Madonna, the queen of pop, celebrated her 65th birthday on Wednesday with a selfie on her Instagram Stories, thanking her fans for their messages. The milestone comes two months after she suffered a serious bacterial infection that landed her in the intensive care unit in New York City.
The singer was found unresponsive at her home in June and was intubated for at least one night. She was later discharged and recovered at home with the support of her six children. She thanked them and her followers for their positive energy, prayers and words of healing and encouragement.
Madonna had been rehearsing for her highly anticipated “Celebration” tour, which marks the 40th anniversary of her iconic musical career. The tour was scheduled to begin in July in North America, but was postponed due to her health scare. Madonna wanted to resume the tour as soon as possible, but her management team and insurance company insisted she put the concerts on hold.
Earlier this month, Madonna announced that she had rescheduled her North American tour dates, which will now begin in December. The European leg of the tour will start in October with four sold-out shows in London. Some shows were canceled due to scheduling conflicts and ticket buyers will get refunded.
Madonna is known for being one of the greatest artists in recent music history, with a staggering catalog of chart toppers and pop perfection. She has also been a controversial and innovative figure, who has challenged stereotypes and conventions throughout her career.