Madonna called into Boston’s Mix 104.1 this week for an interview with DJs Karson & Kennedy to promote her forthcoming album Madame X, which is scheduled for release on June 14.
During the interview, Madge talked about her new album, reflected on her career beginnings, and answered questions about her upcoming tour, which kicks off in September.
Toward the end of the call, Kennedy asked Madonna a question submitted by none other than Lizzo, the queer artist whose most recent album debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and #1 on iTunes, surpassing Beyoncé’s surprise live album Homecoming: The Live Album.
“Do you know who the singer Lizzo is?” Kennedy asked before playing the pre-recorded question. “Are you familiar with her?”
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“No,” Madonna replied. “Who’s that? Should I?”
Gasp!
“She’s amazing,” Kennedy said. “She really is. She sings songs about empowerment. About being OK with your body. Check her out when you have some down moments. But she was just here and she wanted to ask you a question.”
To which Madonna responded: “How do you spell her name?”
Just to be super clear, we don’t think Madonna was intentionally throwing shade Lizzo’s direction. And we don’t totally fault her for not knowing who she is either. After all, Madge has been kinda busy lately recording her new album, playing at the Billboard Music Awards and then Eurovision, and getting ready for her world tour…
OK, OK. Maybe we fault her a little. It’s Lizzo. Lizzo!
Madonna, we love you, but you’ve got homework to do.
Luckily, people on Twitter are making sure Lizzo knows that, even if Madonna isn’t familiar with her, they certainly are, and they love her.
So, @Madonna doesn't know who you are? Well, I do and you ROCK @lizzo ! #WorshipMe
— Sir Truman (@Trumanherr) May 28, 2019
We have no doubt Madonna will correct this egregious error and may even invite Lizzo up on stage at one of her shows later this year. Maybe if we’re lucky we’ll even get a collaboration between the two.
Here’s hoping!
Listen to the interview below.
Related: Lizzo doesn’t fit neatly into any labels, and she’s helping the world to follow suit
mr guy
That look gives me flashbacks to her “live to Tell” era. Sadly it’s now more like “Live to Swell”
Doug
LOL
jcoberkrom
unintentional? Madonna is a has been entertainer trying to get a little bit more attention
Cam
Did anybody else hear Madonna giving a speech at the GLAAD awards for winning for being an ally or something like that…and the first part of her speech was talking about her new album…….siiiiigh.
A lot of older stars aren’t going to know the latest names, but Madonna was probably taking down the correct spelling so she can reach out and try to get Lizzo to do a duet. She is VERY big on getting somebody who is newly popular and trying to go into the studio with them to record.
truthseeker
I don’t see anything wrong here. I don’t even know who this Lizza person is either
JLinMN
Being from Minneapolis and having watched Lizzo since she was a bar singer, I am just tickled that she’s finally blowing up. Check out all of her albums. She’s great!
CKNJ
I don’t see any issue here… why try to create stupid tabloid style friction where there is none? By asking about Lizzo, to get spelling right, it actually makes it easier for anyone who does not know her to find out about her… probably a better PR response than ‘oh yeah, her’ which would have gone into the nowhere bin. Madonna is no-ones has been and if anything helps other artists, and certainly is an ally to our community. ‘Throwing shade’ my ass!
radiooutmike
The only thing wrong here is 104.1 is not the Rock of Boston anymore.
simulations
What? If someone recommended an artist to me I’d never heard of and I was genuinely interested, the first thing I’d ask is how I spell it so I can Spotify that shit. I gotta stop pretending that Queerty is real journalism…
lord.krath
I didn’t know who Lizzo was either, until now. It happens!
JPDonahue
I use to really like her… from the beginning… the last decade or so? Not so much.
A professional would have faked it. Then, off air, look into it. Or, made light of it (“You know, I’m old. The mind and memory aren’t what they use to be!” laugh laugh… That will NEVER happen. No sense of humor at all. One of the reasons I lost interest.)
And, before you kids think she invented the eye-patch… Pete Burns wore it better.
SPAM ME!!
Calin
Shade where? Looking forward to seeing M in Boston!!!
msc1208
I hadn’t ever heard of Lizzo until I clicked on this article. In fact I only clicked on the article because I thought Lizzo was a nickname for somebody famous that I should have heard of. So I don’t think it was intentional on Madonna’s part. I’m not quite Madonna’s age and I’ve stopped following the newer artists because honestly I haven’t cared for any of them since Adele and Lady Gaga and those 2 have been around for 10+ years already. You can keep your Cardi G & Becky B and all the other entertainers that can only come up with a last initial like they are still in pre-school or elementary school. Until actual singing and actual talent are required to get played on the radio again I don’t have time to pay attention to the younger artists.