Madonna Louise Ciccone, more commonly known as simply Madonna, is one of the most iconic pop stars of all time. With a career spanning decades and countless hits under her belt, she has solidified her status as a music legend. But her rise to fame and success was far from easy, and her journey to the top is a fascinating one. Born on August 16, 1958, in Bay City, Michigan, Madonna was the third of six children in a strict Catholic household. Her mother, Madonna Louise, was a homemaker, while her father, Silvio Ciccone, was an engineer. Madonna's childhood was marked by tragedy, as her mother passed away when she was just five years old.