What did Elton John say about Madonna? Feud explored as Like a Virgin singer buries the hatchet

Elton John and Madonna have finally ended their decades-long feud.

The two recently met backstage during Saturday Night Live, where John was performing. Madonna shared in an Instagram post on April 7, 2025 that John is someone whom she admired when she was in high school but it was hurtful to know that someone she looked up to had publicly criticized her.

“it hurt me to know that someone I admired so much shared his dislike of me publicly as an artist. I didn’t understand it. I was told Elton John was the musical guest on SNL and I decided to go.”

She added that she decided to confront him, and he asked her to forgive him. Reflecting on her reconciliation with the singer, she wrote,

“Forgiveness is a powerful tool. Within minutes. We were hugging. Then he told me had written a song for me and he wanted to collaborate. It was like everything came full circle!!

And you can tell everybody, This is Your Song.” She concluded her post.

The feud between the two stemmed from a 2022 incident when John condemned Madonna's theme song for the James Bond movie Die Another Day, calling it “the worst theme ever for a Bond movie,” according to CBS News. The duo reportedly stopped speaking for more than a decade after the incident.

Well, this was not the only incident to escalate tensions between them. Let us have a look.

---

How did tensions escalate between Elton John and Madonna over the years

Madonna’s recent Instagram is evidence of how Elton John has played a vital role in shaping her and understanding the “transformative power of music.” But certain disagreements between them led to differences over the years.

According to a report in People magazine, it all began almost 20 years ago. In 2002, John labelled Madonna’s Die Another Day soundtrack “the worst Bond tune ever”.

“It hasn't got a tune,”

John, 65, told Sky News.

“James Bond themes are usually very camp and this one's different ... They should have gone for somebody like Lulu and Shirley Bassey, or maybe I'm in that league?”

He then assured his fans that he is a big fan of hers but doesn’t think that it is the “best Madonna record.”

During his acceptance speech at the 2004 Q awards, where John was honored with the classic songwriter award, he once again slammed Madonna, as she was nominated for the best live act. He said,

“Madonna, best live act? F--- off. Since when has lip-syncing been live? Anyone who lip syncs in public on stage when you pay 75 pounds to see them should be shot. Thank you very much.”

He said, per People magazine.

During that time, Madonna’s spokesperson, Liz Rosenberg, defended her by saying,

“Madonna does not lip-synch nor does she spend her time trashing other artists. She sang every note of her Re-Invention tour live and is not ashamed that she was well paid for her hard work..” reported CBS News.

Then, in 2012, when John and Madonna competed against each other for the best original song during Golden Globes, John's husband, David Furnish, blasted the singer in a private message on Facebook, which he later deleted. According to CBS News, he wrote:

“Madonna. Best song???? F**k off!!! Madonna winning best original song truly shows how these awards have nothing to do with merit.”

Later that year, John declared that her career was over in an interview on Australian TV. According to a report in The Hollywood Reporter, he said:

“If Madonna had any common sense, she would have made a record like Ray of Light, stayed away from the dance stuff and just been a great pop singer and made great pop records, which she does brilliantly. But no, she had to prove that she was like …,” he continued, not specifying. “And she looks like a f—ing fairground stripper.”

Now that Madonna and Elton John have reconciled, there is a possibility of a legendary collaboration between them in the near future.