Staying Fit
Music icon Madonna says she’s recovering from a serious health issue that forced her to postpone the start of her world tour.
“Thank you for your positive energy, prayers and words of healing and encouragement. I have felt your love,” the singer announced on Instagram Monday. “I’m on the road to recovery and incredibly grateful for all the blessings in my life.”
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On June 28, Madonna’s manager, Guy Oseary, announced that the singer had developed a “serious bacterial infection” that required a “several day stay in the ICU.” In a statement on Instagram, Oseary said: “At this time we will need to pause all commitments, which includes the tour.”
Madonna announced Monday that her “current plan is to reschedule the North American leg of the tour and to begin in October in Europe.” The European portion of the tour was already scheduled to begin in October. “My focus now is on my health and getting stronger and I assure you, I’ll be back with you as soon as I can!”
The star also recalled her initial reaction to being hospitalized. “My first thought when I woke up in the hospital was my children. My second thought was that I did not want to disappoint anyone who bought tickets for my tour. I also didn’t want to let down the people who worked tirelessly with me over the last few months to create my show. I hate to disappoint anyone.”
Tickets went on sale in January for Madonna’s “Celebration” tour, a series of greatest hits concerts that would have taken her to three dozen cities in North America and Europe from July through December.
In anticipation of the tour, AARP previously selected some songs we hoped Madonna would perform.
Madonna in 1984.
Michael Putland/Getty Images
The Material Girl Era
Madonna’s self-titled debut album, released in 1983, went to No. 8 on the pop chart and spawned three hit singles that were catchy and cute more than provocative. The accompanying music videos established the “Madonna look.” Her follow-up album, Like a Virgin, hit the next year and established her as a bold and dynamic artist, willing to take on more mature topics (the title track) and also express a wry sense of humor about the world that women are expected to inhabit (“Material Girl”).
