Inside Madonna’s top secret tour comeback plan complete with gruelling routines and private rehearsal space
I’M happy to report Madonna has restarted rehearsals for her Celebration Tour after a severe bacterial infection put her in intensive care.
It was touch and go as to whether the highly anticipated world trek would even go ahead after her shock admission to hospitalisation in June.
But the Queen of Pop has once again set up camp at the Nassau Coliseum in New York, booking out the venue for two months.
Music insiders tell me she has also splashed out on a top-secret UK venue to rehearse in ahead of her first night at London’s O2 Arena on October 14.
A source said: “She is very much still in recovery but Madonna has been chomping at the bit to get back to rehearsals.
“Not only has she hired the Coliseum in New York but she’s also hired out a second venue in London for the final week of dress rehearsals.
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“Normally she would like to have the final week in the same venue she kicks off in.
“But due to Blink-182’s comeback gigs at the O2, her team won’t be able to get access until the day before.”
The schedule conflict means rehearsal-obsessed Madonna will have less than 48 hours before lights down to perfect the show.
Last month, Madonna told fans she felt lucky to be alive and “thanked her angels for letting her stay to finish her work”.
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The Like A Virgin singer said: “I realised how lucky I am to be alive. And how fortunate I am.
“Thank you to all my angels who protected me and let me stay to finish doing my work.”
She’s famously unpredictable. But if there’s one thing you can guarantee about Madonna, it is that you can’t keep her down for long.
I’ve no doubt her Celebration Tour will be nothing short of spectacular.
Pedro in fix with mums
PEDRO Santos says his DMs are full of mums trying to set him up with their daughters.
The rising Portugese star, who is part of boyband Here At Last, tells me despite being flooded with offers, he couldn’t imagine anything worse.
Singer Pedro, who has 1.3million followers on TikTok, told me: “I’ve had multiple mums trying to set me up with their daughters, which to be honest I don’t think anything can get weirder or awkward than that.
“Especially when they do it in person.”
Roman builds up his empire
ROMAN Kemp is proving to be a shrewd businessman.
That’s on top of his talents as a Capital FM DJ and rising TV host thanks to his new BBC quiz show, The Finish Line.
Millionaire Roman has now pumped £500,000 into a new property venture so he can further his fortune.
A source said: “He is incredibly clever and investing his money wisely.
“Most young stars like to splash the cash and party their earnings up the wall but Roman is a smart operator.
“He started his RKMP Investments Ltd business to invest in buy-to-let.”
I am sure his dad, Spandau Ballet bass player Martin, would approve.
New paperwork filed by Roman’s companies also reveal his main firm is now worth £1.9million, with cash reserves of £1.5million.
I’m in the wrong job.
Matt: I’d go back to Sin City
MATT Goss admits he would live in Las Vegas again if the right opportunity came along.
The Bros singer relocated back to the UK last year after spending a decade in Sin City.
He said in an exclusive chat: “I haven’t ruled out going back to Vegas and I might do some spot shows.
“I was at the Mirage, and I might go to Caesars.”
Matt recently completed an 18-day tour with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and is preparing to release new music.
He added: “I have a record at the end of this month. It’s a deep, deep soul track.
“As a pop star, you’ve got to give it some and I want to go out and lift people’s energy.
“I don’t want people thinking about their f**ing bills and their problems. It’s so depressing.
“I want to be this country’s optimist.”
Music isn’t the only thing on Matt’s horizon, as he is preparing to make moves in the fashion world.
He said: “I’m going to get into fashion as well.
“It is very, very exciting and there’s a collaboration I’m about to do.
“And it is one of the most exciting things for me, because I love fashion.”
I am expecting some sharp suits and very shiny shoes.
Liam eyes a fifth No1
LIAM Gallagher is on track for a fifth solo No1 album.
His live record Knebworth 22, recorded during sell-out gigs at the famous venue in Hertfordshire last year, is currently sitting strongly in the top spot.
The former Oasis singer will have to fight off competition from The Hives, who are close behind with their sixth album, The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons.
As well as four No1 albums under his belt from solo music, Liam has another eight with Oasis.
If Knebworth 22 is still top come Friday’s official chart announcement, it will be, as Liam might say, “Biblical”.
IT’S WATER WINGS FOR FLORENCE
FLORENCE Welch has the voice of an angel and looked like one too as she took to the stage.
The Heaven Is Here singer wore this all-white dress with huge lace wings as her band Florence And The Machine headlined Boardmasters Festival in Cornwall yesterday.
The Met Office had warned it might pour down with rain but thousands gathered despite the terrible weather.
The group didn’t arrive on stage until 9pm but they soon warmed up a cold and wet crowd by belting out hits including Dog Days Are Over and You’ve Got the Love.
Rain battered the 53,000-strong audience for the most of the day but it didn’t dampen spirits too much as Tion Wayne, Tom Zanetti and Caity Baser also performed.
Kylie adds ten dates in Vegas
KYLIE Minogue will announce ten new dates for her Las Vegas residency.
Insiders tell me she was keen to get more fans to her shows at the Voltaire nightclub in the Venetian Hotel after her gigs sold out in minutes.
A source said: “She was blown away by the support from her fans when the tickets were first put on sale.
“Kylie has decided to add extra dates to cope with demand and give her fans who didn’t get tickets the first time around the chance to see her at Voltaire.
“It is still being decided exactly when the additional dates will be tacked on but it’s likely these performances will take place in December or early next year.”
NICKI Minaj has teased her comeback single by leaking a series of lyrics online.
Rather than her usual savage barbs, it seems Nicki has gone soft on us.
The Super Bass singer tweeted tonight: “I wish I’da hugged you tighter the last time that I saw you.
The mystery track is set to appear on her delayed fifth album, Pink Friday 2, due out on November 17.
TOM’S BIG KNIGHT OUT
WITH filming on Venom 3 shut down due to the Hollywood strike, Tom Hardy has a lot more time on his hands.
And, randomly, he ended up in a medieval sword fight at the weekend.
It’s a good job the actor had a shield and a full set of body armour, because the guy he was fighting hit him with an axe.
But it was all fun and games, as Tom was enjoying a day out at The Kingdom of Loxwood Festival in West Sussex, where full-contact medieval fighting is a part of the entertainment.
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Martial arts fan Tom shared his experience on Instagram and said: “This might have happened today, as you do.
“Random day out in the English countryside nipping to the shops. Thanks for the beatings.”