all about Madonna

Riccardo Tisci has deemed Madonna “the queen” of Monday’s Met Gala red carpet, and her show-stopping outfit easily bested everyone else’s punk-themed efforts. But let’s take a moment to celebrate the centerpiece of her elaborate look: her derrière. Enshrined in custom Givenchy fishnets, her exposed tuchis even got its own jewelry, a silver crucifix dangling from a chain over her right butt cheek. In case anyone wasn’t already entranced, she even waggled her behind for photographers.

Any celebrity who shows up to fashion’s biggest red carpet with her badonk hanging out is going to be prepared, and Madonna was certainly no exception. Her trainer of three and a half years, Nicole Winhoffer, told the Cut that she made their workouts extra butt-specific during the past week: “I had to make sure the muscles stayed contracted, lifted, and plump,” she explained over the phone yesterday.

Winhoffer first met Madonna while training backup dancers for the Sticky and Sweet tour in 2009. When the tour ended, Madonna asked Winhoffer to stay on as her primary trainer, and the pair has since co-founded the Hard Candy Fitness brand, which includes a series of DVDs called “Addicted to Sweat.” In addition to Madonna, Winhoffer’s clients include Andrea Riseborough and Abbie Cornish. Read on for more details on Madonna’s workout habits and Met Gala tush.

How long did you spend preparing Madonna for the Met Gala?
I knew that the event was on Monday, May 6, so in the week leading up to it, we spent a lot of time on legs and cardio, and particularly on her butt. We kept the room feeling warm, right at 85 degrees, and very humid, to promote sweating, which is good for the skin and circulation and blood flow. I focused on three [specific muscles] of the derriere, and I made sure they were fired during the warm-up, which is about ten to fifteen moves. Then we spent about 45 minutes each day on the toning session, which also focused on legs and inner thighs. We also did lots of cardio, about 35 minutes. We really really tried to burn fat and make sure the skin was tight.
More »

“She’s a really diverse artist. I think creatively she’s obviously very talented. She doesn’t have to define herself. Generally she’s pop, but she’s really unlike any other musician out there in that her albums only form a small part of her youthful identity.”

Spin

Sir Elton John and David Furnish sat down for an exclusive interview with “Extra’s” Terri Seymour, in which they revealed that there is no longer a feud with Madonna.

John explained, “We were in a restaurant in France in the summertime. She came in, and I sent over a note. She was very gracious. I apologized profusely because what I said should never have appeared in public. She accepted our apology, and then we bought her dinner. That’s over and done with.”

John said Madonna was glad to move on. “She was fantastic. She was just like, ‘Okay, let’s get a move on.’”

Furnish added, “We don’t believe in putting negativity out in the world, both of us were embarrassed when all that stuff came out.”

ExtraTV

Anthony Gerard Ciccone, better known as Madonna’s older brother, is in trouble with the law once again. Ciccone’s most recent brush with the law came Monday night in a bar in Traverse City.

While his sister is a multi-millionaire, he’s homeless and has a history of drinking problems, and locals say he’s known to bum around from bar to bar in Traverse City. That’s what police say he was doing Monday when he allegedly got into a fight with a female police officer who tried to get him to leave a bathroom after what was described as a long night of boozing. Police say Ciconne had an outstanding warrant for trespassing.

Ciconne was also reportedly injured in the struggle and when taken to the hospital, his blood alcohol level was a .40, nearly 5 times the legal limit.

Ciconne is to be charged with a felony for resisting a police officer…..and is being held in jail without bond.

CBS

Brooklyn’s Antica Pesa was the place to be Thursday night for star sightings over spaghetti.

Madonna brought daughter Lourdes and son Rocco to the Italian restaurant at the same time as actor Tom Hardy.

The 54-year-old superstar was also joined by a group of dancers from her MDNA tour in what seemed like a mini-reunion. The group enjoyed a number of dishes including calamari, fried mozzarella, cacio e pepe, seasoned vegetables, tortellini pasta, seabass and cod.

Madonna seemed like the “coolest mom in the world,” one onlooker said after observing her interaction with her son and daughter. Lourdes was in great spirits as she posed for cell phone photos with a male friend she’d brought along.

People Magazine

Anderson Cooper and co-host Lisa Rinna discussed his upcoming appearance at the NYC The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards on “Anderson Live” on March 5, according to a report from GLAAD. The television host giddily discussed Madonna being tapped to present him the prestigious Vito Russo Award on March 16.

“I sort of don’t believe it’s true. I can’t believe she’s actually going to come and hand me an award. I went to see three of her concerts, this past tour. I’m like the oldest groupie in the world… I saw her in Paris. I saw her in the Yankee Stadium and at Madison Square Garden,” Anderson excitedly admitted.

“Madonna and I wrote nine songs together over a two week period in late April 1997. Madonna would show up at 3 p.m. and we would start from scratch. She would leave at 7:00 and we would have a finished song and demo with all her lead and background vocals recorded.”
“She is a brilliant pop melodist and lyricist,” Nowels continued. “I was knocked out by the quality of the writing. The lyrics to ‘The Power Of Good-Bye’ are stunning. I love Madonna as an artist and a songwriter… I know she grew up on Joni Mitchell and Motown, and to my ears she embodies the best of both worlds. She is a wonderful confessional songwriter, as well as being a superb hit chorus pop writer… She doesn’t get the credit she deserves as a writer.”

from Madonna’s ‘Ray Of Light’ Turns 15: Backtracking