On January 9 1988, Spotlight peaked at #15 on Billboard’s Hot Crossover Singles chart in the U.S.
Despite not being released as a single commercially outside Japan and receiving no direct promotion in the U.S., Spotlight managed to garner enough airplay for an eight-week run on the Crossover chart. It also appeared on the Hot 100 Airplay chart for five weeks, peaking at #32 in February, 1988.
On January 8 2017, Madonna announced through her social media channels that she would appear on the cover of the 150th Anniversary Issue of Harper’s Bazaar, shot by Luigi and Iango.
On January 7 2026, Madonna released LA BAMBOLA (FOR DOLCE & GABBANA – the one), a special recording created for Dolce & Gabbana’s The One campaign.
The track is Madonna’s take on La Bambola (“the doll”), the iconic Italian pop single made famous by Patty Pravo in 1968.
The original was written by Franco Migliacci, Bruno Zambrini, and Ruggero Cini, and it became a major hit in Italy—one of the defining songs that helped cement Patty Pravo’s legacy.
Madonna’s version arrived as a digital single and is available across major streaming platforms.
On December 30 1989, Dear Jessie peaked at number-five on the UK singles chart. The track was released as the fourth single from Like A Prayer in Europe (with the exception of France which instead opted to service the North American/Japanese fourth single, Oh Father) and as the fifth single in Australia.
Dear Jessie was written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard and was inspired by Leonard’s young daughter, Jessie, with whom Madonna had developed a special connection.
The psychedelia-infused reflection on childhood fantasy and innocence was particularly poignant within the context of the Like A Prayer album’s sequencing, with its segue into Oh Father offering a stark musical and emotional contrast that is perhaps one of the most effective in Madonna’s body of work.
On December 29 2005, Madonna’s Official Fan Club, ICON, published an interview with Stuart Price about his experiences working with Madonna on Confessions on a Dance Floor.
Here’s part of the interview they posted:
ICON: What’s the best part in being involved with Madonna’s new album?
STUART: Watching it take shape from a few demos done for fun into an entire spectacle with dancers, videos and nightclubs full of people!
ICON: What made you want to record this album in your home studio? Why not a big studio instead?
STUART: It wasn’t really thought about that much, we just found that we had got into several songs before we even thought about it. But that was the thing for much of the album concept; it wasn’t over-thought or analyzed. We liked the sound of my studio and so thought why go elsewhere?
ICON: How would you describe your collaboration with Madonna?
STUART: Like finding your favourite musician, comedian and friend all in one!
ICON: How is working on a Madonna project different from working with a new artist?
STUART: It’s not in many ways. She is very fresh, exciting and full of ideas the same way as someone is when they do their first record. The difference is she has the experience and integrity of someone who understands the creative process very deeply and can therefore suggest directions and ideas that can inspire greater heights.
On December 28 1987, Madonna appeared on the cover of the special year-end double issue of US Weekly magazine: The Sexiest, The Sassiest, The Boldest, The Best.
On December 27 1986, Billboard’s year-end issue hit newsstands with Madonna appearing on the following 1986 chart rankings:
Today In Madonna History 