Madonna Addresses Health Concerns and Tour

Madonna spoke out yesterday for the first time since being hospitalized with a medical emergency last month. She confirmed in an Instagram post that the North American dates of her Celebration tour will be rescheduled, and that the tour will now begin in Europe in October. “Thank you for your positive energy, prayers and words of healing and encouragement,” the 64-year-old singer wrote. “I’m on the road to recovery and incredibly grateful for all the blessings in my life. 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 Celebration tour was originally scheduled to begin July 15th in Vancouver, but the singer was rushed to the hospital on June 24th with an unspecified “serious bacterial infection” that led to several days in an intensive care unit. Madonna was reportedly pushing herself to the limit in rehearsals for the tour, feeling intense pressure to deliver a blockbuster show that can compete with younger acts like Beyonce and Taylor Swift.