Madonna and Elton John, two titans of the music world, have finally ended their long-standing feud. The Like a Virgin singer, 66, has revealed that during an unexpected encounter at U.S. comedy sketch show, Saturday Night Live, they managed to bury the hatchet. Madonna detailed the transformative meeting on Instagram, posting: "We Finally Buried the Hatchet!!! I went to see @eltonjohn perform on SNL this weekend!! WOW. “Over the decades it hurt me to know that someone I admired so much shared his dislike of me publicly as an artist. I didn’t understand it," she admitted.
"I was told Elton John was the musical guest on SNL and I decided to go. I needed to go backstage and confront him." Describing the moment of reconciliation, she added: "When I met him, the first thing out of his mouth was, 'Forgive Me' and the wall between us fell down. Forgiveness is a powerful tool. Within minutes. We were hugging." She went on to share her nostalgia about how John had influenced her early years, penning: "I remembered when I was in high school- I snuck out of the house one night to see Elton perform live in Detroit!
"It was an unforgettable performance that helped me understand the transformative power of music. Seeing him perform when I was in high school changed the course of my life. I had always felt like an outsider growing up and watching him on stage helped me to understand that it was OK to be different—to stand out—to take the road less travelled by. In fact, it was essential."
The public saga between Madonna and Elton John dates back to at least 1995, with tensions notably escalating in 2002 when John criticised Madonna's song for the James Bond film "Die Another Day," calling it the "worst Bond tune ever."
His critiques continued, notably at the 2004 Q Awards where he lambasted Madonna for lip-syncing. But the superstar further sent fans into a frenzy by announcing an upcoming collaboration by the paid. "Then he told me he had written a song for me and he wanted to collaborate. It was like everything came full circle!!"
The Instagram post concluded with a playful nod to one of John's classic hits, hinting at the future of their mended friendship: "And you can tell everybody, This is Your Song………."
John replied to the post on Instagram, penning: “@madonna Thank you for coming to see me at SNL. And thank you for forgiving me and my big mouth. I’m not proud of what I said. Particularly when I think about all the groundbreaking work you have done as an artist - paving the way for an entire generation of female artists to succeed and be true to themselves.
"You were also one of the very first people to rise up against HIV/AIDS in the 80’s, bringing love and compassion to so many who desperately needed it. I’m grateful we can move forward. I’m increasingly distressed by all the divisiveness in our world at the moment. Both you and I have wholeheartedly been accepted and embraced by communities who are under threat around the world. By pulling together, I’m hopeful that we can make great things happen for those who really need support. And have a lot of fun doing it!!”
