When a celebrity goes by their first name only and is instantly identifiable, you know they're a big deal. From Elvis to Oprah, Rihanna to Beyoncé, these stars are so iconic that no last name is needed—and "Like a Virgin" singer Madonna is definitely included in this category. The Queen of Pop, who was at the height of her fame in the '80s and '90s, still has a loyal fan base to this day, and they were understandably concerned when news broke in June 2023 that she'd been hospitalized.
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It's easy for fans to freeze celebrities in their minds at the age at which they became famous. However, Madonna is 64 (and turns 65 in August) and isn't exactly young anymore. So why did she wind up in the hospital, anyway? Let's take a closer look at what happened to Madonna and what she posted to Instagram following her health scare.
Madonna was hospitalized in June 2023 for an infection.
Madonna's manager Guy Oseary confirmed via Instagram on June 28 that she had been admitted to a hospital. "On Saturday June 24, Madonna developed a serious bacterial infection which [led] to a several day stay in the ICU," he wrote. "Her health is improving, however she is still under medical care. A full recovery is expected. At this time we will need to pause all commitments, which includes the tour."
On July 10, Madonna broke her silence about the hospitalization.
Although Oseary promised that more details would be shared once they were known, nothing more was revealed until Madonna broke her silence on July 10. She thanked her Instagram followers for their "positive energy, prayers, and words of healing and encouragement."
"I have felt your love," Madonna wrote. "I'm on the road to recovery and incredibly grateful for all the blessings in my life. My first thought when I woke up in the hospital was my children. My second thought was that I did not want to disappointment anyone who bought tickets for my tour. I also didn't want to let down the people who worked tirelessly with me over the last few months to create my show. I hate to disappoint anyone."
She also posted a selfie, reassuring fans that she would be back.
Madonna's message continued with her promising fans that she was on the mend and would return to the stage. (She also posted a selfie as proof.)
"My focus now is my health and getting stronger and I assure you, I'll be back with you as soon as I can!" Madonna continued. "The current plan is to reschedule the North American leg of the tour and to begin in October in Europe. I couldn't be more grateful for your care and support. Love, M."
In December 2020, Madonna had hip surgery.
Although folks of any age can require hospitalization for an infection, Madonna's most recent health scare serves as a reminder that no one is immune from scary complications from a seemingly mild condition. As much as she might try, Madonna isn't exempt from the effects of aging, either. In fact, she underwent hip surgery in December 2020 — and posted a photo showing her scar not long afterward.
This isn't the first time she's been forced to cancel during a tour.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time Madonna has had to cancel while on tour. In 2019, she canceled the last date of her Madame X tour due to an unspecified injury, which had caused pain she said was "indescribable for the past few days," USA Today reported at the time. Other shows were postponed or canceled during that tour as well.
Hopefully with more rest, Madonna will be 100% recovered and back to herself following her recent hospital stay. Get well soon!
