Amber Glenn’s Heartwarming Surprise at the Milan Cortina Olympics
At the Milan Cortina Olympics, American figure skater Amber Glenn experienced a wonderful surprise just before her performance. The renowned pop icon Madonna reached out with a heartfelt video message, wishing Glenn luck as she prepared to skate to the tune of her classic song “Like a Prayer.”
Madonna’s Encouragement
In the video, Madonna expressed her admiration for Glenn’s incredible talent. “You’re an amazing skater—strong, beautiful, and brave. I can’t imagine you wouldn’t win,” she said, encouraging Glenn to pursue the gold medal.
Moved by the message, Glenn reacted with excitement and disbelief: “I’m shocked, legitimately shaking! Oh my God!”
Support from Fellow Skaters
Glenn isn’t alone in receiving high-profile backing; fellow American skaters Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito, who collectively call themselves the “Blade Angels,” have also garnered celebrity support. Taylor Swift lent her voice to an NBC advertisement spotlighting these talented skaters.
Challenges with Music Rights
However, navigating music rights has proven to be a significant challenge for figure skaters at this year’s games. Many competitors faced last-minute hurdles to secure permission for the music accompanying their routines, with some having to alter their chosen songs entirely.
Glenn encountered similar issues ahead of her free skate, which features “The Return” by Seb McKinnon, known by his stage name CLANN. Initially, McKinnon expressed surprise upon hearing his song performed during Glenn’s routine, which contributed to Team USA’s gold medal victory. Though they had not finalized permission for its use, Glenn and McKinnon resolved the matter through a phone conversation shortly thereafter. McKinnon later expressed his pride in Glenn’s choice of his music and their successful communication regarding artists’ rights.
Glenn’s Humorous Take on Music Changes
Earlier in the competition, when asked about the potential of needing to change her music if Madonna objected, Glenn humorously stated that even receiving a message from the star would be thrilling for her. Ultimately, she got to experience both the thrill of Madonna’s well wishes and the freedom to skate to her song.
Gratitude for Madonna
After viewing the touching video, Glenn conveyed her gratitude, calling Madonna an “icon and a legend” while expressing her hopes that she could honor the song through her performance.
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