EXCLUSIVE: Madonna, 64, was deeply 'affected' by harsh criticism of her changing face and is determined to 'look more like her old self' ahead of her sold-out global tour - so she can ensure it is 'perfect' for fans
- Madonna is due to embark on her 80-show Celebration Tour on July 15, starting in Vancouver, before traveling across the globe
- Sources tell DailyMail.com that the popstar is doing everything she can to make the tour 'perfect' - including honing her appearance
- Earlier this year, Madonna came under fierce scrutiny over her appearance at the Grammy Awards, where she showed off a dramatically different look
Madonna is determined to 'look more like her old self' for her sold-out Celebration Tour - and has vowed to return to a more natural look after coming under fierce criticism over her changing appearance.
The 64-year-old music icon sparked a wave of plastic surgery speculation after she was seen modeling a drastically different look at the 2023 Grammy Awards in February.
And while Madonna was quick to slam the critical comments about her looks - while denying any plastic surgery rumors - behind the scenes, an insider says she was deeply 'affected' by the criticism and is taking steps to ensure that she returns to her more natural self before hitting the stage for her first concert on July 15.
'Despite what people think, the criticism over her drastically different appearance does affect her,' the source revealed to DailyMail.com, adding that Madonna is currently undergoing procedures that will restore her natural looks.
'She sees and hears what people say about her and, for the tour, she wants to look more like herself again for her fans.'
![Madonna was deeply 'affected' by the criticism over her drastically altered appearance at the Grammys (pictured) and is determined to 'look more like her old self' for her upcoming tour](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/06/16/69483085-11939055-Frozen_Madonna_photographed_at_The_Grammy_Awards_in_February_was-a-73_1680795995090.jpg)
Madonna was deeply 'affected' by the criticism over her drastically altered appearance at the Grammys (pictured) and is determined to 'look more like her old self' for her upcoming tour
![The 64-year-old is taking steps to return to a more natural look, a source told DailyMail.com - and the singer has already started looking more like her old self (seen in March)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/07/16/69514675-11939055-Who_s_That_Girl_Six_weeks_later_Madonna_flaunted_a_more_recognoz-m-52_1680881535810.jpg)
The 64-year-old is taking steps to return to a more natural look, a source told DailyMail.com - and the singer has already started looking more like her old self (seen in March)
![The Material Girl (photographed at the Met Gala in 2017) stated in 2012: 'I am certainly not against having plastic surgery. However I am against having to discuss it'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/06/16/69483071-11939055-The_Material_Girl_photographed_at_the_Met_Gala_in_2017_stated_in-a-71_1680795995028.jpg)
The Material Girl (photographed at the Met Gala in 2017) stated in 2012: 'I am certainly not against having plastic surgery. However I am against having to discuss it'
And Madonna's famous face is not the only thing that fans will be treated to when she steps out on stage for her 80-show tour.
According to the source, the chart-topper and mother-of-six is also planning to enlist her children - Lourdes, 26, Rocco, 22, David, 17, Mercy 17, and 10-year-old twins Stella and Estere - in her shows, with the insider revealing: 'She will be bringing them along on tour and will include them in the show.'
Madonna, who is infamous for her perfectionism, is sparing no expense or effort on the tour because she knows it may be her last, the insider continued, revealing: 'Madonna is really turning it out. She is in incredible shape and is going to kill it with this tour.
'It may be her last tour, so she wants to make it perfect. She is incredible shape and her body is sick.'
'This is her labor of love,' the insider adds. 'Her perfectionism is driving everyone up the wall but she does not care. The crew is working their a** off because everyone wants to make her happy.
'She has no issues whatsoever with firing someone at the drop of a hat.'
In terms of the visual aesthetics of the show, the insider tells DailyMail.com that she chose to work with a clean slate.
'She wanted younger dancers and she is using a fresh crew this time around,' they explained. 'Madonna likes creative people who can take direction. She is usually not one to take suggestions and knows what she wants.'
DailyMail.com reached out to representatives for Madonna, who declined to comment.
In addition, the source says that The Celebration Tour, which will bring her across several countries in North America and Europe from July 2023 until January 2024, 'will be a visually mind-blowing and a total delight to the senses.'
In February, Madonna shocked the world when she appeared at the Grammy Awards looking drastically different - featuring a puffed up tight-skinned face.
She poked fun at herself two weeks later in a slimmed-down photo that featured the caption: 'Look how cute I am now that the swelling from surgery has gone down.'
Six weeks after the award show drama, Madonna shared behind the scenes tour preparation footage with her fans on Instagram.
In the post, the singer seemed to strip away the filters and fillers, as she flaunted a much more natural look.
In a separate recent video, Madonna looks very much herself as she strums a guitar during a tour rehearsal.
Over the years, Madonna has gained the reputation of being a difficult boss to work for - especially when on the road.
In a documentary about her 2016 Rebel Hearts Tour, she was completely unapologetic about this.
![A source tells DailyMail.com that Madonna's six kids (Lourdes, 26, David, 17, Mercy, 17, and 10-year-old twins Stella and Estere seen here at home in 2022) in her show](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/06/16/69483079-11939055-A_source_tells_DailyMail_com_that_Madonna_s_six_kids_Lourdes_26_-a-72_1680795995070.jpg)
A source tells DailyMail.com that Madonna's six kids (Lourdes, 26, David, 17, Mercy, 17, and 10-year-old twins Stella and Estere seen here at home in 2022) in her show
![Militant Madonna: The iconic singer (photographed here at MTV awards in 2021) 'is extremely indecisive and keeps changing things. One change after another after another'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/06/16/67412421-11939055-Militant_Madonna_The_iconic_singer_photographed_here_at_MTV_awar-a-75_1680795995173.jpg)
Militant Madonna: The iconic singer (photographed here at MTV awards in 2021) 'is extremely indecisive and keeps changing things. One change after another after another'
![More to come! The singer recently shared that she is adding eight more dates to to her Celebration Tour, including a stop in Nashville, where she will donate proceeds to support trans right](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/06/16/69349795-11939055-More_to_come_The_singer_recently_shared_that_she_is_adding_eight-a-74_1680795995165.jpg)
More to come! The singer recently shared that she is adding eight more dates to to her Celebration Tour, including a stop in Nashville, where she will donate proceeds to support trans right
'I know that I can be difficult and demanding and push you, and sometimes my ego is out of control, but I am a Leo.'
In the film, she also showed footage of the grueling process that her dancers on tour must go through. 'She wants the best, and she wants people who work really hard,' one dancer asserts of Madonna.
Madonna announced The Celebration tour in January 2023. At the time of her announcement she said in a statement: 'I am excited to explore as many songs as possible in hopes to give my fans the show they have been waiting for.'
At the time of her announcement in January, Madonna said in a statement: 'I am excited to explore as many songs as possible in hopes to give my fans the show they have been waiting for.'
Following the uproar caused by her drastically different appearance at the Grammy's in February, she addressed the haters by stating that she 'isn't going to start' apologizing for the way she looks.
'I wanted to give the last award which was Album of the year, but I thought it was more important that I present the first trans-woman performing at the Grammys — a history making moment,' Madonna wrote.
'Instead of focusing on what I said in my speech which was about giving thanks for the fearlessness of artists like Sam and Kim, many people chose to only talk about close-up photos of me taken with a long lens camera by a press photographer that would distort anyone's face!!'
'Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny,' she stated.
'I have never apologized for any of the creative choices I have made nor the way that I look or dress and I'm not going to start.'
She continued, 'I have been degraded by the media since the beginning of my career but I understand that this is all a test and I am happy to do the trailblazing so that all the women behind me can have an easier time in the years to come.'
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