Madonna has always appeared close to her eldest daughter, Lourdes "Lola" Leon, but it seems behind the scenes, the pair has had a tense relationship.
The 67-year-old hinted at a secret rift with the 29-year-old, whom she shares with fitness trainer Carlos Leon, in a new interview to promote her upcoming album, Confessions II.
Madonna admitted that her "family trauma" was a big inspiration for the record, and she used the songwriting process to get her issues "off her chest."
"Well, all these symbolic things happened. My stepmother died, my brother was ill, my brother died, my daughter approached me… you know what I mean?" she told Interview magazine.
"I had a lot of stuff going on in my life personally. My brother was very, very, very ill, and my stepmother, with whom I'd had a very traumatic relationship throughout my entire childhood, had just died," she continued.
While it was difficult to revisit her "trauma," Madonna said it ultimately helped to "heal" her relationship with Lourdes.
"The song I wrote with my daughter, Lola. She approached me about writing a song together as a way to heal our relationship," she cryptically added.
© Instagram"It was a really important moment, and it solidified the idea that now is the time to make this record.
"It's hard for me to write a song about nothing. I have to tell a story," she explained. "So I wrote about a lot of family trauma, and then we started making dance music."
© InstagramMadonna's revelation offers a rare glimpse into her bond with Lourdes, who recently released the track "T Shirt," a song about setting free her emotional scars.
"A song about a relationship where I completely lost myself and felt haunted at every turn by lingering, unwelcome spirits," she wrote on a recent Instagram post.
"They seemed to make homes wherever I went, dwelling in every corner of my mind. What a gift it is to channel those emotions through art, to process them and finally set them free. Thank you to everyone who helped bring this one to life."
© Getty ImagesLourdes has hinted at issues with Madonna in the past, revealing in 2021 that she forged her own path as a model and musician after vowing not to have to rely on her "control freak" mother.
"We don't get any handouts in my family. Obviously, I grew up with extreme privilege. There's no denying that," she explained to Interview magazine.
"But I think my mom saw all these other kids of famous people, and she was like, 'My kids are not going to be like this.'
© Instagram"Also, I feel like if your parents pay for things, then it gives them leverage over you. My mom is such a control freak, and she has controlled me my whole life. I needed to be completely independent from her as soon as I graduated high school."
Meanwhile, Madonna is gearing up to release her 15th studio album on July 3, 2026, which serves as a direct sequel to her iconic 2005 record Confessions on a Dance Floor.
© CoachellaAt the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this month, she premiered her short film Confessions II, a visual companion to the album with special appearances by Kate Moss, Julia Garner, and more.
The film spans more than 10 minutes, bringing the first six tracks to life through a continuous cinematic experience. The project includes songs such as "I Feel So Free" and "Bring Your Love," a collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter.
