The Iron Diva...

Is Madonna still relevant? More than ever.

Since Madonna Louise Ciccone last toured with her outrageously successful Sticky and Sweet extravaganza ($400 million, thank you), the world lost two of music’s most indelible influences, fallen ’80s super icons Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. And music’s next great hope, Amy Winehouse. All to drugs.

Luckily, we don’t have to worry about the Eternal Girl. Knowing Queen Madge and her stubborn spirit, she’ll outlast us all.

She’s still kissing girls (this time, the lucky whippersnapper is Nicki Minaj), selling-out stadiums, producing infectious hit singles (“Give Me All Your Luvin’”), thumbing her nose at movie critics, reshaping her age-defying body, cussing out hydrangeas and inspiring us all by raising a modern family as a single mom. Whew.

Somewhere in between all that managed chaos and fun, Madonna scored her second Golden Globe Award for “Masterpiece.” She even beat her longtime rival Elton John in the category. In a rare act of diplomacy, Madonna didn’t take Elton’s bait when the surly musician — and his Toronto-born partner David Furnish — attacked her mercilessly in the press afterward.

Her recently released movie WE tackles Madonna’s two favourite subjects, fame and love, through the storied romance of King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson. While the movie received mixed reviews, Madonna managed to escape the personal attacks she’s faced in the past for her films.

She is royalty of a kind, reminding everyone she’s still the greatest performer of ‘em all by single-handedly stealing the Super Bowl earlier this year with a lively, record-breaking half-time performance which people are still talking about. Her Egyptian-cheerleading-gospel-choir-inspired spectacle was the most-watched halftime show on record, and actually edged out the game’s averages in both ratings and total viewers.

Not bad for a 53-year-old star, especially in this youth-obsessed market of ours. Read what she had to say to Nelson Branco…

On Reinventing herself…

“Life and love inspire me. I think reinventing yourself is vital to your survival as an artist and a human being. I know it’s cliché to say about me at this point, but it’s true. My curiosity definitely is the driving force in my life and career.

When you stop learning, engaging and growing, you’re dead.”

On Elton John…

“It appears he’s always mad at me about something, isn’t he? I’m honest when I say I have nothing against him. I’m a fan of his music. He’s a brilliant artist. And I will always adore and respect him. And he has the right to gripe as much as he wants.

I like knowing he’s thinking about me a lot.”

On giving up fame for love…

“Yes. But then again, I’m of the mind: Why can’t I have both? I don’t think we need to compromise. “

On Touring and Recording…

“While my new passion is making movies, touring and recording will always be my first love. My music career pays the mortgage — and keeps me in shape. Plus, it’s fun. I think the fans are going to love it.

I didn’t want to do anything too serious because the film was so taxing for me on an artistic level. I can’t wait to get up there and dance and sing. Some of my little ones have yet to see that side of my life".

On MDNA…

“I wanted to make an album that was unapologetically happy. I think we all need to dance a bit more these days. The world needs a breather, and [DJ/producer] Martin [Solveig] knows how to put a smile on people’s faces. And, of course, I have my partner-in-crime, William Orbit, helping me out with the substance. MDNA is a good hybrid of the introspective and fun.”

On Canada and once saying that Toronto is a “fascist state” (Truth or Dare)…

“Of course (Toronto is) not (a facist state). My how times have changed, huh? I love Canada. You guys get it. My country could learn a lot from you guys.”

And speaking of Truth Or Dare: dont forget the new DVD and BR release, coming out on April 3rd.

And some tidbits:

*The remixes for "Give Me All Your Luvin" will be released very shortly. No word on a physical format as of yet.

*It seems that "Masterpiece" will indeed be a UK single. Remixes have already been commissioned.

*MDNA might be seqenced like Confessions On A Dancefloor was. No final word yet on this...