Cristina Scuccia, the singing nun who won Italy's version of The Voice, on Tuesday releases a first album containing an unlikely cover of Madonna's 1984 hit "Like a Virgin."
On her way to victory in the television singing contest, the 26-year-old from Sicily became a global Internet sensation with tens of millions clicking on YouTube recordings of her covers of Alicia Keys's "No One" and Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer."
Now, despite the misgivings of some Church traditionalists, she is planning to build on that success with the release of a collection of songs entitled "Sister Cristina."
In an interview with Italian television ahead of the release she insisted her showbiz career would not radically change her life based in a Milan convent, and defended the choice of Madonna's raunchy single as one of the tracks on the album.
"I looked at the words without thinking of the past: the defining characteristic of Christians is being able to see everything with a new eye," she said.
In earlier interviews, Scuccia had said the song struck a chord with her because she felt its account of being "touched for the very first time" was akin to her experience of finding God.
Madonna signalled her apparent approval by tweeting: "Sisters for Life! #touchedfortheveryfirsttime."
The post was accompanied by a photo-montage of herself in a suggestive pose next to a demure Scuccia, who appears pensive and is looking away from the scantily-clad veteran pop star.