Sam Smith calls Madonna 'my mother', credits her as queer lifeline
Synopsis
Sam Smith didn't just praise Madonna — they called her 'my mother.' In a candid interview on The Zane Lowe Show, Smith revealed that Madonna personally reached out during the fierce backlash to 'Unholy', and credited her decades of queer allyship as both a personal and artistic lifeline. It's a rare window into the intergenerational bonds that sustain queer artists under public fire.
Key Takeaways
Sam Smith called Madonna 'my mother' during an appearance on The Zane Lowe Show .
Smith credited Madonna's music as a 'lifeline' for queer people across generations.
Madonna personally contacted Smith when their collaboration 'Unholy' with Kim Petras faced backlash over provocative imagery and queer themes.
Madonna presented Smith and Petras with the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance Grammy at the 2023 Grammy Awards , celebrating their 'fearlessness'.
Kim Petras , 33 , was the first openly transgender woman to win in that Grammy category.
Singer-songwriter Sam Smith has lavished praise on pop icon Madonna, describing her as a 'mother' figure and calling her music an essential 'lifeline' for queer people worldwide. The tribute came during an appearance on The Zane Lowe Show, where Smith spoke candidly about Madonna's personal and artistic influence on their life.
Sam Smith's Words on Madonna
'Madonna is my mother. She's just unf** real,' Smith said on the show, in what amounted to one of the most effusive celebrity endorsements in recent memory. Smith described how Madonna's music has served as both a personal anchor and a creative comfort throughout their career as an artist.
Smith elaborated on the depth of that influence: 'You feel that in her music. Her music is a lifeline to queer people and just all of the eras of her and her stamina and how she's just always carried on and on and on. I just find it very inspiring. I think a lot of queer people find (her music) inspiring. And it's not just a comfort in my personal life; it's a comfort in my music.'
Madonna's Support During the 'Unholy' Backlash
Smith revealed that Madonna reached out directly when their 2022 collaboration with Kim Petras, titled 'Unholy', drew fierce public criticism. The track's music video and live performances were condemned for provocative imagery and queer themes, with some critics going as far as accusing the duo of devil worship.
According to Smith, Madonna acted swiftly: 'She (Madonna), the minute it happened, she made sure she got through to me. And she's so aware of queer news and what's happening in the community, (what's happening) to the artists within the community.'
The 2023 Grammys Moment
Madonna's solidarity with Smith and Petras was on public display at the 2023 Grammy Awards, where she personally presented the duo with the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance prize for 'Unholy'. In doing so, she celebrated their 'fearlessness' in the face of the controversy that had surrounded the song — a gesture widely noted within the LGBTQ+ community as a deliberate act of allyship.
Kim Petras, 33, became the first openly transgender woman to win in that Grammy category, making the moment historically significant beyond the music itself.
Madonna's Longstanding LGBTQ+ Legacy
Madonna's relationship with the queer community stretches back decades, from her early embrace of gay club culture in New York in the 1980s to her vocal advocacy during the AIDS crisis. Smith's remarks underscore how that legacy continues to resonate with a new generation of queer artists navigating public scrutiny. Notably, this is not the first time a prominent queer musician has credited Madonna as a formative influence — a pattern that speaks to the enduring cultural weight she carries.
As Smith continues to build their own legacy as one of the most prominent non-binary voices in mainstream pop, the tribute to Madonna reflects a broader conversation about intergenerational solidarity within the LGBTQ+ arts community.
Point of View
And then present the Grammy in person, was a calculated act of public solidarity at a moment when it carried real cost. What mainstream coverage tends to miss is how rare that kind of intergenerational backing is in an industry that frequently commodifies queer identity without protecting the people behind it. Smith naming it so directly puts pressure on the broader entertainment ecosystem to examine who actually shows up when queer artists face organised backlash.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Sam Smith call Madonna 'my mother'?
Sam Smith used the term to describe the profound personal and artistic influence Madonna has had on their life, particularly her active support for the queer community. Smith made the remark during an appearance on The Zane Lowe Show, calling Madonna 'unf****** real' and crediting her music as a lifeline for queer people.
What was the backlash against Sam Smith and Kim Petras over 'Unholy'?
The music video and live performances of 'Unholy' were criticised for provocative imagery and queer themes, with some commentators accusing the duo of devil worship. The controversy was significant enough that Madonna reached out directly to Smith to offer support when it erupted.
What happened at the 2023 Grammy Awards involving Madonna and Sam Smith?
Madonna personally presented Sam Smith and Kim Petras with the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance Grammy for 'Unholy' at the 2023 Grammy Awards. She praised the duo's 'fearlessness' in the face of public controversy. Kim Petras, 33, became the first openly transgender woman to win in that category.
How has Madonna supported the LGBTQ+ community over the years?
Madonna's allyship with the queer community dates back to the 1980s, including her embrace of gay club culture in New York and her vocal advocacy during the AIDS crisis. Sam Smith's remarks highlight how that legacy continues to resonate with a new generation of queer artists.
