A few years back, a random burst of appreciation for Madonna took hold of TikTok (before the “Thief of Hearts” phenomenon, that is). This after someone dredged up the part of her 2001 Drowned Word Tour when she proceeded to do fifteen jump squats at the end of “Music” (her last song in the grand spectacle, with “Holiday” preceding it). And yes, it makes plenty of sense that she would save that move for the end of the show so that she could promptly go ice her knees afterward. Something that someone of any age might feel obliged to do after that kind of athletic maneuvering.
As for Madonna, while this physical feat was being executed nearly every night from June to September, she was forty-two going on forty-three (her husband at the time, Guy Ritchie, commemorated her forty-third birthday by presenting a cake to her onstage during the “Cyber Cowgirl” segment at the August 15th date [one day before her actual birthday, which she took a “holiday” for] in Sunrise, Florida). An age during which, as many people can now recognize, it’s extremely difficult to do even one jump squat, let alone fifteen.
In fact, it’s a challenge even for twenty-somethings to execute this kind of dance/exercise move. So for Madonna to finally get some respect, at least in this regard (the regard of being one of the fittest women in show business), was long overdue. Yet here she is, now at sixty-seven, and still proving her onstage physical prowess to people over half her age. And the latest example of that arose at this year’s edition of Coachella, when Madonna made a “surprise” (though everyone seemed know about it beforehand) appearance during Sabrina Carpenter’s headlining set for Weekend 2. And from the instant the opening notes to “Vogue” played, Madonna commanded the attention of the audience (even if through the literal lens of their phone) with her presence. Contrary to the many reports of the audience seeming to have “no idea” who Madonna is. Such reports failing to take into account the general zombie-like nature of everyone at this juncture, not just Gen Z. Granted, it’s true that many of Carpenter’s fans aren’t genuinely aware of Madonna’s impact on and importance to the existence of their own idol. But there’s no denying Carpenter herself is aware of it.
Hence, her reverent attitude toward Madonna during the entirety of their performance together (and in paying constant homage through various performances and aesthetic emulations of Madonna [especially Madonna channeling Marilyn Monroe]). In point of fact, Carpenter herself seems to be looking ahead to this age in her life as well—that is, if the spoken word/monologue portion of the show (delivered by Susan Sarandon during Weekend 1 and Geena Davis during Weekend 2—the closest audiences will ever get to an A League of Their Own “sequel”) is any indication. For, during this part of the performance, wherein Sarandon or Davis is perched in the front seat of a car at a drive-in movie, Carpenter is essentially imagining an older version of herself (closer to Madonna’s age, as it were) that reflects on her life as a performer through her niece’s view of “Aunt Sabrina.”
In other words, the view that’s “really supposed to matter.” With Madonna herself also emphasizing that philosophy via her post-1996 incarnation, after she gave birth to her first child, Lourdes, and discovered Kabbalah. That philosophy being: No matter how much fame or money you have, it don’t mean shit without the kind of love one can theoretically only get from family (though just ask Britney Spears how she feels about that sentiment).
Then again, it seems as if, to the type of person who seeks out the limelight in the first place, family and “loyal friends” alone isn’t enough to stave off the craving to keep basking in the glow of that spotlight, at any age. As Madonna has revealed abundantly over the course of her decades-long career. With each album cycle and major supporting tour (à la The Celebration Tour) or performance (à la Coachella 2026) becoming all the more impressive not just because Madonna always delivers on spectacle and substance (though there are many who aren’t convinced of the latter), but because that is an extremely difficult thing to do even in one’s twenties, let alone in one’s sixties—and, in Madonna’s case, likely her seventies, eighties and nineties.
And yet, it is always the twenty-somethings and teenagers who are lauded for their accomplishments—for “achieving things”—at “such a young age.” This form of praise only reinforcing the “youth as ultimate currency” message continually beamed out to society. To the extent that even Madonna herself has received that message loud and clear, internalizing it by way of not only plastic surgery, but assuming she has to keep performing at the level of intensity she did in previous decades in order to sustain public interest.
Though, according to numerous reports of that Coachella evening, Gen Z certainly didn’t seem interested enough considering all the work she was putting in. For this is the generation that’s truly only impressed by youth. Even though that’s the “era” when it’s easiest to do things. Especially squatting with one’s knees bent, which is exactly what Madonna did while onstage next to Carpenter, who instead just bent her non-parted knees and stuck her ass out. Also deemed “wowing” only when one is young.
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