Madonna home from hospital after 'serious bacterial infection'

International pop star will postpone world tour after ICU hospital admission to address health issue

Pop star Madonna performs on stage in Medellin, Colombia, in April 2022. AFP

Madonna is recovering at home after falling ill with a “serious bacterial infection” that sent her to an intensive care unit for several days, reports said on Thursday.

People close to the pop music star told People magazine, Fox News and CNN that she is recuperating at home.

“Her health is improving,” her manager Guy Oseary said in a social media statement announcing the hospital admission on Wednesday. “A full recovery is expected.”

Mr Oseary said the pop star's “Celebrations” tour, due to start on July 15 in Vancouver, Canada, was postponed until further notice.

The global, nearly sold-out tour was billed as paying homage to Madonna's more than four-decade career.

Stops in the US were to include Detroit, Chicago, Miami and New York, the city where her rise to superstardom began.

Madonna, 64, was then scheduled to tour in Europe in autumn, with dates in London, Barcelona and Paris.

The Grammy-winning megastar behind classics including Like a Virgin and Material Girl has asserted incalculable influence over her stellar career.

Mr Oseary said he would provide more information when it became available, including a new starting date for the tour and rescheduled shows.

In 2020, Madonna underwent hip replacement surgery after an injury sustained on her Madame X tour.

Born in 1958, the Catholic-educated artist went to New York in 1977 with just $35 in her pocket.

Her first big single was Everybody in 1982, followed by a string of hits including Lucky Star, Borderline and Holiday.

Madonna through the years – in photos