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.
Madonna at the VMAs: Did she pay tribute to Aretha Franklin or herself?
Credits
Guest:
- Ann Powers - NPR music critic and correspondent, author of “Traveling: On The Path of Joni Mitchell” - @annkpowers