Madonna Opens Up About Whitney Houston’s Death

Robbie Daw | March 12, 2012 1:42 pm

Following the death of Whitney Houston, many artists poured their thoughts out online. But one of Whitney’s iconic pop peers, Madonna, had remained quiet on the subject until now. Today UK paper The Sun published the second part of an interview with the “Girl Gone Wild” singer, which finds her commenting on the passing of not only Whitney, but also Amy Winehouse. “I, probably like everybody else, was hit by this shocking sense of disbelief — especially with Whitney Houston,” said Madge. “It had not been a secret, the struggles Amy had been through — both brilliant, brilliant artists and obviously both huge losses,” Madonna continued. “But when these things happen, I’m always shocked by the first thing you say — ‘It’s such a loss’ — which doesn’t quite cover it. Then you reflect and you think, ‘How did it happen? How did the people around them allow it to happen?'”

Both Madonna and Houston rose to superstardom in the mid-1980s, as each racked up hit single after hit single. But while the Material Girl has managed to avoid the excesses that come with fame over the years, others have not been so lucky.

“We’ve lost so many great artists that way when you think about it. So history just kind of repeats itself over and over,” Madonna told The Sun. “One thing I was struck by with Whitney Houston is I remember she sort of came out as a singer around the same time I did. I remember looking at her singing and hearing people talk about her, and just thinking, ‘Oh my God. She’s such a beautiful woman and my God, what an incredible voice. I wish I could sing like that.’ I just remember being extremely envious of her and also touched by her innocence.”

It’s been rumored that Madonna, who we’re highlighting in our March Madgeness video showdown, was going to steer clear of doing any promotional interviews in the leadup to the release of her 12th studio album MDNA on March 26. Guess this interview broke that rule?

What do you think of Madonna’s comments on Whitney Houston?