Happy Birthday, Madonna!

(8/16/00, 2 p.m. ET) - Today (August 16) Madonna celebrates her 42nd birthday. Born Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone in Rochester, Michigan, in 1958, Madonna's rise to stardom came quickly following the release of her self-titled debut album in 1983. The album contained radio-friendly pop hits such as "Lucky Star," "Borderline," "Burning Up," and "Holiday."

Madonna's new single, "Music," will be available in stores on August 22, and her latest album, Music, will follow on September 19.

Rather than list all the movies and albums that made Madonna the pop culture phenomenon she is today, LAUNCH asked some of today's hottest female pop music stars how Madonna has influenced them. And Madonna told LAUNCH that she's accepted the fact that she is a role model for today's rising music stars. "I don't have a problem being a role model," she said. "If people look at me as a role model, I'm happy to inspire them, be looked up to. In fact, it's great to be able to be bold and to be a role model because usually you don't think that those two can co-exist."

Here's what Christina Aguilera had to say: "I totally idolize Madonna for what she's done as a female in the industry, and her artistry in general. She's just amazing."

Britney Spears on Madonna: "I love her a lot. I think she is so smart. She knows what the audience wants to hear, and she's been around for so long. And she's still strong, and I just totally admire that. She knows how to present herself, and that's very smart."

Mandy Moore on Madonna: "She's been a total idol for me ever since I was little, and I think she's so great because she's one of the true chameleons in the business that's constantly reinventing herself. She always has a new look and a new style, and she's such a trendsetter. She's so bold and yet she doesn't care what people think. She's willing to try stuff."

The Spice Girls Melanie "Sporty Spice" Chisholm on Madonna: "I think she's inspired me a lot musically, and just the way I present myself. I've always admired how hard she works and what a strong lady she is, so she's always inspired me in that way."

-- Jason Gelman, New York

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