Madonna loses brother after battle with cancer

Madonna's brother, Christopher Ciccone, passed away at 63 after a battle with cancer. A talented artist, dancer, and designer, Ciccone died in Michigan on Friday. His influence on Madonna's career was significant, from appearing in her Lucky Star music video to art directing her Blond Ambition World Tour and serving as tour director for The Girlie Show.

Madonna, 66, reflected on Instagram, sharing the profound bond she shared with her brother. "He was the closest human to me for so long," she said, acknowledging the pain he endured at the end. She described how their connection stemmed from their shared sense of being outsiders. "We took each other's hands and we danced through the madness of our childhood."

Madonna reminisced about how dance became their escape. She credited their ballet teacher for creating a safe space for Christopher to express himself. "My ballet teacher created a safe space for my brother to be gay, a word that was not spoken or even whispered where we lived."

Their journey continued together in New York, where both pursued dance, navigating the chaos of the city hand in hand. "He was a painter, a poet, and a visionary," Madonna said. "We soared the highest heights together, and floundered in the lowest lows."

In 2008, the siblings had a public falling out following Ciccone's autobiography Life With My Sister Madonna, but they reconciled in recent years. Reflecting on their reunion, she shared, "When my brother got sick, we found our way back to each other."

As Ciccone's illness progressed, Madonna did everything she could to support him. "I did my best to keep him alive as long as possible," she said. "I'm glad he's not suffering anymore. I know he's dancing somewhere."