“To me it’s really important that I came from the Midwest,” she explained, “with my father and people that I was surrounded with, very strong work ethic and my practical approach to work, and not a lot of frills.



“I don’t think I would be as creative as I am if I’d grown up surrounded by everything at my fingertips. The fact that I came from a small town in the Midwest has a lot to do with the kind of open notebook that I had to start my journey of creativity.”

Who in Michigan could forget the media shitstorm that erupted back in March when Madonna went on Howard Stern's SiriusXM show and stated the obvious — that her hometown of Rochester Hills, Mich. wasn't exactly the best environment for an ambitious artist?(OK, her statements were decidedly more pointed than that. The exact phrase she used to describe her town was "basic, provincial-thinking people." And asked why she didn't return home, even after getting raped in a Manhattan apartment, Madonna responded, "Have you ever been to Rochester, Michigan?")However, it seems Madonna has softened her stance on her hometown. In a recent interview with the Oakland Press , the pop singer said she appreciated her Michigan upbringing:To us, that's a bit of a backhanded compliment — kind of like saying, "Thank you, Michigan, for helping me realize what I didn't want to become!" But whatever! Madonna'sis out now, and she will make a stop with a show at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena on Oct. 1.