What a confession! During a recent interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, actor Sean Penn candidly revealed he is still “very much” in love with his first wife, Madonna. When asked by host Stephen Colbert to choose between Madonna and Britney Spears as his favorite pop singer, the 57-year-old star replied, “Ah, I love my first wife very much. There’s no [comparison]… you don’t compare those things.”

Stephen then chimed in to say, “People compare them all the time! So, you’re going to go with Madonna?” to which Sean said, “Sure!” The Milk actor previously tied the knot with Madonna, 59, back in 1985 but the two divorced just four years later in 1989. At the time, the union was both Sean and Madonna’s first marriage, though the two have each since been hitched to one other person.

madonna and sean penn

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Sean and Madonna have actually remained incredibly close over the years and the pair has even publicly supported their respective charity efforts. Once during a December 2016 fundraising gala for the “Like a Prayer” singer’s organization, Raising Malawi, Sean actually proclaimed his love for Madonna on-stage at the event. “I’m still in love with you,” he told her in front of a huge audience.

Following his split from Madonna, Sean married actress Robin Wright in 1996. During their relationship, the couple welcomed two children, daughter Dylan Frances Penn, 26, and son Hopper Jack Penn, 24, together before they divorced in 2010. Madonna’s second husband was filmmaker Guy Ritchie, with whom she had son Rocco Ritchie, 17, and adopted son David Ritchie, 12. The music icon is additionally a mom to a 21-year-old daughter, Lourdes Leon — from a previous relationship with actor Carlos Leon — and has adopted three daughters, Mercy James, 12, Esther Ciccone, 5, and Stella Ciccone, 5, as a single mother. Maybe Madonna and Sean will get back together in the future!