07-04-2025
Madonna and Elton John Finally End Their Feud, Decades After He Slammed Her for Lip-Syncing: ‘Forgiveness Is a Powerful Tool'
Madonna and Elton John's infamous feud is officially over. The two music icons snapped a photo together behind the scenes at 'Saturday Night Live' over the weekend. John served as musical guest with Brandi Carlile. Madonna posted the photo with John to her Instagram.
'We Finally Buried the Hatchet!!!' Madonna wrote in the caption. 'I went to see Elton John perform on 'SNL' this weekend!! WOW. 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 traveled by. In fact, it was essential.'
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'Over the decades it hurt me to know that someone I admired so much shared his dislike of me publicly as an artist,' she considered. 'I didn't understand it. I was told Elton John was the musical guest on 'SNL' and I decided to go. I needed to go backstage and confront him . 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.'
Brandi Carlile wrote in Madonna's comments section: 'Whatever happens to this country the gays won today folks'
Madonna and Elton John's feud dates back to the 2004 Q Awards, where John publicly insulted Madonna while accepting the award for classic songwriter.
'Madonna, best live act? Fuck off,' John said. 'Since when has lip-syncing been live? Sorry about that, but I think everyone who lip-syncs on stage in public when you pay like 75 quid to see them should be shot. Thank you very much. That's me off her Christmas card list, but do I give a toss? No.'
When Madonna landed the Super Bowl halftime show in 2012, John reacted on 'Good Morning America' by telling her to 'make sure you lip-sync good.'
'Her tour is a disaster and it couldn't happen to a bigger c—,' John told Australia's Channel 7 program that same year. 'If Madonna had any common sense, she would have made a record like 'Ray of Light,' stayed away from the dance stuff and just been a great pop singer and made great pop records, which she does brilliantly. But no… And she looks like a fucking fairground stripper.'
It's all water under the bridge now. Whether or not Madonna and John's 'SNL' meeting leads to a music collaboration remains to be seen. Madonna did end her post with a tease to fans: '[Elton] told me had written a song for me and he wanted to collaborate. It was like everything came full circle!!'
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