On February 24 2016, Madonna performed in the Philippines for the very first time. Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour made a stop at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, performing for a sold out crowd of 15,710 fans.
Ticket prices were above average and ranged from $70 to $1300.
Madonna added Like A Prayer to the set during the first show and added Crazy For You during the second show (February 25).
On January 23 2016, Madonna’s daughter Mercy James was the ceremonial Unapologetic Bitch during the first of two sold-out Rebel Heart Tour shows in Miami. Ariana Grande was the Unapologetic Bitch at the second Miami show.
Madonna stopped the show to present Mercy with a birthday cupcake. The crowd of 13,234 joined Madonna in singing Mercy “Happy Birthday”.
On December 25 2016, George Michael’s publicist confirmed that he “passed away peacefully at home” in Goring, Oxfordshire.
Madonna tweeted:
Farewell My Friend! Another Great Artist leaves us. Can 2016 Fuck Off NOW?
On December 23 2016, Madonna was featured in Vogue magazine’s on-line Celebrity Style section: Madonna’s Winter Airport Look Is All About the Show of the Year.
Vogue contributor Edward Barsamian had this to say:
All hail Queen Madge. Earlier in the month at Billboard’s Women in Music Awards, Madonna made waves in a custom Gucci suit embroidered with the phrase The Greek goddess of music that brings joy, and the same could be said of her approach to airport style at JFK. Lately the singer’s off-duty ensembles have included posh looks for the school run and carrying the It bag of the season. Her latest in-flight outfit was a fresh take on winter dressing that featured the year’s most wanted shoes.
Lately, A-listers like Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, and Kim Kardashian West have been stepping out in teddy bear coats, but Madonna opted for a sportier, cheekier rendition with her fur-trimmed parka from Mackage and Moschino’s bear-print tee. A Stars and Stripes scarf provided a directional slant on the American flag, while her frayed-hem trousers were simultaneously polished yet edgy. But stealing the show were the little details: shield shades, a Ralph Lauren satchel, and Rihanna’s chic, highly coveted creepers for Puma.
On December 6 2016, Rhino Records reissued Madonna’s Music and American Life albums on 180 gram vinyl in North America. Some markets received the reissues on December 2.
The double vinyl release of American Life corrects the spelling of Nothing Fails (misspelled on previous releases).
The reissued Music includes American Pie (previously excluded on the North American releases of the album).
Previous Madonna vinyl reissues released by Rhino in 2016:
Do you collect Madonna vinyl?
On December 2 2016, Madonna posted a photo of herself clowning around (and singing American Life) from the rehearsals for her Tears Of A Clown performance to be held later that night.
Here’s the press release for the event:
Madonna is hosting a special event at Art Basel Miami on December 2nd to benefit Raising Malawi. The event will take place at the newly opened Faena Forum, thanks to the generous support of Len Blavatnik and Alan Faena.
We hope you can join us for an evening of music, art, mischief and live performance in support of the organization’s latest project: The Mercy James Pediatric Surgery Hospital in Malawi, which was built with the help of donations coming from around the world during the past year!
Profits from the event, which includes an art auction and Tears Of A Clown live performance, will be used to fill the hospital with equipment, surgeons, medical personnel and to create and endowment for the years to come.
On August 17 2016, Madonna appeared on the cover of F magazine (Italian).
Today In Madonna History 