Italy’s singing nun defends cover of Madonna song

CRISTINA Scuccia, the singing nun who found fame after winning Italy’s version of The Voice, is set to release her debut album this week - including a cover of Madonna hit Like a Virgin.

Scuccia’s YouTube videos, showing her versions of songs by Alicia Keys and Bon Jovi, racked up millions of hits as the 26-year-old sang her way to victory on the television programme.

A member of the Ursuline Sisters of the Holy Family, her audition of No One, by Keys, has received over 51 million views online.

Among other popular videos were her covers of Bon Jovi anthem Living on a Prayer and Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, but it’s the inclusion of the raunchy 1984 single from Madonna that has church traditionalists up in arms.

Scuccia, from Sicily, will release a collection of songs entitled Sister Cristina and the nun told Italian TV that her fledgling showbiz career would not radically change her life.

“I looked at the words [of Like a Virgin] without thinking of the past: the defining characteristic of Christians is being able to see everything with a new eye,” Scuccia said.

In earlier interviews, she told the media that the song spoke to her because she felt the line about being ‘touched for the very first time’ was similar to her experience of finding God.

Madonna signalled her approval on Twitter, tweeting: “Sisters for Life! #touchedfortheveryfirsttime” along with a photo montage featuring the 56-year-old singer and the Italian nun.