Madonna is a singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, record producer and fashion icon. She holds the record for most top ten songs on the Billboard Hot 100 (37) and has sold over 200 million albums worldwide.Daily Mail: Madonna Crowned Highest Earning Female Singer (September 28, 2006)

Madonna opened the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, speaking about Michael Jackson and introducing a special tribute to Jackson by sister Janet Jackson.

The strapless pink satin gown Madonna wore in the 1985 music video Material Girl was put up for auction in London in late April of 2009. It was expected to bring in $146,000.Reuters: "Material Girl" dress up for auction (April 28, 2009)

On Saturday, April 18, 2009, Madonna fell off a horse wile riding at celebrity photographer Steven Kleins's farm in the Hamptons, New York. Madonna's publicist said she was treated at a hospital and released. The horse was apparently startled by a paparazzo who lunged out of nearby bushes to photograph her.NY Daily News: Madonna Falls from Horse in Hamptons after Paparazzi... (April 19, 2009)

On March 27, 2009, Us Magazine reported Madonna was in the process of adopting a second child from Malawi, a three-year-old girl, Mercy James.Us Magazine: Madonna Is Adopting 3-Year-Old Girl (March 27, 2009) However, James' grandmother, Lucy Chekechiwa, is fighting the adoption stating "It is stealing. I want to go to court. I won't let her go." The ruling on the adoption has been postponed until April 3, 2009, though it has been revealed that the judge will approve the adoption.HollyScoop: Madonna Adoption Delayed (March 30, 2009)

The Malawi Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) has publicly protested the potential adopting because "Malawian law prohibits non-nationals from adopting a local child unless they have been resident in the country for 18 months."Radar: Madonna Called a Child Trafficker (April 2, 2009)

Although Malawi judge Esimie Chombo denied her request to adopt three-year-old orphan Mercy James, Madonna has appealed the April 2009 ruling. She previously adopted a Malawi child named David Banda.Radar: Madonna Holding Out Hope (April 13, 2009) Madonna's appeal is scheduled for May 4, 2009. The case will reportedly be heard in chambers and "not in an open court."People: Madonna Adoption Appeal Set for May 4 (April 20, 2009)

Media sources reported on May 5, 2009, that a Malawian judge put Mercy James' adoption on hold indefinitely.HollyScoop: Malawi Court Delays Madonna's Adoption Case (May 5, 2009)

Madonn's lawyer revealed in June of 2009, that two appeals court judges granted Madonna permission to adopt. The official ruling is expected to be anounced June 14th.Daily News: Malawi court to allow pop star Madonna to adopt (June 9, 2009)

On June 12, 2009, a Malawi higher court granted Madonna permission to adopt 3-year-old Mercy James. The Boston Herald reports that her lawyer, Alan Chinula, claimed to have called the singer at home in New York early Friday morning. The next step is getting James a passport, that could take several days.

Madonna was voted PETA's "Worst Dressed" celebrity of 2009. Others on the list include Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kanye West and Elizabeth Hurley.HollyScoop: Madonna Named 'Worst Dressed' By PETA (March 5, 2009)

In January of 2009, Christie's Auction House placed a nude modeling shot of 20-year-old Madonna up for auction. The photo was snapped by Lee Friedlander and was published in a 1985 edition of Playboy.FOX News: Nude Photo of 20-year-old Madonna Could Fetch $10,000 (January 16, 2009)

After Barack Obama won the presidency on November 5, 2008, Madonna rallied a crowd of 40,000 at a concert in San Diego, California. The large crowd at Petco Park clapped their hands in unison as Madonna made powerful declarations, like "This is the beginning of a whole new world."YouTube: Madonna's Obama Speech (Time: 2:52)

Born Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone in Bay City, Michigan, the "Material Girl" grew up in a Catholic household in suburban Detroit. After initially focusing on ballet, Madonna decided to pursue a career in dance - even gaining a dance scholarship to the University of Michigan. After dropping out of school and moving to New York City, Madonna began performing in dance clubs and experimenting with music. Her demo recordings garnered some attention and she eventually signed a deal with Sire Records - with whom she released her self-titled 1983 debut album.

While her first album received a modest amount of success, her follow-up Like a Virgin shot her to the top of the charts. The album reached #1 on the U.S. charts and went on to sell over 8 million copies - as well as spawning the hit singles "Material Girl" and "Like a Virgin". After a brief foray into acting, Madonna returned with two of the most popular albums of the decade, 1986's True Blue and 1989's Like a Prayer. The music video for the title track sparked controversy because of its use of overt catholic symbolism and imagery.

Madonna caused an immediate controversy with the publication of a book of sexually explicit images and photographs, called SEX. While the book caused an uproar, it went on to sell almost half-a-million copies in the US. After a few more poorly reviewed films, Madonna returned in 1998 with the album Ray of Light - which won her 3 Grammy Awards and re-established her as a top flight performer.

After a string of high-profile romances (including a brief marriage to actor Sean Penn), Madonna settled down with director Guy Ritchie - with whom she gave birth to her first son Rocco. A legal dispute regarding the adoption of a Malawian boy named David Banda has dogged Madonna in the past few years. In October 2008, it was announced that Madonna and Guy Ritchie will be heading to court to finalize their divorce.The Independent: Legal Giants Fight for Madonna's Millions (October 17, 2008)

In 2008, Madonna wrote, produced and narrated the film I Am Because We Are to critical acclaim. It documented the devastation of AIDS in the African country of Malawi, the country where she adopted her son David Banda.