Madonna sets 2008 on fire with new film Filth and Wisdom, a new CD, Hard Candy, a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and her 50th Birthday.

On the verge of turning 50, Madonna shows no signs of slowing down. With a new film and a new record coming out, a recent Grammy win for Best Long Form Music Video, as well as an honor by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Madonna works harder than women half her age.

In her first year of eligibility, Madonna will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Canadian singer-songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen, American down home rocker John Mellencamp, The Dave Clark Five and The Ventures.

On March 10 Justin Timberlake will present Madonna her award at a ceremony at New York’s famed Waldorf Astoria Hotel, celebrating a quarter century in the music business.

Madonna on Hard Candy

This week, Madonna announced the release date for new album Hard Candy. The follow up to her hugely successful Confessions on a Dancefloor will be released on April 29, 2008.

Madonna told NME “The album title is a juxtaposition of tough and sweetness…kind of like I’m gonna kick your ass but it’s going to make you feel good. And of course, I love candy.”

While she worked closely with Stuart Price, who has gone on to produce killer albums for Seal, on her last danceathon disc, this time Madonna has embraced a more hip hop sound and has recruited Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, Nate ‘Danja’ Hills, as well as boy wonder Justin Timberlake, with whom she duets on first single “4 minutes”, to collaborate on the sound of the new record.

Madonna on Filth and Wisdom

Along with a new CD, Madonna presented her directorial debut Filth and Wisdom, at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year. Her film follows three young roommates in London and their struggles to fulfill their dreams while working in unsatisfying jobs.

"One of the themes that I explore in the film is struggle,” Madonna said at a news conference promoting her film, “and if I look back to the beginning of my career I can recall those moments of struggle like it was yesterday."

Starting out as a short, Madonna “fell in love” with the characters and fleshed out an 81 minute movie that includes music from pal Britney Spears as well as Madonna classics such as “Erotica”. She did not include music from her new album Hard Candy.

Madonna on London Pubs

Along with music and film, Madonna likes draught beer as much as she likes candy. Madonna and husband, filmmaker, Guy Ritchie, bought their favorite watering hole, The Punchbowl, a London pub built in the 1750’s and one of the oldest pubs in the area.

"Madonna loves the beer and Guy meets all his pals down there," a friend of Madonna’s told the London Paper. "They have been desperate to own this place for a long time and have been making offers on it for ages. Now it has finally happened."

So while she may be celebrating a milestone birthday this August, Madonna continues to control the world of music, film and now beer.

Lead single, “4 Minutes” gets a digital release on March 26. Hard Candy hits the shops April 29, 2008.

Madonna will also allow UK Vodafone cell phone customers to buy one of 7 new tracks a day for about 99p each the week before release.