Madonna says daughter Lourdes Leon was ‘very standoffish’ while working together on ‘Confessions II’
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Madonna has offered a rare insight into her working relationship with her daughter Lourdes Leon, as the two collaborated on a track for her upcoming album ‘Confessions II’.
The singer shared that while the experience was creatively meaningful, Lourdes kept a certain distance throughout the process, making the collaboration emotionally complex at times.
Madonna says daughter Lourdes Leon was ‘very standoffish’ during ‘Confessions II’ collaboration
Madonna revealed that Lourdes approached the project on her own terms and was careful not to be defined by her mother’s fame during their work together.
Speaking on Graham Norton’s BBC show ‘Madonna & Graham’ aired Friday, June 26, she said, “She approached me, she's been very revenant to work with me. She doesn't want to be perceived as my daughter, taking advantage of her privilege.”
When asked whether it felt like working with a professional or a mother-daughter dynamic, Madonna responded, “It was kind of neither. She's been very standoffish and working at her own pace, and I respect that deeply.”
Madonna praises Lourdes Leon’s songwriting and vocal talent
Despite the emotional distance, Madonna praised Lourdes for her artistic strengths, calling her a strong songwriter with an impressive voice.
The 67-year-old said Lourdes is a “great songwriter” and added she has “a much better voice” than her.
She also shared that the collaboration eventually turned more personal when Lourdes opened up about unresolved feelings from her upbringing, which led to the idea of writing music together.
Madonna recalled her saying, “You know what? I'm holding on to something and maybe it's a kind of... I don't want to say anger... maybe resentment?”
“She later suggested, ‘Let's write a song together, I think it'll be a very healing experience,’” Madonna said, adding, “OK, you're on. Let's do it."
Lourdes Leon previously spoke about independence from Madonna
Lourdes has previously addressed her relationship with her mother in a 2021 Interview Magazine conversation, emphasizing independence despite growing up in privilege.
She said, “We don’t get any handouts in my family. Obviously, I grew up with extreme privilege. There’s no denying that. But I think my mom saw all these other kids of famous people, and she was like, ‘My kids are not going to be like this.’”
Lourdes Leon was spotted at the Met Gala 2021 in New York City (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)She added, “My mom is such a control freak, and she has controlled me my whole life. I needed to be completely independent from her as soon as I graduated high school.”
Madonna is also mother to four other children: son Rocco Ritchie with filmmaker Guy Ritchie, and adopted children David Banda, Chifundo “Mercy” James, and twins Stella and Estere.
