Madonna the Queen at the Met Gala with a Surprise Performance

This year’s theme celebrates an exhibit showcasing 40 pieces on loan from the Vatican as well as designs from Coco Chanel, John Galliano and Cristóbal Balenciaga that spotlight the influence religious iconography has on fashion. The event is hosted by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintor, as well as this year’s special co-hosts Amal Clooney, Rihanna and Donatella Versace.

Catholicism has been an important factor of Madonna’s personal brand (she was raised Catholic but later became a devotee of Kabbalah), which has caused plenty of controversy for her in the past. This year’s Met Gala was decades in the making for Madonna.

As soon as the 2018 theme — “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” — was announced, the fashion world was on the edge of its seat waiting to see what outrageous look Madonna, 59, would wear. And true to her daring self, the superstar went all out. After all, she was born for this red carpet.As someone who’s already dressed “Like a Virgin,” she went in the opposite direction with her Jean Paul Gaultier look and collaborated with stylist Eyob Yohannes on her Met moment, which he describes in three words as: ” Immaculate Goth Queen.” 

Madonna was the only one who could do this year’s Met Gala exhibit, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” justice—and she delivered with a surprise performance that was nothing short of divine. Never one to shy away from a religious reference, the material girl wowed earlier in the evening on the red carpet in a regal black Jean Paul Gaultier gown which she paired with a black net veil over her face that was held in place by jeweled crosses and rosaries. 

The fashion icon made a dramatic wardrobe change. Appearing in a monastic cloak, she descended the stairs of the Great Hall and made her grand entrance on stage to the tolls of church bells. Fittingly, she opened her set with her “Like a Prayer” and segued into a bone-chilling version of “Hallelujah.” Walking through the crowd and then suddenly rising above guests, the goddess shutdown the gala, and for that, we bow down to the Queen of Pop!