Madonna set to release new music; appearing on HBO series The Idol’s soundtrack with The Weeknd

We were promised at least two new songs featuring Queen of Pop and resident Peopleworld favourite Madonna, and while we wait for a long awaited (in the office, anyway) duet with Sam Smith, we’ve been graced with a collaboration with Playboi Carti and Abel Tesfaye (fka The Weeknd) - only three days before HBO’s The Idol lands on television here in the United Kingdom.

“Popular” is the second single to emanate from the soundtrack album, The Idol, Vol. 1, set for release on June 30 2023, was only meant to be a collaboration between Tesfaye, who both stars and co-created the so far polarising show with Euphoria creator Sam Levinson, and Playboy Carti, he revealed during an interview with Zane Lowe on the Kiwi’s Apple Music 1 show.

“We’ve had a different version of this song prior. So I’ve had these vocals for a while and I've kind of just worked around it, and then kind of kept it in the tuck. But now it felt like it was time.” It was when enquiring if Madonna would co-sign the song that the Queen of Pop, set to embark on her world tour shortly, ended up adding her unmistakable vocals to the track.

“I've always wanted to work with her,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to write and produce a Madonna album…well, co-produce with her, of course. She’s a visionary and she has such a singular vision, and I just want to come into her world and create a classic Madonna album. That was always my dream. Hopefully this is the appetiser for that.”

One down, one to go - is June going to be a busy time for Madonna, or is she once again lending her name out there to platform musicians once again to demonstrate she still has her ear to the ground when it comes to marrying her work to that of the genres du jour throughout the years?

When and where can I watch HBO’s The Idol in the United Kingdom?

HBO’s The Idol is set to screen weekly on NOW TV and Sky Atlantic, beginning on June 5 2023, and available on catch-up shortly after airing in the United States the night before.