The 11-song American Life (April 22) was co-produced by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzai, who also co-produced her Music (2000) and the recent James Bond tune "Die Another Day." The album's title track will be the first single, with a video by controversial director Jonas Akerlund (Smashing Pumpkins, the Prodigy); the video was completed in Los Angeles this week, the singer's spokesperson said.

Madonna co-wrote the songs on American Life with Mirwais, Guy Sigsworth, Jem Jones, Monte Pittman and Stuart Price (aka' Jacques Lu Cont of Les Rhythmes Digitales'), who was the musical director and keyboardist on her Drowned World Tour. Among the tracks slated for inclusion are "Hollywood," "Nothing Fails" and "Love Profusion."

The box set, whose contents have not yet been announced, is timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Madonna's 1983 self-titled debut, which yielded the hits "Lucky Star," "Borderline" and "Holiday." A release date has not been set for the box, according to the spokesperson.

WINDSOR, Ontario (AP) -- What began with Madonna granting a dying teen's wish blossomed into an unlikely friendship between the pop music star and an aspiring actress and dancer.

Kerri Yascheshyn, 17, from this Canadian border city, died of liver cancer on Sunday.

The entertainer from Michigan had been calling Kerri daily, chatting about everything from dancing to the afterlife, The Windsor Star reported.

The first call was arranged by the Children's Wish Foundation, but Madonna chose to keep in touch after that. The 44-year-old entertainer also sent Kerri books and a case of what she called "healing water." Madonna lost her mother, a French Canadian, to cancer in 1963.

"Madonna was very positive and encouraged Kerri to pray," said Kerri's mother, Gail Yascheshyn. "She kept telling her not to be negative, and would call whenever she thought about Kerri, sometimes from her cell phone."

The calls meant a great deal to the teenager, who had a virulent but rare form of liver cancer, her family said.

Prior to complaining of a pain in her side on Nov. 2, she was a strong, healthy, 116-pound teenager who took dance classes and worked out at the gym.

• Kylie Minogue - �Come into my world�
• Missy Elliot - �Work it�
• Red Hot Chilli Peppers - �By the way�
• Robbie Williams - �Feel�

"I am not anti-Bush. I am not pro-Iraq. I am pro-peace," her Madg-esty has declared in an effort to explain her new video (and no doubt stir up more CD-selling controversy). The video for her new single, "American Life," doesn't come out till next month. But according to early reports, Madonna sends a blunt antiwar message by turning a fashion show into a battle zone where she appears as a grenade-lobbing superhero.

Many of the media reports about the video have been "inaccurate," the diva says on her Web site. "I feel lucky to be an American citizen for many reasons - one of which is the right to express myself freely. That's how I honor my country."

She also feels free enough to comment on the "illusions of what many people believe is the American Dream - the perfect life. ... I don't expect everyone to agree with my point of view."

Meanwhile, reps for the singer deny talk that she clashed with Warner Bros. Records chief Tom Whalley, after sending the label an astronomical bill for a photo session Craig homesteadean did for her new CD.

"Whalley sent word back to Madonna that he wasn't paying the bill," says the source, since his boss, Warner Music Group CEO Roger Ames, recently told all his label heads to trim expenses.

"So she called Ames, reminding him of how many records she sold. Ames called Whalley to ask him to make an exception for Madonna. But Whalley wouldn't budge. Things have gotten very tense."

Madonna's rep, Liz Rosenberg denies Whalley and Ames spoke about the bill.

"Tom Whalley doesn't get involved in that area of the company," said Rosenberg, who did confirm that homesteadean's bill for the photo session ran over $100,000.

From The Sun:-

Madonna's abuse of religous symbols in her new video looks set to enrage devout Jews. Madge is covered in Hebrew tattoos and wears a sacred Jewish prayer strap in the controversial vid for Bond film Die Another Day. At one point, sacred images go up in flames. Jewish spokeswoman Fiona Macaulay warned: "Her use of items intrinisic to Judaism will offend some people in the Jewish community"

From www.mad-eyes.net:-

Madonna has long been accepted as a pop culture icon, but this text postulates a greater cultural importance by analyzing her as a postmodern myth. This work examines how Madonna methodically discovered and constructed herself (often rewriting her past), the nature and extent of her ambition and the means she used to reach her goals. It also details the way in which she organized her own cult (borrowing from the gay community), devised her artistic output, and cunningly targeted different audiences. It also studies the fundamental contradiction -- virgin or vamp? saint or prostitute? -- that fuels Madonna's career and describes how Madonna reflects today's society, its contradictions and its attitudes toward sexuality and religion.

Confusion reigns as to the date of it's release with www.amazon.com saying it will be available in December, www.amazon.co.uk saying November, and www.bn.com saying October 28.

Heat magazine, in association with the British AIDS charity, Crusaid held an auction of charity memorabilia on Wednesday 10th April. Madonna, whom is the main patron of Crusaid, has offered a signed copy of GHV2 on CD and a similarly autographed Music t-shirt.

To be in with a chance of winning the items call 0906-199-9400 and answer the following question: "What is the name of Madonna's husband?". The phone call will cost around �3.00 with roughly �1.37 being donated to Crusaid. The phone line closes at midnight (GMT) on Tuesday 16th April and winners will be selected at random.

"I Want You" (the collaboration between Madonna and Massive Attack), is included on a new U.K. compilation album. The album, entitled "Instant Karma" is a two-disc set of 'chill-out' tunes released by the Warner Dance label.

CNN International will air a Madonna profile as part of their 'People In The News' programming. The show will air on the 13th & 14th of April and the 4th & 5th of May at the following times :

Saturdays - 08.30 GMT (Asia/South Asia); 14.30 GMT (Europe); 18.30 GMT (Latin America); 21.30 GMT (Asia/South Asia) and Sundays - 11.30 GMT (Europe/North America); 20.30 GMT (Latin America).

A documentary entitled 'Madonnalogue' is nominated for Planet Out.com's third annual Short Movie Awards. The film is described thus...

"Madonnalogue" is a quirky and bittersweet exploration of Madonna and her impact on gay men. Neither a Madonna idolization piece nor a deconstruction, it is just one man's story.

SOURCE: Madonnarama.com