IT wasn’t just tour rehearsals which had Madonna feeling exhausted ahead of her collapse last weekend.
I can reveal that just hours before being found unresponsive in her New York home, the Like A Prayer singer was locked in the studio with fellow pop superstar Katy Perry.
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Madge is reported to have felt under the weather in the run-up to her shock blackout but she was determined to push on with her gruelling schedule.
This included punishing 12-hour days rehearsing at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island ahead of her 84-date Celebration tour, which has now been postponed.
The superstar had also been working with Katy on a special project as part of her celebrations to mark her 40 years in the business.
A source said: “Madonna has long admired Katy and they have worked together before but never managed to actually put anything out.
“Madonna has been working around the clock to make sure both her music and her world tour are second to none.
“Obviously everything has been put on hold now but the fact she was in the studio with Katy just hours before being rushed to the ICU shows how determined she was to push ahead despite feeling unwell.”
On the same day, Madonna was also spotted visiting New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is the location for the world-famous A-lister black-tie fundriaser, the Met Gala.
Work on ice
The music icon is said to have been suffering with illness for a month but refused to cut down her schedule as she was determined to make sure everything was perfect.
Madonna’s Celebration Tour was due to kick off in Vancouver, Canada in a fortnight’s time.
The trek included five sold-out nights at London’s O2 Arena in October and December.
However, earlier this week her manager confirmed all work commitments are now on ice while Madonna recovers.
The Material Girl was raced to the hospital last Saturday after developing a serious bacterial infection.
Her manager Guy Oseary, who has worked with the superstar for decades, said: “Her health is improving, however she is still under medical care. A full recovery is expected.”
She is now understood to have been discharged and is back at her New York home but is under the watchful eyes of doctors.
Godspeed, Madge.
Sam lands a £20million payday
SAM Smith has had an incredible year thanks to big comeback track Unholy, a hit tour and No1 album Gloria.
But it has been an even better year for the Grammy winner’s bank account, as their firm raked in £60,000 a day.
New figures at Companies House for music publishing company SSW Recordings show the singer had a turnover of more than £20million after signing a lucrative new music contract.
Their November 2021 publishing deal with Warner Chappell is believed to be reflected in the numbers, which cover the period from July 2021 to June 2022.
A strategic report said: “The artist has been extremely successful and is hugely popular.”
Sam recently axed shows due to illness, but this will bring some joy.
Biffy: Without support we’d be just like Lew
BIFFY Clyro have sympathised with their fellow Scotsman Lewis Capaldi, admitting they would have had to take a break for their mental health if they didn’t have each other’s help.
The group, consisting of frontman Simon Neil and twins James and Ben Johnston, have been together for almost three decades and they said there have been tough times, just like those which the Someone You Loved singer is experiencing now.
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Lewis has cancelled his shows for the foreseeable future to look after himself.
In an exclusive chat at the O2 Silver Clef Awards in London yesterday, Simon said: “You need a lot of stamina when you’re going on the road.
And we’re lucky that I guess as a band we’ve got each other.
“That can give you a support network that perhaps can stave off those moments of panic.
“Someone like Lewis, he’s experiencing it all himself – the pressure to be charming, funny, sing amazing. And he’s obviously struggling. We’ve been close to those points, but we’ve always been able to rejuvenate and kind of come back. But that’s because we have support from each other.”
They won the Best Live Act gong at the ceremony, which was raising money for the music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins, while other winners included Wet Leg for the New Music Award and Nova Twins with the Innovation Award.
Neneh Cherry was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement award, but the Swedish singer has ruled out any involvement in Eurovision next year.
Asked about the possibility, she said: “No, no, no, no.” I’ll take that as a no, then.
Stormzy took home the flagship O2 Silver Clef Award.
Read Related Also: Kate Winslet Tracked Leonardo DiCaprio Down to Convince Him to Star in ‘Titanic’
But it was lucky he was there in time to collect it, given he turned up at 3.30pm – four hours after guests were told to arrive for the red carpet.
Perhaps he should celebrate his achievement by buying a watch.
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Forget it, Noel
NOEL Gallagher has claimed he and brother Liam were so drunk in the Nineties that they can’t remember recording some of their biggest Oasis hits.
On tonight’s Later With . . . Jools Holland show on BBC Two, the High Flying Birds rocker says: “We’d work through the night . . . but we had to re-do everything as we were drinking.
“Now I always start at midday and finish at 6pm. I can’t be bothered working after 6pm as there is football and things to watch.”
Olivin’ it up in NYC
OLIVIA Rodrigo has moved to New York from LA as she launches her new music.
Yesterday she dropped Vampire, from her second album Guts, and posed for this snap to promote it.
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And she revealed her new home in the Big Apple was already proving to be inspiring.
She told Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 Radio: “I’ve been enjoying it a lot. We actually made a lot of the album at Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village over here. And it’s just so inspiring, I love the energy.
“I feel like you can have organic, spontaneous experiences here.”
K-Pop’s Pop-up
BLACKPINK have launched a pop-up shop in central London to celebrate their biggest ever show at BST Hyde Park tomorrow.
The K-pop group’s fans can get limited-edition merchandise at the Born Pink Pop-Up Experience at One Marylebone until 7pm today.
There are special perks for American Express customers and also a Blackpink photobooth for fans to use.
Cheryl’s bloomin’ gorgeous
CHERYL looked as fresh as a daisy while celebrating her 40th birthday – in a pair of floral shades.
She wore this colourful outfit yesterday during a getaway to Suffolk, where she was joined by her Girls Aloud bandmates along with other friends.
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The Call My Name singer hired a special area at the area’s Wilderness Reserve and treated her pals to food and drink.
They say that life begins at 40, so I’m really looking forward to seeing what Cheryl does next.
‘El of a night
ELTON John’s headline Glastonbury set has sent sales soaring.
HMV has seen demand for the superstar’s compilation album Diamonds rocket by 922 per cent – and it is up to No2 in the charts.
And support shown by the festival crowd for Lewis Capaldi has been replicated in album sales with a 142 per cent increase.
While Lizzo’s feisty performance at Worthy Farm saw sales spike 419 per cent.
Bey good enough to eat
Sacre bleu!
I never imagined I’d see Beyonce eating something that isn’s super-organic or nutritious.
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But the health-conscious superstar posed with this croissant in Paris.
She has been enjoying a break from her high-energy Renaissance tour in the French capital and wore this denim outfit for an impromptu photoshoot, showing off a Louis Vuitton handbag worth £4,000.
Beyonce, who was joined by rapper husband Jay-Z, was praised by Lizzo, who watched Bey’s final European show, in Warsaw.
The singer wrote on Instagram: “In that moment I was thinking about baby me, listening to Happy Face by Destiny’s Child and crying myself to sleep because of bullies. I think of what we all mean to people and how cyclical it is. We are all so infinitesimily and maximally connected and significant. Thank you @beyonce.”
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