Madonna finally kicked off her highly anticipated Celebration Tour 20 minutes late on Saturday night after postponing her shows due to a serious health crisis.
The 65-year-old Queen of Pop presents an ambitious 45-song setlist highlighting her record-breaking 40-year career at the O2 Arena in Greenwich.
But even though the show was supposed to start at 8:30 p.m., it started about 20 minutes late while a drag queen entertained the audience.
No stranger to putting on a raunchy show, Madonna didn’t disappoint with one of her raunchiest concerts yet, donning a sexy red corset while surrounded by topless dancers.
The star, who also wore a dramatic bejeweled headpiece, then experienced technical problems and the show was interrupted shortly after it began.
Appearance: Madonna kicked off her highly anticipated Celebration Tour 20 minutes late on Saturday and the Queen of Pop didn’t disappoint with one of her raunchiest shows yet
She’s back: The Queen of Pop performs at the O2 Arena in Greenwich with a setlist highlighting her music across her 40-year career
Oh dear! Although the show was supposed to start at 8:30 p.m., it started about 20 minutes late while a drag queen entertained the audience
“That’s exactly what you want to avoid on your opening night!” she joked.
The singer spoke to her fans between songs and thanked them for their support after she was treated for acute septic shock: “Oh my God, it’s so nice to be back in London.” I’m quite surprised that I made it this far.
“I mean this on so many levels.” How did I get this far? Because of you. But I also accept a little recognition.
“It’s so good to see you again and be back. ‘I’m going to tell you my life story, but through music.’
She has previously performed hits including ‘Like A Prayer’, ‘Live To Tell’, ‘Holiday’ and ‘Nothing Really Matters’ – and revealed her children were in the audience at the ground-breaking opening show.
As is typical of her style, Madonna’s show was full of dramatic scenes and bold facial expressions.
Luminous crucifixes were projected on the screen during “Like A Prayer,” while she passionately smooched a dancer during her performance of “Hung Up.”
The “Papa Don’t Preach” hitmaker made a stunningly intimate confession to fans during her performance, discussing a time when she was “broke and homeless.”
She is back! The singer spoke to her fans between songs and thanked them for their support after she was treated for acute septic shock
Painful! Due to her recent health issues, Madonna enlisted the help of a knee brace during her high-energy shows
Sexy! No stranger to putting on a raunchy show, Madonna didn’t disappoint with one of her raunchiest concerts to date as she donned a sexy red corset while surrounded by topless dancers
Sensational! She has previously performed hits such as Like A Prayer, Live To Tell, Holiday and Nothing Really Matters – and revealed her children were in the audience
She said: “I was broke, homeless and hungry, but I didn’t want to go back because I’m not a quitter.” So I decided to become a musician
“I didn’t have money to take a bath or shower, so I actually dated men who had showers and toilets.”
Madonna also paid tribute to stars who died of AIDS on the show, including Freddie Mercury.
Photos of Mercury and Arthur Ashe were shown alongside a message that read, “In loving memory of the bright lights we lost to AIDS.”
This comes after it was reported that Madonna will embark on her upcoming Celebration Tour “at a slower pace” following a serious health scare in June.
The singer was forced to postpone her performances as she was being treated for acute septic shock, but officially began rehearsals in August.
An insider told The Mirror she is taking things “slower” and has “started boxing classes” thanks to her new boyfriend Josh Popper, 29, as well as yoga and weekly vitamin shots to aid recovery.
The icon was taken to intensive care and intubated after she was found slumped on the floor of her New York apartment.
Her family, who rushed to her bedside, were said to have “prepared for the worst” and “feared we might lose her.”
Preparations: Fans arrive at North Greenwich Station near the O2 Arena in Greenwich
Since Madonna couldn’t make the decision herself, they had to decide to postpone the highly anticipated tour.
Radar Online reported that to combat acute septic shock, she was given an injection of the drug Narcan, commonly used to treat suspected overdoses, before she was taken to the hospital.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body releases chemicals to fight an infection. These chemicals damage the body’s tissues and organs and can lead to shock, organ failure and death.
Bacteria can enter through cuts, wounds and the digestive system, among other places. Sepsis is triggered when the bacteria enter the bloodstream.
Doctors told that Madonna looked exhausted, thin and exhausted in the days before she almost died from the serious infection.
After reviewing photos taken in the days leading up to her illness, doctors said she appeared “exhausted” and “thin.”
Her skin also appears pale, which could be a sign of fatigue, Dr. said. Stuart Fischer, who has more than 40 years of medical experience.
In a photo posted on Instagram four days before her hospitalization with the caption “The calm before the storm,” she was seen lying on the floor while wearing a black jumpsuit and fishnet tights.
Dr. Fischer, who is also a former emergency room doctor in New York City, told after looking at the photos that she appeared to be “exhausted.”
“She looks exhausted,” he said.
“Intense rehearsals and the stress associated with large-scale performances undoubtedly pose a risk for immunosuppression and adverse health problems.”
“It is the doctor’s responsibility to point this out.” “Just because someone is an international celebrity doesn’t mean they are invulnerable.”
Recovery: The singer had to postpone her performances as she was being treated for acute septic shock, but officially resumed rehearsals in August (pictured 2022)
In a photo posted on Instagram four days before her hospitalization, she was seen lying on the floor while doctors told that Madonna looked exhausted, thin and exhausted
After her hospitalization, Madonna took over the Nassau Coliseum in New York City in August to prepare for the world tour.
According to one report, she then secretly rented an arena in the UK while rehearsing for her upcoming Celebration Tour.
The legendary singer headed to the AO venue in Manchester for some “intense last-minute rehearsals” to ensure everything went to plan.
Along with her army of backing dancers, Madonna and her team prepared for their first night at London’s O2 Arena.
After gaining access to the O2 due to Blink 182’s tour, she had less than 48 hours until the show, when she would normally train there the entire week before.
A source told The Sun: “Madonna’s tour is going to be epic.” She now has full days of rehearsals, some of which last 12 hours.
“The stage is the most elaborate she has ever taken on tour.”
“The tour is a celebration of her record-breaking career, so everything has to be perfect.”