The Soul Icon Who Popped Champagne in the Studio With Madonna While She Was Recording ‘Like A Virgin’

In 1984, Madonna was riding high on the success of her debut album. The self-titled debut made its way to No. 8 on the Billboard 200. The album’s second single “Lucky Star” reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. In response, the pop star went straight into the studio to record a follow-up, and the result exceeded all expectations. On May 19, 1984, Madonna did an interview with Graham K. Smith for the British music magazine Record Mirror. This interview was conducted shortly after the release of the single “Borderline,” her fifth and last single from the debut record. Madonna was in the process of recording the Like A Virgin album, which was released in November later that year.

In the Studio

In the 1984 interview, Smith asked Madonna if the recording process had been eventful. To that, Madonna said, “Oh yeah — last week one of my idols came down — Diana Ross. She’d been recording downstairs and she and Nile are real good friends. Her kids really like my stuff so she brought a bottle of champagne and toasted my success — I was so flattered. You hear so much about celebrities being horrible and then you meet them and they’re not that way at all.”

Champagne was popped for the success of her debut album, but it would be Like A Virgin that solidified Madonna’s place in pop history. The album shifted the direction of 1980’s pop music and made her a pop icon. Certainly, a visit from the “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” singer helped fuel the rest of the recording process.

‘Like A Virgin’ Turned Madonna Into a Global Superstar

1984’s Like A Virgin topped the Billboard 200 for three weeks and became the first album by a female artist to sell 5 million copies. The album sold 21 million copies worldwide and gave Madonna her first No. 1 hit song with the title track “Like A Virgin.” Madonna was no longer seen as a possible one-hit wonder. All five singles from Like A Virgin made their way into the top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Collectively, Madonna has earned 12 No. 1 hits and has been widely regarded as the “Queen of Pop.”