The Guinness Book of Records reaffirmed US superstar Madonna, 65, as the best-selling artist of all time on Wednesday after she reportedly sold more than 400 million records in her 40-year career. According to the website “guinnessworldrecords.com”, the singer has held the record since 2009, followed by Rihanna (35), Mariah Carey (54), Taylor Swift (33) and Beyoncé (42).
Earlier this month, Madonna kicked off her “Celebration Tour” at London’s O2 Arena with a two-hour set in front of 20,000 enthusiastic spectators. In a tender moment, she congratulated her daughter Lourdes, who turned 27 on her mother’s opening night (October 14). As “People” magazine also reported, Madonna’s other children David (18), Mercy (17) and the twins Stelle and Estere (11) also came on stage to perform that evening. Son Rocco (23), however, supported his family members from the audience.
The pop star’s sold-out performances in London were the first stop on a 78-show world tour that will take her from Europe to North America until April 2024, before ending where she started.
The show has its raunchy and spectacular moments, including topless dancers, some costume changes, aerial stunts and more. In another segment, Madonna paid emotional tribute to those who died of AIDS, including her close friend, artist Keith Haring (1958-1990), while singing “Live to Tell.”
The tour is not something to be taken for granted, as she was seriously ill just a few weeks before.
The singer was taken to a New York hospital at the end of June. There she was allegedly given artificial ventilation in the intensive care unit. Madonna had “developed a serious bacterial infection that led to a stay in the intensive care unit for several days,” her manager Guy Oseary (51) said at the time. The US star then recovered at home with the family.
As “Mail Online” reported from the opening concert, she also spoke on stage about her serious illness. She revealed to her fans that she had completely forgotten “five days” of her life. She continued: “I didn’t think I would make it, and neither did my doctors.” What kept her alive? “I have to be there for my children. I have to survive for them,” she said in London.
