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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Madonna at the VMAs: Did she pay tribute to Aretha Franklin or herself?

    On Monday night at the MTV Video Music Awards, Madonna was asked to pay tribute to Aretha Franklin. But then she launched into a long story about her early days as a struggling artist.

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    By Madeleine Brand • Aug 21, 2018 • 1 min read

    On Monday night at the MTV Video Music Awards, Madonna was asked to pay tribute to Aretha Franklin. But then she launched into a long story about her early days as a struggling artist. She recalled one audition where she was asked to sing something, wasn’t prepared, but knew Aretha Franklin’s song “Natural Woman” by heart. Twitter slammed Madonna for making it all about her -- while wearing a Moroccan outfit that some said was cultural appropriation.

    The full episode

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    5. 39:59Madonna at the VMAs: Did she pay tribute to Aretha Franklin or herself?You’re reading this
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      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

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      Sarah Sweeney

      Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

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      Amy Ta

      Digital News & Culture Editor

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      Ann Powers

      NPR music critic and correspondent, author of “Traveling: On The Path of Joni Mitchell”

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    The full episode

    5 of 5
    California is poised to eliminate cash bail
    1. 0:00Trump's former lawyer pleads guilty to breaking campaign finance law
    2. 4:51Trump's former campaign manager convicted of fraud
    3. 11:07California is poised to get rid of cash bail
    4. 22:12Journalist's harrowing story of being captured by Somali pirates
    5. 39:59Madonna at the VMAs: Did she pay tribute to Aretha Franklin or herself?You’re reading this
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand