Over the years Madonna has had so many competitors, some were called "the next Madonna" etc./ Even though some of them were not her peers, people were speculating whether they will take her place as the biggest female popstar ever. However, she somehow managed to outlast and outperform everyone. My question, who has been her biggest threat?

I think it was Whitney. She was really popular in the 80's and her music was just as big as M's. Then in the early 90's she completely snatched Madonna's wig with the Bodyguard soundtrack

Brandy in the 90s

Celine
if she hasn't disappeared at her peak to take care of her husband she might have outsold madge
she's also the 2nd richest female musician and 2nd highest in terms of touring (inc residencies) and 2nd biggest album seller.

Definitely Whitney. I'd say they were neck to neck until ROL / My Love Is Your Love. Whitney was ahead of everyone in '92 / '93 though. I think Madonna said in an interview that she walked in the rehearsal studio one day and her background vocalists were singing IWALY and she got jealous or something.

And then there was Cyndi in the beginning. Maybe Paula in the US, although her success was short lived. She was never in the same lane / had the same style as the rest of them, like Mariah, Celine, Janet etc

Of those the only one that has been close on a global level to Madonna's phenomenon status is Britney.

MJ

messT I totally forgot about her But yeah Celine was really successful too

Whitney and Gaga

The votes for Britney and Gaga She was not in competitoin with them, Madge was already in legend status by that time

MJ, then Whitney or Celine

Janet.

Gaga was only popular for 2 albums/eras.. Now she is a has-been.

Janet was popular for like 5+ albums/eras.

Gaga was probably the biggest one, which is why she covered her song on her tour in an effort to discredit her.



It's obvious Gaga had her pressured.

OT: Whitney

Whitney

Cyndi Lauper in the 80s
Definitely Whitney and Mariah in the 90s

Britney Spears.

The Princess of Pop is the only one that managed to get close to the Queen of Pop's success.

Whitney of course. She's the one who was around the longest with Madonna and really did rival her success at times.

But because of how long-lived Madonna's career has been, she's seen the likes of Cyndi, Janet, Mariah, Celine, Shania, Britney, Christina, Gwen and Gaga come and GO as her rivals.

That's why she won a GRAMMY a year ago, sold one million copies (more than most of her peers nowadays) with barely streaming and a jazz album, won a Golden Globe and performed at the Super Bowl, Oscars and GRAMMYs in the same month? Plus a series season whose main star was her finished two months ago and got good ratings and acceptable critics?. Let's not forget she was V Magazine's Editor + was awarded for it, went on two succesful tours years ago. Also, she's the biggest fashion icon of the decade, she's a big name when it comes to runways and that stuff. I think she's in a bigger place than most of her contemporaries if not every one of them

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I don't know what the OP means. If you mean direct competitor I'll say Janet Jackson or Mariah Carey. If you mean general competitor I'd say Gaga since she is usually referred as a talented version of Mdolla (It's not my opinion tho, I think Madonna is very talented in what she does, spectacle and business)

Gaga and Mariah.. both of them had her shook
you can tell due to her shading them both on multiple occasions and both hit back thankfully


edit: oh and janet


Mariah's comeback to Madonna's harsh insult was iconic