Madonna has spoken out about fighting ageism in the music industry, arguing that she is “being punished” for hitting 60.
The pop star is currently getting ready to release her 14th studio album and celebrated her 60th birthday in August last year.
Ahead of the album’s release, she’s on the cover of British Vogue and in the accompanying interview, Madonna talks about the latest hurdles she’s facing in her career.
She explains: “People have always been trying to silence me for one reason or another, whether it’s that I’m not pretty enough, I don’t sing well enough, I’m not talented enough, I’m not married enough, and now it’s that I’m not young enough.
“So, they just keep trying to find a hook to hang their beef about me being alive on.
“Now I’m fighting ageism, now I’m being punished for turning 60.”
The Queen of Pop also says she has felt unsupported by other women throughout her career.
“There are no living role models for me. Because nobody does what I do. And that’s kind of scary,” she continues.
“I can look back at women who I think were great and amazing – freedom fighters, like Simone de Beauvoir or Angela Davis – but they didn’t have kids.”
Madonna added: “Being a single parent of six children, I continue to be creative and be an artist and be politically active, to have a voice, to do all the things that I do. So, I mean, there isn’t anybody in my position.”
The Like A Prayer hit-maker, who is appears on the cover of the magazine for the first time in 30 years, has two biological children, daughter Lourdes and son Rocco, and four adopted children from Malawi – David, Mercy and twins Estere and Stella.
She said that she feels her son 13-year-old son David is the one she has the most in common with.
“What he has more than anything is focus and determination,” Madonna adds.
“I’m pretty sure he got it from me. He’s the one I have the most in common with.
“I feel like he gets me; he has more of my DNA than any of my children so far. Let’s see what happens – it’s still early days for everyone.”
Madonna received mixed reviews for Medellín, the lead single from Madame X, when she revealed it last month.
This was followed by a second single, I Rise, which was released this week. Madame X will be out in June.
Madonna’s full interview appears in the June issue of British Vogue, which is out on May 10.