Do you know what today is? It's the birthday of MTV News' own Vanessa White Wolf (if you've seen any VMA pre-shows or watched any of the live streams from Lollapalooza or San Diego Comic-Con, then you're familiar with her handiwork). But while we'll be celebrating that particular festive occasion, we should also take time out to wish a happy birthday to Madonna, perhaps the most important female pop star in the history of music. She is now 52 years old, and has spent the last few decades re-defining what it is to be an international pop star.
Interestingly, big things tend to happen on Madonna's birthday. In 1986, she was not only celebrating her birthday but also the first week of a two week run on the top of the charts with "Papa Don't Preach" (which was already her fourth chart-topper). She was also on top of the Billboard album chart when she turned 28, as True Blue climbed on top the same day and spent a month up there.
In 2005, she had a more somber birthday celebration, as Madonna was injured in a horse riding accident at her home on the English countryside. She suffered three cracked ribs, a broken collarbone and a broken hand in the incident. Still, she didn't let the bumps and bruises get in her way, as her 2005 album Confessions on a Dance Floor came out as planned that fall. Her 10th studio album, Confessions represented the rise of Madonna's current persona, which is deeply steeped in international dance music styles and club-friendly hedonism. The lead single "Hung Up" was not only her 36th top 10 hit (an accomplishment that tied her with Elvis Presley for most all-time by a solo artist) but also one of the best ringtone songs of all time. What will Madonna do next? No matter what, she'll be ahead of the curve.