MADONNA SERENADED BY HOME STATE CROWD.

MADONNA was serenaded by fans when she returned to her home state of Michigan on Sunday (03Au08) to show off her Africa documentary I AM BECAUSE WE ARE. The pop superstar doesn't turn 50 until 16 August, but 500 fans sang Happy Birthday to her at the event in Traverse City.

She was joined at the screening by her father Silvio, stepmother Joan, daughter Lourdes, and fellow Michigan native, filmmaker Michael Moore. Madonna - who grew up nearby - told those who turned out, "You can take the girl out of Michigan but you can't take Michigan out of the girl. "I don't get here enough. It's great to be bringing my movie to a place that feels familiar."

We hear she is reportedly studying the case files of several Malawian orphans as she attempts to adopt another child from the impoverished nation. The singer adopted tot David Banda from the African country in 2006 and subsequently launched her own charity, Raising Malawi, to help improve conditions there. And despite fighting a two-year battle to gain permanent custody of Banda, she is now said to be planning to adopt another Malawian child--a girl this time.

A source at the charity tells British newspaper The Daily Star, "Three orphanages have been visited already and photographs have been sent to her. "It is thought we are already down to a shortlist of ten girls aged between six and 18 months."