Pop music legends Madonna and Elton John have ended their long-standing feud. The two stars reconciled backstage at a recent taping of “Saturday Night Live,” where John was set to perform. Madonna shared the news on Instagram, posting a photo of her and John embracing.
We Finally Buried the Hatchet!!!
I went to see @eltonofficial perform on SNL this weekend!! WOW pic.twitter.com/cs2sciJSek— Madonna (@Madonna) April 7, 2025
She wrote that upon learning John would be on the show, she decided to confront him. “When I met him, the first thing out of his mouth was, ‘Forgive Me,’ and the wall between us fell,” she explained. Within minutes, they were hugging.
Madonna & Elton John have officially neutralized their beef with the power of forgiveness. pic.twitter.com/aHVqaBhvwc
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) April 7, 2025
John responded to Madonna’s post, thanking her for forgiving him and his “big mouth.” He admitted he was not proud of the things he had said about her in the past.
Madonna shares new photo with Elton John from SNL:
“We Finally Buried the Hatchet!!!” pic.twitter.com/BmkXKL6aFA
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) April 7, 2025
Music icons mend rift backstage
The origins of their feud date back to the early 2000s when John made several critical comments about Madonna.
In 2002, he called her James Bond theme song the “worst Bond tune ever” and questioned her nomination for best live act at the 2004 Q Awards, suggesting she lip-synced her performances. Tensions peaked again in 2012 when they competed for best original song at the Golden Globes. After Madonna’s win, John escalated the rivalry, telling a reporter that her career was over and calling her a “nightmare.”
"In the annals of celebrity feuds, th(is) one… does not rank particularly high." Say what, @yanzhuang25?! They feuded for longer than u've been alive https://t.co/U2f5ibSKyf
— Lori Majewski (@LoriMajewski) April 8, 2025
The reason for their change of heart is unclear, but their recent posts hint at a possible musical collaboration.
Madonna revealed that John had written a song for her and expressed interest in working together. Fans have been touched by the unexpected reconciliation, which ends one of music’s most enduring feuds. Madonna reflected on the impact of their dispute, stating, “Over the decades, it hurt me to know that someone I admired so much shared his dislike of me publicly as an artist.”
This moment marks a new chapter for the two music icons, one of potential collaboration and mutual respect after years of public animosity.
