Madonna Mourns the Loss of Her Older Brother, Anthony Ciccone

• celebrities

The music icon, Madonna, recently took to social media to pay tribute to her older brother, Anthony Ciccone, who passed away after a long battle with alcoholism. The singer has had a tumultuous relationship with her brother over the years, with both parties acknowledging the difficulties in their relationship.

However, in her recent post, Madonna chose to focus on the positive memories and the impact that Anthony had on her life.

"Planting Seeds of Inspiration"

Alongside a vintage photo of the siblings at a diner, Madonna wrote a heartfelt message to her late brother.

"Thank you for blowing my mind as a young girl and introducing me to Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Buddhism, Taoism, Charles Bukowski, Jack Kerouac, Expansive Thinking, Outside the Box," she wrote. "You planted many important seeds."

Balancing Grief and Creativity

Despite the loss of her brother, Madonna continues to carry on with her busy schedule, currently rehearsing for her upcoming "Celebration" tour, which she announced in January. "Thank God I have my creative life to inspire me and keep me going," Madonna captioned a recent Instagram video.

The tour will mark the singer's first major performance since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and she is eager to get back on stage and connect with her fans.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Madonna (@madonna)

The Troubled Relationship

Anthony Ciccone struggled with alcoholism for many years and was homeless at the time of his passing.

He was open about the difficulties in his relationship with Madonna, stating in a 2011 interview with the Daily Mail, "We hated each other—sibling rivalry, I imagine. She was a b****, just like she is now. She remains true to form.

You have to give her credit for consistency." Despite the challenges in their relationship, a source close to the family told PEOPLE that Madonna did her best to support her brother, visiting him in rehab and offering her support whenever he was willing to accept it.

"They were all there for him and despite being estranged, Madonna supported him in every way she could when he was willing to take the support," the insider says. "Family members including Madonna visited him while in his rehab facility as he declined these past few months."