On December 11 2009, Madonna’s official website announced that Revolver would be released as the second single from the deluxe edition of her greatest hits collection, Celebration. The digital maxi-single would be released on December 29th, with the CD maxi-single hitting North American stores in late January and a vinyl 12″ following in early February 2010. This would be Madonna’s final single release under her contract with Warner Bros. Records.
On October 25 2009, Madonna released this statement before she arrived in Malawi for the ground breaking ceremony for the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls (the photos here are from the event):
My family and I are on our way to Malawi to attend the ground breaking ceremony for Raising Malawi Academy for Girls. The ceremony will take place on Monday, October 26 at 3:00 p.m. on the future site of the Academy.
Our vision for the school is to empower girls to become Malawi’s future leaders. Our goal is to teach them to challenge themselves, serve their local communities and develop their country.
We created this vision in partnership with the local Malawian Ministry of Education, and other educational experts from Malawi, Sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere around the world. We are developing and using innovative educational approaches, cutting-edge architectural design methods, and other modern technologies, which we hope, will become a replicable model for girls secondary school education. Research proves that young girls throughout the developing world are often left without opportunities to receive a comprehensive education and the benefits that education can provide.
It’s an honor for me to be able to help as many of these girls as I can achieve their dreams. I’m also incredibly proud of all the projects Raising Malawi is involved in and I look forward to visiting a number of them during my visit.
On September 22 2009, Madonna and Nathan Rissman’s I Am Because We Are documentary was released on DVD.
On June 26 2009, Madonna made a statement about Michael Jackson’s death (June 25):
“I can’t stop crying over the sad news. I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever! My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless.”
On May 30 2009, Madonna attended the second annual Vueve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic polo match on Governor’s Island in New York.
She was joined by designer Marc Jacobs, photographer Steven Klein and her children Rocco and David.
The event raised money for Prince Harry’s organization supporting orphans with AIDS in the African nation of Lesotho.
On September 3 2009, Madonna’s Sticky And Sweet world tour was named the highest-grossing for a solo artist ever.
The tour, which finished in Tel Aviv on September 2 2009, made $408 million (£250m), according to promoters Live Nation. During the tour, Madonna played 85 shows, drawing in more than 3.5 million fans from 32 countries.
The Sticky And Sweet tour broke Madonna’s previous record for the most successful outing by a solo artist with her 2006 Confessions Tour, which grossed $194 million.
On September 1 2009, the final Sticky & Sweet Tour date took place in Tel Aviv, Israel.
This is the official press release for the final show:
For Immediate Release:
Madonna’s triumphant and record shattering Sticky & Sweet Tour will be making its last and final stop September 1st in Tel Aviv, Israel at the Yehoshua Gardens (HaYarkon Park). Tickets will go on sale this Wednesday, June 3rd – complete details below.
“I’m very excited about returning to Israel for my last and final show. I know it will be unforgettable” commented Madonna who last performed in Israel in 1993.
The Sticky & Sweet Tour – a stunning extravaganza gives fans a breathtaking never before seen or heard once-in-a-lifetime experience. One of the top selling touring acts of all time, Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet tour played 58 cities last summer to wild critical acclaim and before over two and a half million adoring fans including sold out performances in Paris (80,000 tickets sold), Zurich (72,000 tickets sold), London (74,000 ticket sold), Vancouver (50,000 tickets sold), South America (650,000 tickets sold) and three sold out Madison Square Garden Shows in New York City.
“In the premiere league of song-and-dance spectaculars, the queen of pop remains unrivalled and undefeated” raved the London Times of Madonna’s show in England. Sticky & Sweet is scheduled to start up again in London’s 02 Arena on July 4th with additional dates in France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Russia, Sweden and many other countries before finishing on September 1st in Tel Aviv. Madonna joined creative forces with director Jamie King to create Sticky & Sweet which includes a troupe of l7 dancers, a specially built stage, hundreds of costumes and cutting edge visual technology. A multi million platinum selling recording artist, world class entertainer, singer, producer, songwriter, visual revolutionary, children’s book author, film director, documentarian, cultural icon and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Madonna’s career continues to inspire her many fans around the world. She continues her unparalleled career which thankfully for her legion of fans shows no signs of slowing down.
