“I want to pay tribute to a man who inspired my career,” she told the crowd.
“If you haven’t heard about David Bowie, then look him up, mother——-.”
“He was one of the geniuses in the music industry, one of the greatest singer-songwriters of the 20th century, and he changed my life when I went to see him in concert in Detroit,” she said of the 69-year-old musician, who passed away on Sunday.
“He showed me that it was OK to be different. And he’s the first Rebel Heart that I laid eyes on.”
Madonna belted out Bowie’s Rebel Rebel to a hyped up crowd while iconic images of the rocker were projected onto the screen behind the stage.
Watch the Like a Prayer singer’s rendition of the 1974 hit in the clip below.
In true Madonna style, the 57-year-old ripped off her skirt during the performance and skipped around the stage as she thrusted her hips and banged her head.
Exhausted and overcome with emotion, she fell to the floor with her head in her hands as the song finished.
Earlier this week, Madonna was one of the first stars to pay tribute to the music legend.
“So lucky to have met you!!!! Hot Tramp I love you So! #rebelheart,” she wrote on Twitter alongside a shot of her with Bowie.
Madonna remembers her idol with a throwback photo.
Bowie’s death was announced on his Facebook page on Sunday. The creative genius had been battling cancer for the past 18 months.
