London Opening Night Pictures – Billboard

After the opening night of The Celebration Tour in London on Saturday night (Oct. 14) at the O2 Arena, the verdict: Madonna is back.

Despite a brush with death, the Queen of Pop delivered over two hours of a show full of smash hits, killer deep cuts and a surprise or two (or three). As candid as ever, Madonna wasn’t shy about her June hospital stay, which pushed back the start of her celebration tour by three months due to a „severe bacterial infection.”

„I didn’t think I was going to make it,” she said bluntly at one point in the evening. „I have forgotten five days of my life—or death, and I don’t know where I am.” Madonna said it was her family that ultimately pulled her through. „My kids were there — my kids always save me every time.” In what Madonna calls her „secret” to survival, she says she tells herself, „I have to be there for my kids — I have to live for them.” Her five children were on stage with her at the start of the tour in London: Mercy James, David Banda, Lourdes, Esther and Stella. And, moving forward, at least four of her children will join her on stage every night as performers.

Accompanying him throughout the tour were Bob the Drag Queen, A RuPaul’s Drag Race Winner and LGBTQ comedy legend. Describing Madonna arriving at LaGuardia Airport in the late ’70s and arriving in New York City with only $35, Bob tossed a wad of cash into the crowd at the top of the show and said, „Use it and be a star.”

Check out pictures of the girl who did it below and check out the best moments from the tour here.