Madonna: Lady Gaga ‘turned me down’ on duet offer

And so goes another chapter in the tumultuous relationship between Madonna and Lady Gaga.

While the world watched President Obama battle Republican nominee Mitt Romney in the final days of the election, Madge kept her “MDNA” tour cranking across North America — where the gossip rang out as loudly as the dance hits.

At a Sunday show in St. Paul, Minn., Madonna revealed that she’d extended an olive branch to Gaga and invited her to come join in a duet.

“You know, I invited her onstage to sing with me. But she turned me down,” the pop diva told the crowd. “It’s OK. I’ve been rejected before. It builds a little character.”

The news shouldn’t be surprising. Tension has existed between the pop icons ever since Madonna commented on criticism of Gaga’s song “Born This Way.” Many observers felt it sounded too similar to Madge’s classic “Express Yourself.”

“Reductive” was the adjective Madonna chose to describe Gaga’s “Born” in January, causing a major divide between their fan camps and even earning the ire of Elton John, who blasted his former friend for teasing Gaga.

So the Lady won’t be strutting onto the “MDNA” stage, which will complete its last show Nov. 20 in Miami. But don’t cry for Madonna. There have been plenty — plenty — of memorable moments.

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Madonna booed (and cheered) after Obama endorsement in New OrleansFollow Matt Donnelly on Twitter and Google+. Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter @LATcelebs and on Facebook facebook.com/ministryofgossip.

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