Madonna previously drummed for the Breakfast Club, a New York pop group. Randy Jackson, a later member of the band, was an American Idol judge. Dan Gilroy and Stephen Bray, both ex-boyfriends, were also members of the Breakfast Club. ¹⁾

Madonna won the Best Actress Golden Globe Award in 1997, beating out Glenn Close, Frances McDormand, Debbie Reynolds and Barbra Streisand for her work in Evita. ²⁾

Madonna has appeared in 22 films as an actress. ³⁾

Madonna has been crowned the best-selling female rock artist of the twentieth century by the Recording Industry Association of America. With 63 million certified albums sold, she is also the second-best-selling female artist in the United States. ⁴⁾

According to Guinness World Records, Madonna is the most successful female music artist of all time, having sold over 200 million records worldwide. ⁵⁾

Madonna is the youngest of six children born to Silvio and Madonna Louise Ciccone (nee Fortin). Her mother inspired her name. ⁶⁾

Her father's second marriage to his former domestic Joan Gustafson produced a stepbrother and stepsister for her. ⁷⁾

Madonna was a member of Rochester Adams High School's cheerleading squad. ⁸⁾

Madonna worked at a Dunkin' Donuts in New York City while trying to make it as a dancer in the Big Apple. She was allegedly fired after squirting jam in the face of a customer. ⁹⁾

“Everybody,” Madonna's first single, was released on April 24, 1982. ¹⁰⁾

According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which inducted Madonna earlier this year, Madonna's hit album “Like A Virgin” is among the Definitive 200 Albums of All Time. ¹¹⁾

In addition to co-starring with Sean Penn in Shanghai Surprise, Madonna appeared onstage with her then-husband in her theatrical debut “Goose and Tom Tom” in 1986. ¹²⁾

Madonna and Sean Penn divorced on December 31, 1988. ¹³⁾

Madonna's “Confessions” tour is the highest-grossing concert tour ever performed by a female artist. ¹⁴⁾

Madonna is the most successful female in the pop charts in her adopted country, the United Kingdom, with more number one singles than any other female solo artist. ¹⁵⁾