Less than a month has passed since Prince’s abrupt passing and the world is still reeling from the loss of the prolific performer. Scores of musician have already done their part to pay tribute to Prince, but it seems fitting that his longtime friend and collaborator, Madonna, will take the stage at the Billboard Music Awards to honor her fellow artist.
Prince and Madonna teamed up on Madonna’s 1989 album, Like A Prayer. Prince played guitar on the title track, “Keep it Together,” and “Act of Contrition,” and he lent his voice to the excellent duet “Love Song,” which was recorded at Prince’s Studio on Paisley Park. The album was doused with christian imagery — often described as Madonna’s “turning point” — and directly preceded Madonna’s iconic 1990 Blonde Ambition World Tour. Prince and Madonna maintained their friendship over the following decades, supporting one another personally and artistically.
Though few details have been released about the Queen of Pop’s performance, it’s sure to be a tribute as iconic and exciting as Prince himself. Madonna joins fellow performers Justin Bieber, Celine Dion, the Go-Go’s, and more live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 22.