Madonna reveals the worst day of her life: 'I've never experienced pain like it'

Superstar Madonna has revealed that one of the hardest things she has ever experienced was her daughter Lourdes (pictured left) leaving home.

Speaking to German magazine Gala, the Queen of Pop admitted that sending her 18-year-old daughter off to university was emotionally tougher than any of her relationship break-ups: "It was the worst day of my life. Even when my long-term relationships broke down; I've never experienced pain like that."

She went onto discuss her parenting style and confessed that she irritates her children with her worrying nature: "It's a sad fact that we live in a messed up and sick world. It seems to get worse every year. There are so many crazy people out there! I really annoy my kids with my worrying."

Madonna also weighed in on ageism in the music industry, adding: "The ageism in our society makes me sick! Should women just disappear when they turn 50? Is there a law that says we are no longer allowed to be adventurous or experiment? That we're not allowed to feel sexy and celebrate our sexuality?"

Watch Madonna's GRAMMYs performance here: