Madonna ‘burnt herself out’ trying to compete with touring pop stars like Taylor Swift: sources

Those close to Madonna worried the music icon pushed herself too far to compete with stars like Taylor Swift, sparking her serious illness.

Friends of Madonna fear she has been pushing herself too hard to compete with younger stars like Taylor Swift and Pink.

The Queen of Pop sent fans into a panic last week after a serious bacterial infection put her in intensive care for almost a week.

The 64-year-old was due to kick off a six-month world tour on July 15, and is now recovering at home in New York, surrounded by her kids.

But concerned friends have revealed she pushed herself to her physical limit to compete with younger singers such as Taylor and her epic international The Eras Tour.

An insider told The Sun: “The countdown was well and truly on. Madonna had all her chips on one number, which was this tour.

Madonna’s last Instagram post before her hospitalisation. Sources say she ‘burnt herself out’ trying to compete with other pop acts. Picture: madonna/Instgram

“She was working overtime, but she clearly burnt herself out and people around her have been politely reminding her that she is not 45 any more, let alone 25.

“She needed to pace herself. Pushing herself so hard was extremely risky.

“Madonna is in it to win it and working harder than anybody.”

Another friend feared she could have ended up like Michael Jackson, who died in the lead-up to his This Is It tour in 2009.

A source said: “Madonna was in good spirits before the incident, but some friends had encouraged her to take it easy and find time for rest because of the gruelling schedule she had ahead of her.

Taylor Swift performs during opening night of the Chicago Eras Tour in Chicago. Picture: Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

“Many of us feel the constant remarks about her age have put pressure on her to compete, so we are relieved that she has been forced to take time out and put her health first.

“People were really worried about her.

“Nobody would say it out loud but there were concerns about another Michael Jackson situation if she doesn’t slow down a bit.

The source said Madonna had “rejected a proposal to scale back on the tour as she still wants to deliver as many dates as possible when she’s regained her strength.”

“Everyone saw something like this coming because of her intense schedule but only a few were brave enough to tell her that they were concerned.

“Her condition is completely curable and she’s working with a group of doctors to boost her immune system.”

The pal added: “She’ll be back, I am 100 per cent sure of it. God bless her. I hope she is still working and still killing it at 100.”

MADONNA BACK HOME AND FEELING BETTER

Madonna has been discharged from hospital to recover from a mystery illness at her New York City home, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.

“She’s in the clear,” the individual told CNN.

She was transported home in a private ambulance five days after she was first rushed to intensive care with a serious bacterial infection.

“She’s back home and feeling better,” another source told People Magazine.

Madonna has been discharged from hospital to recover in her New York home. Picture: AFP

It’s a remarkable turnaround less than a week after the star’s management team reportedly held a crisis meeting on Zoom over fears she would not survive the still-unknown illness, with her family “preparing for the worst”.

“For the past couple of days, no one really knew which direction this was going to turn, and her family was preparing for the worst. That is why it was kept a secret since Saturday,” a family member told The Daily Mail.

“Everyone believed that we may lose her and that has been the reality of the situation.”

A group of long-time staffers, meanwhile, feared the July 15 opening night of her Celebration world tour was too close, “even if she was to recover quickly”.

“She would be very behind in her rehearsing schedule and nobody wanted to put her under any pressure,” a source told the outlet.

“The simple fact is that nobody knew at this point how it was going to all end. Madonna was very ill and in these situations there are always fears for the worst.”

MADONNA’S ILLNESS SPARKED MICHAEL JACKSON FEARS

Shocked Madonna fans have speculated on whether the star’s alleged plastic surgery was the cause of the serious bacterial infection that has forced her to postpone her world tour.

The 64-year-old music icon was forced to delay her highly anticipated Celebration world tour after her stay in the intensive care unit of a New York City hospital.

It comes amid reports that the superstar was “strenuously rehearsing” for the global stadium tour, which was due to kick off in Vancouver on July 15 before dates across the US and Europe.

Madonna pictured during rehearsals for her Celebration world tour, which has been cancelled. Picture: Madonna/Instagram

“She has been putting in 12-hour days,” an insider told The New York Post.

“She was strenuously rehearsing and putting in the work.”

Some of the star’s fans took to social media after the shocking news, asking if her health battle could be related to her alleged cosmetic surgery and use of fillers.

Madonna was rushed to intensive care after being found unresponsive. Picture: Getty Images

“Was the bacterial infection caused by all the plastic surgery she’s had? Honestly asking,” one person tweeted.

“Sounds like there’s more to the story!” one fan commented on a New York Post story.

Another fan noted on Twitter that Madonna’s medical drama reminded her of the heath battles of the late Michael Jackson, who died shortly before a 50-night residency slot at London’s O2 Arena.

“Reminding me of MJ, she needs to take it easy, the tour might be too much,” the fan tweeted.

The star’s longtime manager, Guy Oseary, issued a statement on social media saying that Madonna had stayed in the intensive care unit for several days after a bacterial infection.

Madonna’s last Instagram post before her health drama. Picture: Madonna/Instagram

“On Saturday June 24, Madonna developed a serious bacterial infection which led to a several day stay in the ICU,” Oseary wrote in a post on Instagram.

“Her health is improving, however she is still under medical care.”

Oseary said Madonna’s team expected a “full recovery,” but would “pause all commitments,” including the Celebration tour.

The star has postponed her Celebration tour. Picture: Madonna/Instagram

More information and rescheduled tour dates would be released soon, he said.

“We will share more details with you as soon as we have them, including a new start date for the tour and for rescheduled shows,” Oseary said.

Madonna was found unresponsive and then quickly rushed to a New York City hospital on Saturday, Page Six reported.

She was then intubated for an evening and is now conscious, according to a source.

The pop star’s daughter, Lourdes Leon, was also said to have been by her mother’s side throughout the health crisis.

Originally published as Madonna ‘burnt herself out’ trying to compete with touring pop stars like Taylor Swift: sources