Madonna recalls dealing with mom's death in childhood: 'It was too much'

Madonna had her heart “ripped out” when her mother Louise Ciccone died in 1963. The music icon was only 5 years old.

Having to understand and grieve her mother’s loss following a breast cancer diagnosis was a big challenge for Madonna.

The Queen of Pop talked about the loss in her new documentary, Becoming Madonna.

The Crazy For You hitmaker said: “What happened you know when I was [5] years old, it was just the greatest event of my life. It was like a part of my heart was ripped out.”

“I was forced to grow up fast and understand my mother's death, to understand the psychological, all things that were going on. It was too much for a child I think,” she shared.

“She was beautiful and sweet and a hard worker,” she said of her mother.

Madonna's late brother Christopher also shared his thoughts on the pressure the singer faced after the death of their mother.

“I think when my mother died things changed emotionally with everybody. I know my father put a great deal more pressure on her to be our guide,” he shared.

“She was our mother's namesake, and her name was Madonna. I mean, it either crushes you or edifies you or elevates you to something else,” he explained.