Madonna is paying tribute to her late brother, Christopher Chris Gerard Ciccone, honoring him as a visionary who journeyed through life’s challenges with her. Christopher passed away from cancer on October 4th at the age of 63.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Madonna described Christopher as "the closest human to me for so long." She explained their bond as rooted in being different and not conforming to societal expectations. Dance, she said, was their superglue, helping them navigate their early years in a small Midwestern town.

“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. Discovering dance in our small Midwestern town saved me and then my brother came along, and it saved him too.”

Madonna recalled how a ballet teacher provided a safe space for Christopher to express his identity. When she moved to New York to pursue dance, Christopher joined her, and they embraced the city's vibrant culture together. She described their shared experiences during the AIDS epidemic, attending funerals but always returning to dance. Christopher eventually became her creative director for several tours, and she admired his impeccable taste.

Throughout her tribute, Madonna reflected on Christopher as a talented painter, poet, and visionary with a sharp tongue. Despite their differences, they always found each other again, continuing to dance through life’s ups and downs.

“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.”

Christopher played a significant role in Madonna’s early career, serving as art director for her Blond Ambition World Tour in 1990 and leading production design for The Girlie Show in 1993. He also contributed as a backup dancer and creative consultant. Christopher is survived by his husband Ray Thacker, father Silvio Ciccone, and siblings Martin, Madonna, Paula, Melanie, Jennifer, and Mario.

In later years, Christopher pursued various artistic endeavors, including interior design and painting. Madonna noted that although they had periods of silence, they reconnected when he became ill. She supported him as much as she could, and in his final moments, they held hands and danced once more.

Madonna concluded her tribute by expressing relief that Christopher is no longer in pain, saying, "There will never be anyone like him. I know he’s dancing somewhere."

Christopher’s death comes less than two weeks after the passing of his and Madonna’s stepmother, Joan Clare Ciccone, from cancer. The siblings also lost their brother, Anthony Ciccone, in February 2023.