After a delayed start, Madonna’s Celebration Tour finally kicked off on October 14 in London, with her daughters at her side.
The anniversary tour celebrates four decades of Madonna’s greatest hits. Though it was supposed to start in July, Madonna, 65, had to postpone when she was hospitalized with a bacterial infection shortly before the tour’s scheduled debut in Canada.
On opening night at the London O2 Arena, Madonna brought her daughters Lourdes Leon, 27, Mercy James, 17, and Estere, 11, to the stage amidst cheers of excitement.
Estere showed off her dance skills as a tribute to the ballroom community after the singer performed her classic 1990 hit “Vogue.“
Mercy James joined her mother for a piano performance.
Lourdes, who goes by the stage name Lolahol, recently released a tribute to her mother’s iconic “Frozen” music video from 1998.
Madonna kicks off her tour with six shows in London, all completely sold out. Her concert features 40 songs and pays a special tribute to Michael Jackson through visual effects in her performance. There are several costume changes throughout the show to honor the different eras in her music career.
It’s not uncommon for pop stars to bring their children out on stage with them. Beyoncé, Pink and Kelly Clarkson have all been joined by their daughters for a song or two in the past.
The Celebration Tour will spend a few nights in London before it takes off for the rest of the world, with stops throughout Europe. Shows will reach North America in December.
Madonna’s first U.S. show will be in Brooklyn.
This is Madonna’s first tour since 2020, and the show was not without some technical difficulties.
Early in the show Madonna had to pause for sound to reset. While technicians worked behind the scenes, Madonna spoke about the wild ride that has been her rise to stardom.
Later in the show, Madonna spoke between songs about the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
“It breaks my heart to see children suffering, teenagers suffering, elderly people suffering, all of it is heartbreaking,” she said. “Even though our hearts are broken, our spirits cannot be broken.”
