Madonna marks daughter Mercy James’ 20th birthday with rare family footage

Madonna is celebrating a major milestone for her daughter, Mercy James, with a never-before-seen family footage. 

The singer marked Mercy’s 20th birthday on January 22, 2026, by sharing a montage of photos and videos on Instagram that showed Mercy’s personality away from the public eye.

In the post, Madonna reflected on the meaning behind Mercy’s name, revealing her daughter’s tribal name, Chifundo, which translates to “Mercy.” She described it as a fitting name and expressed pride in the young woman her daughter has become.

Madonna characterised Mercy as the quietest of her children. She noted that the former teen's reserved nature masks depth and emotional intelligence. She also praised Mercy for being thoughtful, kind, and respectful, as well as always being introspective and perceptive despite keeping a low profile.

The pop icon went on to applaud Mercy’s talents and encouraged her to pursue whichever path feels right, saying she is excited to see how Mercy chooses to channel her abilities and make her mark on the world.

The family footage included candid moments that showed Mercy laughing, performing music, and spending time with her siblings.

Mercy James was adopted from Malawi in 2006. Madonna is also the mother of Lourdes Leon, 29, whom she shares with ex Carlos Leon, and Rocco Ritchie, 25, whom she shares with ex-husband Guy Ritchie. She later adopted son David Banda, now 20, and twins Stella and Estere, 13, also from Malawi.