Madonna made a triumphant return to the stage with the opening night of her highly anticipated Celebration Tour at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday. Despite a previous health scare that delayed the tour, The Queen of Pop wowed the audience with a two-hour-plus performance filled with her iconic hits, deep cuts, and a few surprises.
Addressing her recent hospitalisation due to a severe bacterial infection that pushed back the tour’s start, Madonna candidly shared, “I didn’t think I was going to make it. I forgot five days of my life — or death, I didn’t really know where I was.” She credited her family, especially her children, for pulling her through and said they were her “secret” to survival.
During the London tour opener, Madonna was joined on stage by five of her children: Mercy James, David Banda, Lourdes, Esther, and Stella. It appears that four of her kids will be regular performers throughout the tour.
Adding to the excitement, Bob the Drag Queen, a RuPaul’s Drag Race winner and LGBTQ comedy sensation, is accompanying Madonna on the tour. Bob’s presence served as a reminder of Madonna’s arrival in New York City in the late ’70s with just $35 to her name, and they humorously encouraged the crowd to “use this and become a star.”
The Celebration Tour promises to be a remarkable comeback for Madonna, delighting fans with her enduring talent and resilience.
