Madonna Faces Another Tragedy: Brother and Former Backup Dancer Christopher Ciccone Passes Away

Singer Madonna is mourning the loss of her brother, Christopher Ciccone.

Several outlets report that he passed away peacefully, surrounded by his devoted husband, Ray, and loved ones on Friday. His obituary reveals that Ray remained by Ciccone’s side throughout the difficult final stages of his battle with cancer.  This heartbreaking loss marks another tragedy for Madonna within a few weeks.  Her stepmother, Joan Ciccone, also lost her fight against a particularly aggressive form of cancer last month.

Ciccone, who was 63, and Madonna shared an incredibly close bond during her early career, with him playing a pivotal role as one of her backup dancers.  He quickly evolved into a crucial part of her creative team, becoming the show designer and backstage dresser for her iconic performances. He notably served as the art director for her legendary “Blonde Ambition” world tour. In addition to his work with Madonna, Ciccone was the tour director for “The Girlie Show” and lent his directing talents to music videos for artists like Tony Bennett and Dolly Parton.

Despite a well-publicized feud in 2008, sparked by his tell-all book “Life With My Sister Madonna,” a New York Times bestseller, the siblings reconciled over the years, even collaborating on a footwear line in 2012.

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