Madonna's MTV Video Music Award for 'Papa Don't Preach' to be Auctioned Off

Madonna in a still from her music video for her 1986 hit "Papa Don't Preach" (Photo by Sire/Warner Music).

LOS ANGELES - Madonna's iconic MTV Video Music Award 'MoonMan' statuette awarded in 1987 for 'Papa Don't Preach' will be auctioned Boston-based RR Auction.

'Papa Don't Preach' was released in mid-1986 as the second single from Madonna's third studio album True Blue. Within eight weeks of release the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieved critical acclaim. Directed by James Foley, the music video shows Madonna's second image makeover, featuring her with cropped platinum blonde hair and a more toned and muscular body. Georges-Claude Guilbert, author of Madonna as Postmodern Myth, describes this look as a 'combination of Marilyn Monroe, Jean Seberg and Kim Novak.'

The video and lyrical content dealing with teenage pregnancy and abortion stirred worldwide controversy-even the Pope made comments-and the attention only increased its popularity. In addition to winning this award for Best Female Video, "Papa Don't Preach" received two other VMA nominations as well as a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female. Award originates from a high-ranking member of Madonna's management team. "The MTV 'MoonMan' is one of the most recognizable awards in all of entertainment and this is an exceptionally rare example," said Robert Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction. The Music and Entertainment Icons Auction from RR Auction will run from November 12 through November 19. More details can be found online at www.rrauction.com

Below is the music video for "Papa Don't Preach":