Friends and insiders close to Madonna, the acclaimed Queen of Pop, have expressed concern over her recent hospitalization in an intensive care unit (ICU), resulting from an attempt to rival the performance energy of younger pop sensations, such as Taylor Swift and Pink.
Madonna, a veritable icon at 64, was reportedly pushing her physical boundaries in preparation for her eagerly-awaited “Celebration” tour.
This intense regimen resulted in her unexpected collapse and subsequent multi-day intubation, according to information revealed to the Sun by anonymous sources.
A source shared with the Sun, “The countdown was well and truly on. Madonna had all her chips on one number, which was this tour. She was working overtime, but she clearly burnt herself out and people around her have been politely reminding her that she is not 45 anymore, let alone 25. She needed to pace herself. Pushing herself so hard was extremely risky.”
Indeed, the music industry is a challenging field, and it’s not uncommon for stars to undertake rigorous tours.
Swift, 33, has been regularly captivating audiences with four-hour performances, while Pink, 43, astonishes her fans with breathtaking aerial stunts.
In an effort to remain competitive, Madonna subjected herself to grueling rehearsals that ultimately imposed a heavy toll on her body.
Madonna’s confidantes, observing her physical strain, expressed concerns about a potentially tragic scenario similar to Michael Jackson’s, who died prematurely in 2009 during preparations for his “This Is It” tour.
A source spoke to the Sun about the singer’s state prior to the incident: “Madonna was in good spirits before the incident, but some friends had encouraged her to take it easy and find time for rest because of the grueling schedule she had ahead of her. Many of us feel the constant remarks about her age have put pressure on her to compete, so we are relieved that she has been forced to take time out and put her health first. People were really worried about her.”
There were fears that Madonna’s relentless schedule could have potentially fatal repercussions, with the source stating, “Nobody would say it out loud but there were concerns about another Michael Jackson situation if she doesn’t slow down a bit.”
These apprehensions were voiced a day after a close friend of Madonna told Page Six that the singer had been pushing herself to keep pace with her dancers, who are significantly younger.
The legendary “Like A Virgin” singer was spending long, 12-hour days rehearsing at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, for her extensive 84-date tour, weeks before her health scare.
This tour was scheduled to begin on July 15 but has been temporarily halted due to her hospitalization.
Madonna was found unresponsive last Saturday after an intense studio session with fellow artist Katy Perry.
The pop icon was intubated in the ICU for several days after being diagnosed with a “serious bacterial infection”, which doctors suspect originated from an undisclosed month-long fever she had been battling while in intensive rehearsal.
Despite her recent health issues, Madonna, the “A League of Their Own” actress, does not intend to lessen her commitment to her rescheduled “Celebration” tour.
A source disclosed to the Sun, “She is home, happy and taking meetings, and she has rejected a proposal to scale back on the tour as she still wants to deliver as many dates as possible when she’s regained her strength. Her condition is completely curable and she’s working with a group of doctors to boost her immune system. She’ll be back, I am 100% sure of it. God bless her. I hope she is still working and still killing it at 100.”
As we wish Madonna a swift recovery, her situation underscores the taxing demands of maintaining a high-profile music career in an industry that is constantly evolving and fiercely competitive.
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