Pink had a rare speechless moment when she met pop icon Madonna for the very first time this morning (11NOV03).

MUSIC singer Madonna was on American chat show LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY to promote her new children's book MR PEABODY'S APPLES.

And, as the interview was ending, host Regis Philbin told Madonna Pink would be performing at the end of the show and said, "She has never met you. You're her idol. Do you mind, would you like to meet her? She'd love to say hello."

Madonna responded, "My pleasure," and an unusually coy Pink stepped out from the backstage area to embrace her musical hero.

Pink cooed, "I've got sweat marks over here!"

After performing an acoustic version of her hit song TROUBLE later on in the show, she said of Madonna, "I thought she wanted to meet me, that's why I came out! No, it was awesome."

Madonna and the GET THE PARTY STARTED singer were expected to meet in August (03), as Pink was one of the original choices to perform in the opening sequence for the MTV Video Music Awards.

But she was away on vacation during rehearsals, and chart rivals BRITNEY SPEARS and Christina Aguilera eventually went on to make big headlines around the world when they shared an onstage kiss with Madonna.

11/11/2003 21:03