Arguably one of the most successful entertainers in recent history, Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone was born August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan. The third of eight children, she was named after her mother who passed away from breast cancer when Madonna was only six years old. After a year of college at the University of Michigan, Madonna set off for New York in 1977 where she studied dance, acted, and sang. Since making it big with her self-titled 1983 album, Madonna has remained at the forefront of pop culture with groundbreaking videos, film roles, and ever-changing musical styles.