Singer will perform at the grand finale on Saturday night.
By AMY SPIROMadonna performs during her Rebel Heart Tour concert at Studio City in Macau, China February 20, 2016(photo credit: BOBBY YIP/ REUTERS)
After months of stalled negotiations, Madonna signed a contract on Thursday morning to appear at the Eurovision Song Contest this Saturday night, KAN reported.The singer arrived in Israel late Tuesday night, and clashed with European Broadcasting Union officials over starting rehearsals without a signed deal. Nevertheless, Madonna held a rehearsal Wednesday at the Expo Tel Aviv without a contract, and has now fully committed to appearing at the show, according to Hebrew media reports. According to insiders, the EBU is scheduled to officially announce the performance at some point on Thursday.The singer held a second closed rehearsal at the venue on Thursday morning.The reason for the extended holdup in signing a contract was never made clear. But the clash was not believed to be about money, since the cost of her appearance is being covered by Israeli-Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams. Varying reports said Madonna and the EBU clashed over copyright concerns, as well as over the politicized content of her songs and performance.On Thursday she posted another photo to Instagram of her in full costume, writing "Madame X is a Saint....." She followed it up with snapshots of her captioned "Madame X is a Ray of Light" and "Madame X is Praying...."Madonna is slated to take the stage in the Expo Tel Aviv on Saturday night as an interval act, and perform while the votes are being cast and counted. She is expected to perform her classic hit "Like A Prayer," as well as the song "Future" from her upcoming album, Madame X. Rapper Quavo of the trio Migos - who collaborated with Madonna on "Future" - is also in Israel, and slated to give a sold out concert in Tel Aviv Thursday night, before appearing with Madonna at the Eurovision on Saturday.
