Entertainment Music Pop Music Madonna Leads Concertgoers in Wishing Daughter Mercy a Happy 18th Birthday: 'Look at This Queen' Mercy joined the singer, 65, on stage at Madison Square Garden for her concert on Monday By Escher Walcott Escher Walcott Escher Walcott is a Writer/Reporter at PEOPLE, covering stories in Entertainment, Style, Human Interest.She joins having written for several popular news publications, including Glamour, Refinery29, NYLON and Evening Standard, discussing the latest fashion trends, pop culture news, and pressing social matters. People Editorial Guidelines and Jack Irvin Jack Irvin Jack Irvin has over five years of experience working in digital journalism, and he’s worked at PEOPLE since 2022. Jack started in the industry with internships at Rolling Stone and Entertainment Tonight, and he worked as a freelance writer for publications including Bustle, MTV News, Shondaland, L’Officiel USA, Ladygunn, Flood and PopCrush before joining PEOPLE. In his current role, Jack covers daily music news and has interviewed both up-and-coming and established artists including Dolly Parton, Michelle Branch, Ashanti, Cyndi Lauper, Normani, Carly Rae Jepsen and Coco Jones. People Editorial Guidelines Published on January 23, 2024 05:05AM EST Madonna and her daughter Mercy. Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Steve Granitz/WireImage Now that’s one way to celebrate a birthday! On Monday, Madonna paid a special tribute to her daughter Mercy on her 18th birthday at her concert at Madison Square Garden in New York, with concertgoers joining the musician, 65, in singing “Happy Birthday” to the surprised teenager mid-show. Madonna led the entire arena in singing to Mercy as she stood center stage surrounded by the singer’s dancers. At one point during the rendition, Madonna hugged Mercy as she put her hand to her mouth and shouted, “Oh my God!” The song then ended with a chorus of claps. “Thank you to the people,” Madonna said, before she stood up and brought her daughter to the side of the stage. “Stand up, stand up beautiful girl. Look at this queen!” “That’s what a beautiful queen looks like,” the “Vogue” singer added. Madonna and her daughter Mercy. AMOS GUMULIRA/AFP Madonna Celebrates 'Humble and Kind' Daughter Mercy James on 18th Birthday: 'You Really Are a Wonder' Mercy was then handed a lit candle by someone on stage, prompting Madonna to tell her she’s “gotta make a wish.” The 18-year-old held the candle and paused for a few seconds with her eyes closed, before eventually blowing it out as the crowd in the arena cheered. Seconds after, Madonna, holding a drink, asked Mercy, “Do you want a sip?" Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. She then jokingly added, "Oh no, 18’s not the drinking age here." Mercy then sat down at the piano on stage — the teen appears in the singer’s tour playing on the piano for her 1992 song “Bad Girl” — as Madonna thanked the audience. Mercy then grabbed her microphone and said, “I love you all!” Madonna then embraced Mercy as the audience clapped again and added, “That’s my girl.” Close