grammy awards.

1999 She tops the singles charts once again with her single Beautiful Stranger, recorded for the movie Austin Powers: The Spy Who Sh****d Me.

2000 Madonna marries film director Guy Ritchie at Skibo Castle in Scotland, just a couple of months after the birth of their son, Rocco John, and releases album Music.

2001 The star sets out on her first tour in eight years, the Drowned World Tour.

2002 Madonna writes and performs the theme song to James Bond film Die Another Day. It is nominated for a Golden Globe for best original score and a Golden Raspberry for worst song.

2003 She releases her 10th studio album American Life to mixed reviews. Selling only five million copies, it is her lowest selling album.

2004 Performs Hollywood at the MTV Video Music Awards, where she snogs pop princesses Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera on stage.

2005 Her 11th studio album, Confessions On A Dance Floor, becomes a runaway success with 10million-plus sales.

2006 Music is no longer the hot issue after Madonna and Guy Ritchie adopt a baby David in Malawi. Madonna is deeply involvement with Raising Malawi and Spirituality for Kids.

2007 Madonna is named the fourth wealthiest woman with an active career in entertainment by Forbes magazine.

Source: Daily Record by Samantha Booth - UK

LOS ANGELES (April 25, 2007) -- Madonna has been added to the roster of stars appearing on tonight's "Idol Gives Back" charity special.

"American Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe made the announcement this morning on Ryan Seacrest's KIIS-FM radio show.

"I'm gonna blow [a secret] now: Madonna came on board yesterday," said Lythgoe."And that is just fantastic."

Madonna's rep confirms the appearance, noting that it will be a pre-taped message.

She will join an impressive roster of artists on the two-hour special benefiting African and American children in need.

Others set to take part in the special include Bono, Ellen DeGeneres, Celine Dion, Hugh Grant, Rascal Flatts, Gwen Stefani, Earth, Wind & Fire, Il Divo, Keira Knightley, Josh Groban with the African Children's Choir, Jack Black, Helen Mirren, Quincy Jones, Annie Lennox and past "Idol" winners Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.

Source: NBC

APRIL 24, 2007

It may seem like only yesterday but 25 years ago on April 24, 1982, Sire Records honcho Seymour Stein released a single called "EVERYBODY" on Warner Bros. Records by an unknown singer from Rochester, Michigan by the name of Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone. To say the world would never be the same is an understatement. The song went on to become a huge dancefloor hit and was heard all over the radio in the Summer of 1982. That little girl from Michigan would go on to become one of the most famous entertainers and cultural icons in history - selling close to 200 million records and remaining a star of enormous magnitude and influence for the next 25 years. She's just getting started. Long Live the Queen and Happy Anniversary to Madonna. - Liz Rosenberg

Source: Madonna.com

APRIL 23, 2007

Madonna and Sir Elton John have two nominations each for this year’s Ivor Novello songwriting awards.

Madonna’s track, Sorry, which appeared on her album Confessions on a Dance Floor is up for international hit of the year and most performed work.

I Don’t Feel Like Dancing, written by Sir Elton and performed by the Scissor Sisters, has also been nominated in the same categories.

This year’s Ivors will be held at Grosvenor House in London on 24 May.

Source: BBC

PRS Most Performed Work
Sorry
Writers: Madonna / Stuart Price
Performed By: Madonna
UK Publisher: Warner Chappell Music

I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’
Writers: Sir Elton John / Scott Hoffman / Jason Sellards
Performed By: Scissor Sisters
UK Publisher: HST Management Ltd / Universal Music Publishing / EMI Music Publishing

Put Your Records On
Writers: Corinne Bailey Rae / John Beck / Steve Chrisanthou
Performed By: Corinne Bailey Rae
UK Publisher: Global Talent Publishing / Good Groove Songs

International Hit Of The Year
Sorry
Writers: Madonna / Stuart Price
Performed By: Madonna
UK Publisher: Warner Chappell Music

I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’
Writer/s: Sir Elton John / Scott Hoffman / Jason Sellards
Performed By: Scissor Sisters
UK Publisher: HST Management Ltd / Universal Music Publishing / EMI Music Publishing

Rudebox
Writers: Robbie Williams / Danny Spencer / Kelvin Andrews / Sly Dunbar / Robbie Shakespeare / William “Earl” Collins / Bill Laswell / Edmund “Carl Jr” Aiken
Performed By: Robbie Williams
UK Publisher: BMG Music Publishing / Chrysalis Music Ltd / Universal Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music

Source: theivors.britishacademy.com

APRIL 20, 2007

Source: AP - Karel Prinsloo / Reuters - Siphiwe Sibeko

Madonna urges Malawi youths to work hard

Madonna, the one-time backing dancer who grafted her way to becoming the 'Queen of Pop', on Thursday urged Malawian youths to work hard to realise their potential.

'Keep working hard. I hope you realise how much power you have to make a good future for yourselves,' the US singer told scores of cheering and dancing villagers when she inspected a modern-day care centre her charity Raising Malawi Organisation has built at Mphandula village, 50 kilometres (31 miles) west of the capital Lilongwe.

Making her first public speech since she landed here on Monday to continue her charity work in this impoverished African nation, Madonna, wearing a maroon T-shirt with the word Love, said: 'It is exciting to be here at the centre.'

'It was a bush before and there was nothing, now there are these beautiful buildings.'

With toddler David Banda, the Malawian boy she intends to adopt, Madonna said inside a hall built as part of the centre: 'It is not the buildings that matter, but your kind heart for giving this land freely.'

'Remember, this is a partnership. I have heard people say please come back, this is a partnership and also help yourself and do your part.'
Alfred Chapomba, founder of the Consol Homes orphans charity, which has partnered Madonna's group, gave the star a half-hour tour of the campus as women danced and sang praises to their important visitor.
Traditional chief Kalolo thanked Madonna for the infrastructure, saying: 'We are now proud villagers who are seeing this type of development for the first time in our lives.'

The chief told Madonna to continue developing the village, home to about 2,500 people, but with neither running water nor electricity. 'Thank you for everything.'

A local band equipped with home-made instruments entertained Madonna for 10 minutes, with the 'Material Girl' and David throwing a step and dancing to the amusement of the villagers, most of whom did not wear shoes.

Madonna kept urging David to dance and clap hands, and he responded as the villagers cheered on.

Aida Kapondera, 62, vigourosly danced with Madonna for 10 minutes to the sounds of the band.

'I enjoyed dancing with her,' Kapondera told AFP, wiping sweat from her forehead.

Photographers were kept away by Madonna's bodyguards from the hall where the singer and her adopted son mixed freely with the villagers.

Source: AFP Via Yahoo! News

APRIL 19, 2007

Madonna tour Consol Homes, a day care center that she is funding in the village of Masekese, Malawi

Madonna urges Malawi villagers to "help themselves"

Madonna wore a T-shirt proclaiming 'Love' and danced to the rhythm of a pop song at the opening of a day care center Thursday, one of the projects she's funding in Malawi.

The 48-year-old singer, who carried toddler David Banda in her arms, was greeted by singing children as she toured the center, run by local charity Consol Homes.

Madonna picked up David, then 14 months old, from an orphanage in Malawi in October and took him to her London home. She is hoping to adopt the child.

Her latest visit is to check on projects run by her Raising Malawi organization.

Local children performed the Paul Simon-Joseph Shabalala hit 'Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes,' playing traditional instruments and singing. Madonna danced to the refrain.

'You should not expect much from me alone but we are working together as a partnership,' she told local officials.

The center will eventually provide education and food for up to 4,000 children from surrounding rural areas.

Consol Homes Director Jacinta Chapombsa said parents would be able to bring their children to the center knowing they would receive a basic education and food.

Tight security has accompanied Madonna on her visit this week, and it was unclear whether she had met with David's father, who sent him to an orphanage after the boy's mother died. Yohane Banda has said he was too poor to care for his son.

Madonna, who is married to filmmaker Guy Ritchie, has two other children, 9-year-old Lourdes, who is also on the trip, and 6-year-old Rocco.

Source: Reuters by Mabvuto Banda

Young girls wait for singer Madonna to tour Consol Homes, a day care center that she is funding in the village of Masekese, Malawi, Thursday, April 19, 2007. Madonna on Thursday visited a new day care center she is funding in Malawi, one of the world's poorest, most disease-stricken countries. (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)

Woman and children sing and dance as they wait for singer Madonna at Consol Homes, a day care center that she is funding in the village of Masekese, Malawi, Thursday, April 19, 2007. Madonna on Thursday visited a new day care center she is funding in Malawi, one of the world's poorest, most disease-stricken countries. (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)

Madonna visited an orphan care centre run by Raising Malawi, a grassroots initiative by Madonna, in Mphendula Village, about 40 km (25 miles) from the capital Lilongwe April 19, 2007. Madonna danced with Malawian children on Thursday during a visit to an orphanage and urged them to "help themselves" instead of relying on her.

Locals gather at an orphan care center run by Raising Malawi, a grassroots initiative by Madonna, in Mphendula Village, about 40 km (25 miles) from the capital Lilongwe April 19, 2007. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (MALAWI)

Young boys wait to see Madonna and her adopted son David Banda at an orphan care centre run by Raising Malawi, a grassroots initiative by Madonna, in Mphendula Village, about 40 km (25 miles) from the capital Lilongwe April 19, 2007. Madonna was at the centre to hand over the keys to the orphanage. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (MALAWI)

A mother stands as she carries her child on her back at an orphan care centre run by Raising Malawi, a grassroots initiative by Madonna, in Mphendula Village, about 40 km (25 miles) from the capital Lilongwe April 19, 2007. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (MALAWI)

A girl holds her mother's hand at an orphan care centre run by Raising Malawi, a grassroots initiative by Madonna, in Mphendula Village, about 40 km (25 miles) from the capital Lilongwe April 19, 2007. Madonna was at the centre to hand over the keys to the orphanage. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (MALAWI)

APRIL 18, 2007

Madonna tour Consol Homes, a day care center that she is funding in the village of Masekese, Malawi

Madonna arrives at a center for street children, Wednesday, April 18, 2007 in the Malawian capital, Lilongwe. Madonna and her daughter visited a center for street children Wednesday that is benefiting from the charity work the star is doing in the impoverished southern African country.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)

Madonna talk to Philippe van den Bossche, Executive Director of Raising Malawi as she leave a center for street children, Wednesday, April 18, 2007 in the Malawian capital, Lilongwe. Madonna and her daughter visited a center for street children Wednesday that is benefiting from the charity work the star is doing in the impoverished southern African country.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)
AP via Yahoo! News - Apr 18 9:10 AM

Malawians hold up posters for Madonna as she visits a center for street children, Wednesday, April 18, 2007 in the Malawian capital, Lilongwe. Madonna and her daughter visited a center for street children Wednesday that is benefiting from the charity work the star is doing in the impoverished southern African country.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)

Madonna visits Malawian kids' center

Madonna and her 9-year-old daughter, Lourdes, visited a center for street children that benefits from the charity work the pop star is doing in this impoverished southern African country.

Madonna, wearing her now familiar straw hat, and Lourdes arrived at the center Wednesday and were whisked into the compound of three buildings. The 47-year-old singer is visiting Malawi to check on projects run by her Raising Malawi organization.

She arrived Monday with Lourdes and David Banda, the Malawian toddler she is hoping to adopt.

Singing and clapping were heard coming from children inside what is called a social rehabilitation center in the capital. The center cares for about two dozen children, providing them with food, clothing and schooling before reintegrating them into their communities.

A crowd of onlookers cheered 'Madonna, Madonna' when she arrived.
'Well done, Madonna. We love you. Adopt more,' read the sign carried by Richmond Muchina.

'I love Madonna and she is most welcome,' he said. 'I wish she would come every week. She must adopt more and more because she has got the power.'

The Spirituality for Kids program, based on Kabbalah, Judaism's mystical sect that counts Madonna among its devotees, is involved with the center.
Madonna took custody of then 14-month-old David during a visit to Malawi in October. The move sparked controversy and raised concerns that regulations were being swept aside to benefit a pop star who has been generous to the country.

Madonna maintains she has followed the law.

Source: AP Via Yahoo! News

A local holds placards as he waits to catch a glimpse of Madonna outside the social rehabilitation centre in Lilongwe April 18, 2007. (Eldson Chagara/Reuters)

APRIL 17, 2007

Madonna, Lourdes and David visited the Home of Hope orphanage earlier today in Mchinji - here are the first press pictures from the visit.

Madonna chats with an orphaned girl at the Home of Hope orphanage in Mchinji village,135 km (84 miles) west of the capital Lilongwe, April 17, 2007. Schoolchildren pelted reporters' cars with stones to keep them away from Madonna on Tuesday as the pop star visited the orphanage where the Malawian boy she is adopting once lived. (Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters)

Madonna returned Tuesday to the orphanage where she found David Banda, the young Malawian boy she hopes to adopt. The pop star was also accompanied by her 9-year-old daughter, Lourdes.

Children at the church-run Home of Hope orphanage in Mchinji, a village near the Zambian border, sang and recited lessons for Madonna while Lourdes took video footage.

Madonna's security and police tried to stop journalists and onlookers from entering the orphanage compound. But villagers, mainly children, clamored over the waist-high wall and rushed in.

The orphanage has been the scene of much excitement in recent weeks with the road leading to it graded, new flowers planted and new uniforms for the children.

Madonna visited Malawi in October and took custody of David, then 14 months old, who was in the orphanage after the death of his mother. The move sparked controversy and raised concerns that regulations were being swept aside to benefit a pop star who has been generous to the country.

The 48-year-old pop star has said she has followed the law.

Madonna is visiting Malawi to oversee her charity projects in this impoverished country. She aims to provide food, education and shelter for up to 4,000 Malawian children through her Raising Malawi organization.
As she was leaving the orphanage Tuesday, Madonna posed for photographs, holding hands with Lourdes and with David in her arms.

Madonna and Lourdes waved for the cameras and, laughing, tried to encourage the little boy to wave.

'It's great,' the pop star said when asked how it felt to be back in Malawi.

Source: AP Via Yahoo! News

APRIL 16, 2007

LILONGWE, Malawi - Madonna flew to Malawi on a silver jet Monday to continue her charity work in the impoverished southern African country, bringing along the Malawian boy she is in the process of adopting.

The 48-year-old pop star, wearing a baseball cap, carried a small boy down the steps of the jet, and a child's seat was fixed into a waiting sport utility vehicle. Her three-vehicle motorcade then drove off at top speed to a luxury lodge, followed by journalists.

Madonna visited Malawi last fall to pick up 1-year-old David Banda, who was in an orphanage after the death of his mother. That visit set off a controversy over concerns that regulations were being swept aside to benefit a pop star who has been generous to the country.

Madonna and her 38-year-old filmmaker-husband, Guy Ritchie, were granted an interim court order Oct. 12 allowing them to take initial custody of David. Under Malawi regulations, prospective parents must undergo an 18- to 24-month assessment period, but Madonna was allowed to take the boy to her London home soon after the court order.

Malawian child welfare officials are expected to file a report on the suitability of the couple as adoptive parents after two trips to their London residence in May and December. Madonna says she has followed the law.

After a rest in Lilongwe, Madonna toured U.N.-backed development projects in the small village of Mtanga, where farmers are being helped to grow maize and start fish farming.

The singer, dressed in combat trousers, khaki T-shirt and black boots, was greeted by singing women and children as she inspected the maize crop and storage facilities and stood by the fish pond.

Her 9-year-old daughter, Lourdes, accompanied Madonna on her trip to Mtanga.

Madonna's New York-based publicist Liz Rosenberg said the singer was visiting to continue her work with her Raising Malawi organization and denied speculation of another adoption.

"She is overseeing the building of a children's health care center. She is absolutely not adopting another baby," Rosenberg said in a statement.
There has also been much activity at the Home of Hope orphanage where David was cared for. The road to the village of Mchinji have been graded, new flowers planted and the children have received new uniforms. Three local police officers have been posted at the orphanage.

David's father, Yohane Banda, surrendered his son to the orphanage after his wife died of childbirth complications. The couple's two other sons died in infancy from malaria.

The road to Banda's village on the Zambian border has also been cleared, but it was unclear whether Madonna would visit him.

Source: AFP via Yahoo! News

Madonna lands in Malawi, second adoption rumored

LILONGWE (Reuters) - Madonna arrived in Malawi on Monday with the young local boy she is adopting, amid rumors she intended to adopt a second child from an orphanage in the impoverished southern African nation.

The pop singer, who sparked controversy last year when she decided to adopt one-year-old David Banda from a local orphanage, plans to meet the boy's father during a visit to the family home, a government official said.

Madonna landed at Lilongwe's airport in a private jet wearing dark glasses and a black outfit and carrying Banda, now about 18 months old, a Reuters witness said.

"The government of Malawi salutes Madonna for coming back with the child for the father to see him," Minister of Information Patricia Kaliati told Reuters.

Yohane Banda, the child's father, has complained he did not have access to Madonna and struggled to get information about his son. David Banda was placed in an orphanage shortly after his mother died.
Madonna left the airport in a convoy of vehicles and drove to a village, where she chatted to locals and toured maize fields with aid workers who are helping farmers boost their crops.

The U.S. diva is expected on Tuesday to take Banda to visit the Home of Hope orphanage where he lived before he left Malawi, its manager said. Madonna is also expected to visit another orphanage that she is helping to fund.

A spokeswoman for Madonna says she has no plans to adopt another child despite media reports that the U.S.-born singer and her British film director husband Guy Ritchie wanted to add a young Malawian girl to their family.

The visit comes some six months after the couple signed interim adoption papers for Banda, who will stay with Madonna and Ritchie for 18 months before a decision is made by the Malawian government on whether to finalize the adoption.

Malawian officials have said they are monitoring Banda's progress in Britain, where he has been living with the couple.

Madonna's adoption of the child grabbed world headlines and caused some rights groups in Malawi to question whether she had used her celebrity status to bypass laws governing the adoption of Malawians by foreigners -- an argument denied by her lawyers.

The adoption controversy has helped to spotlight the plight of orphans in Malawi, where more than 900,000 children are orphaned and another 500,000 have lost at least one parent, many of them to the country's devastating HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Source: Reuters by Mabvuto Banda

APRIL 13, 2007

Madonna is determined to get all she can out of her new collaborators Justin Timberlake and Timbaland - she's working them around the clock. The pair are working on several tracks on the Material Girl's forthcoming album in a London studio - and admit they thought they would have more free time to check out the sights in the British capital. Timbaland sighs, "We are working around the clock. Justin was meant to be out tonight but he's too tired."

Source: AFP via Yahoo! News

Madonna arriving at the studio Ladbroke Grove in West London

10min after Madonna, Justin Timberlake arriving at the studio Ladbroke Grove in West London

Source: Thanks to Anthony from madonna-connexion.com

LONDON (AFP) - A spokeswoman for pop star Madonna confirmed Friday that the pop star was going to Malawi over the weekend, but denied a newspaper report that it was to adopt another child from the impoverished African nation.

Citing unnamed sources, the Sun tabloid in London said Madonna was intent on adopting three-year-old girl Grace after watching a documentary about a child care home for orphans in the country, despite a storm of controversy over her efforts to adopt a Malawian boy last year.

"Madonna is going to Africa to continue her work with the Raising Malawi organisation," the star's spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg said.

"She is overseeing the building of a children's healthcare centre. She is absolutely not adopting another baby."

The pop star, 48, sparked a furore late last year when she and her husband

Guy Ritchie, secured a temporary 18-month custody order from the Malawi courts for baby boy David Banda.

The couple hope to formally adopt him. They have two other children -- 10-year-old Lourdes and Rocco, six.

But the granting of the order, which enabled Madonna to take Banda out of Malawi last year, sparked heated debate about adoption laws in a country where the number of orphans is surging as a result of
AIDS.

A legal challenge is now underway from rights groups who claim that existing legislation in Malawi does not allow for international adoption.
"Madonna saw a film of children at a place called The Consol Home," The Sun quoted an unidentified source said to be close to the star as saying.
"She spotted a beautiful girl called Grace who lit the room with her smile, and fell head over heels for her. Madonna kept saying, 'That girl has so much love in her. I want to help her achieve her potential'," the source said.

"But adoption officials are being very strict after uproar when Madonna adopted David. They know Grace is her first choice, but have insisted she looks at other girls first -- and that the final decision is theirs."

David's father, Yohane Banda, was initially quoted as saying he did not realise his son would be taken out of the country for good, but later said he supported the adoption.

"It was always Madonna's intention to adopt two orphans from Malawi -- a boy and a girl. Grace is healthy, stunning, and has no living relatives. It was the fact David's dad Yohane was alive and well that caused most of the problems last time," the source told The Sun.

Source: Associated Press by Khaled Kazziha

APRIL 12, 2007

Madonna is on her way back to Malawi to follow-up on and do work with her orphan care intiative.

Her rep, Liz Rosenberg, said, "Madonna is going to Africa to continue her work with the Raising Malawi organization. She is overseeing the building of a children's health-care center".

"She is absolutely not adopting another baby", Liz also said, dismissing more adoption rumours.

Source: Liz Rosenberg

Life & Style has learned that Madonna and her adopted child, David Banda, 18 months, are jetting from her home in England to Africa at this moment to spend time with David’s father, Yohane Banda and that the pop superstar intends to adopt another child soon!

“She wants David to have a relationship with his biological father," an insider tells Life & Style exclusively. "She’s going under the guise of a vacation, but she’s not on vacation — she’s on a mission.”

After Madonna adopted David from Malawi in October, critics accused her of using her wealth and fame to fast-track the process. Madonna publicly rebutted that claim, but felt — and still feels — that her reputation was hurt by the controversy surrounding the adoption, the insider says.

“She intends to adopt another baby soon, but first she wants to repair her image from all the bad press she got over David’s adoption," says the insider. “She plans on having David’s father be part of the extended family. She wants to show that her adoption was an unselfish act of love and not what it was portrayed as in the media.”

Madonna's rep, Liz Rosenberg, confirms to Life & Style that Madonna is traveling to Malawi but denies that she has another adoption in the works.

“I can confirm that Madonna is planning a trip to Malawi quite soon," Liz says. "She's going to continue her work with the Raising Malawi Orphan Care Initiative, including the building of a children’s care center. If her trip there brings attention to the tremendous need to help the children of that country, then so be it. No one objects to that.”

Source: lifeandstylemag.hollywood.com

APRIL 11, 2007

Madonna and Justin Timberlake are working together on her new album, her publicist, Liz Rosenberg, confirmed to The ShowBuzz on Wednesday.
Rosenberg said that the singers have been in the studio in London along with rapper-producer Timbaland. She said there was no firm release date for the album yet. According to reports, its due to be released in November.

Madonna has collaborated with other stars in the past, including Britney Spears (Timberlake's ex-girlfriend) and Grammy-winning DJ Stuart Price (aka Jacques Lu Cont).

Timbaland is also rumored to be helping Spears with her comeback album. He has collaborated with Timberlake and Nelly Furtado in recent years.
It was announced Tuesday that Madonna, along with the Beastie Boys and Black Eyed Peas, will headline the Live Earth concerts taking place at London's Wembley stadium this summer.

Source: CBS News

Madge ‘n’ Justin get into the groove

ustin Timberlake and Madonna emerge from a London studio looking exhausted after their first day recording together.

The two singers are collaborating on the Queen of Pop's new album which is believed to have a hiphop feel.

Justin, 26, revealed: “I've been working on new music but it's not for myself. I'm working on some stuff for Madonna.”

Source: metro.co.uk

Madonna and Justin are making sweet music together

Justin Timberlake and Madonna emerge from a west London studio looking exhausted after their first day recording together.

The two superstars are collaborating on the Queen of Pop’s new album - and they’ve drafted in America’s top producer Timbaland to put it together.
Justin, 26, revealed: “I’ve been working on new music but it’s not for myself. I’m working on some stuff for Madonna.”

The 48-year-old singer caused havoc outside the studio last night as she demanded her car be brought to the back door and parked on the pavement so nobody would see her escape.

JT only flew in from LA yesterday. He is over here for a few weeks preparing for the UK leg of his current world tour.

Madonna, who is famous for reinventing herself, said this time her album - which is due out in November - will have a hiphop feel.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

MADONNA SIGNED CHECK DATED JULY 30, 1986

Check dated July 30, 1986 for $100 made out to celebrity hair stylist Victor Vidal. Memo line reads "hair". Victor Vidal styled Madonna's hair for the cover of her True Blue album which also came out in 1986. Signed "Madonna Ciccone"

Estimate: $ 400 - $ 600

To order a full color auction catalog detailing each lot in the "Icon's of Music" Sale Benefiting Music Rising for $50 please email info@juliensauctions.com.

MADONNA PANTS WORN IN INFAMOUS SEX BOOK

Black chantilly lace with red edging pants with cream and silver silk under layer, worn for Madonna's infamous Sex book photo shoots. Also present are an original photo of Madonna wearing the pants and a letter of authenticity from Andre Van Pier

Estimate: $ 600 - $ 800

To order a full color auction catalog detailing each lot in the "Icon's of Music" Sale Benefiting Music Rising for $50 please email info@juliensauctions.com.

MADONNA TOUR JACKETS

Madonna "The Girlie Show" tour jacket, navy blue, gray stitching, size medium, left breast embroidered "Madonna", left pocket embroidered "The Girlie Show Australia 1993". This four month tour spanned South America, Europe, Asia Minor, Australia, Japan, Canada and the U.S

Estimate: $ 100 - $ 200

To order a full color auction catalog detailing each lot in the "Icon's of Music" Sale Benefiting Music Rising for $50 please email info@juliensauctions.com.

MADONNA SIGNED PHOTO WITH LIPSTICK KISS

Warner Brothers Records promotional photo signed (sic.) "luv Madonna". Pink lipstick kiss imprint in lower right quadrant. 10 1/2 by 12 3/4 inches.

Estimate: $ 400 - $ 600

To order a full color auction catalog detailing each lot in the "Icon's of Music" Sale Benefiting Music Rising for $50 please email info@juliensauctions.com.

APRIL 10, 2007

Madonna, Genesis and the Red Hot Chili Peppers will be among stars performing at the London leg of Al Gore's global anti-global warming concerts in July, it was announced Tuesday.

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