Madonna and her children at the painting exhibition


Spin writer Bianca Gracie stated that “the ‘Queen of Pop’ isn’t enough to describe Madonna—she is Pop. She formulated the blueprint of what a pop star should be.” According to Sclafani, “It’s worth noting that before Madonna, most music mega-stars were guy rockers; after her, almost all would be female singers … When the Beatles hit America, they changed the paradigm of performer from solo act to band. Madonna changed it back—with an emphasis on the female.” Howard Kramer, curatorial director of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, asserted that “Madonna and the career she carved out for herself made possible virtually every other female pop singer to follow … She certainly raised the standards of all of them … She redefined what the parameters were for female performers.