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| Madonna pays heartfelt tribute to brother Christopher | Madonna pays heartfelt tribute to brother Christopher |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Christopher Ciccone accompanied Madonna to the Vanity Fair Oscars party in 1998 | Christopher Ciccone accompanied Madonna to the Vanity Fair Oscars party in 1998 |
| Madonna has paid tribute to her brother Christopher Ciccone, who has died at the age of 63, describing him as "the closest thing to me for so long". | Madonna has paid tribute to her brother Christopher Ciccone, who has died at the age of 63, describing him as "the closest thing to me for so long". |
| Her brother, who was a tour director for the pop star and danced in her early music videos including Lucky Star, died from cancer on Friday in Michigan. | Her brother, who was a tour director for the pop star and danced in her early music videos including Lucky Star, died from cancer on Friday in Michigan. |
| In a heartfelt post on Instagram, external, the 66-year-old singer wrote that their bond was hard to explain but it "grew out of an understanding that we were different". | In a heartfelt post on Instagram, external, the 66-year-old singer wrote that their bond was hard to explain but it "grew out of an understanding that we were different". |
| She added: "Society was going to give us a hard time for not following the status quo. | She added: "Society was going to give us a hard time for not following the status quo. |
| "We took each other's hands and we danced through the madness of our childhood, in fact dance was a kind of superglue that held us together." | "We took each other's hands and we danced through the madness of our childhood, in fact dance was a kind of superglue that held us together." |
| The pair performed Holiday on Top of the Pops in 1984, alongside Erikah Belle (left) | The pair performed Holiday on Top of the Pops in 1984, alongside Erikah Belle (left) |
| The singer explained that "discovering dance in our small Midwestern town saved me", and then "it saved him too" as a gay young man. | The singer explained that "discovering dance in our small Midwestern town saved me", and then "it saved him too" as a gay young man. |
| She wrote: "When I finally got the courage to go to New York to become a dancer, my brother followed, and again we took each other's hands, and we danced through the madness of New York City." | She wrote: "When I finally got the courage to go to New York to become a dancer, my brother followed, and again we took each other's hands, and we danced through the madness of New York City." |
| She added that the pair "devoured art and music and film like hungry animals" in the city, and "were in the epicentre of all of these things exploding". | She added that the pair "devoured art and music and film like hungry animals" in the city, and "were in the epicentre of all of these things exploding". |
| "We danced together on stage in the beginning of my career and eventually, he became my creative director of many tours." | "We danced together on stage in the beginning of my career and eventually, he became my creative director of many tours." |
| She added: "My brother was right by my side, he was a painter a poet and a visionary, I admired him. | She added: "My brother was right by my side, he was a painter a poet and a visionary, I admired him. |
| "He had impeccable taste. And a sharp tongue, which he sometimes used against me but I always forgave him. | "He had impeccable taste. And a sharp tongue, which he sometimes used against me but I always forgave him. |
| "We soared the highest heights together, and floundered in the lowest lows. | "We soared the highest heights together, and floundered in the lowest lows. |
| "Somehow, we always found each other again and we held hands and we kept dancing." | "Somehow, we always found each other again and we held hands and we kept dancing." |
| Ciccone, pictured here in 2012, was also an artist and interior designer | Ciccone, pictured here in 2012, was also an artist and interior designer |
| The pair fell out around the early 2000s, with Ciccone saying his relationship with his sister came under strain after she married her ex-husband, film director Guy Ritchie. | |
| He later released his autobiography, titled Life With My Sister Madonna (2008), in which he wrote about her love life and what it was like working for her. | |
| Speaking about reuniting prior to his death, Madonna added: "The last few years have not been easy. | Speaking about reuniting prior to his death, Madonna added: "The last few years have not been easy. |
| "We did not speak for some time but when my brother got sick, we found our way back to each other. | |
| "I did my best to keep him alive as long as possible. | "I did my best to keep him alive as long as possible. |
| "He was in so much pain towards the end, once again, we held hands, we closed our eyes and we danced, together. | "He was in so much pain towards the end, once again, we held hands, we closed our eyes and we danced, together. |
| "I'm glad he's not suffering anymore, there will never be anyone like him. I know he's dancing somewhere." | "I'm glad he's not suffering anymore, there will never be anyone like him. I know he's dancing somewhere." |
| Ciccone was also an artist and interior designer, and directed music videos for other stars including Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett. | Ciccone was also an artist and interior designer, and directed music videos for other stars including Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett. |
| Madonna's stepmother Joan also died from cancer recently, and the star's older brother Anthony died early last year. | Madonna's stepmother Joan also died from cancer recently, and the star's older brother Anthony died early last year. |