Madonna’s US Celebration Tour Starts Very Late, But Worth Wait

Madonna's Celebration Tour has finally landed in the U.S. Thursday night (December 14). However, the Queen of Pop was again painfully late in starting the show at New York City's Barclays Center. Arriving nearly at 11 pm, the 65-year-old "Hung Up" singer addressed her frightening bacterial infection that occurred over the summer, delaying her tour. After performing the first three songs of the night, Madonna told her fans, "The enthusiasm, the joy, it’s just coming out of my pores. It’s amazing. Touch me right now. Please, someone, touch me." She adds, "No one is more surprised that I have made it this far than me. Yeah, four decades, motherf---ers! And I got to tell you, I didn’t think I was going to make it this summer, but here I am. Thank you for having me. Thank you for standing by me, for your support, your love."

The first of her three Brooklyn sold-out shows featured an elaborate stage, including a spinning circular stage and pyramids of lasers. Some notable performances include her coming out with a guitar and a leather outfit. She told the crowd, "It’s a miracle that I’m alive... I feel like I’m one of the lucky ones. … Let’s take a moment to be grateful.” With that, she asked the crowd to turn on their phone flashlights and sang a stripped-down rendition of Gloria Gaynor’s "I Will Survive." Another notable highlight was "La Isla Bonita" with her son David Banda on guitar. During a voguing competition with her dancers later in her set, Madonna brought up Julia Garner to be a judge. Fans went wild, as there has been much online chatter petitioning Garner to be the perfect actress to play Madonna in a biopic.

The singer wrapped up the 27-show European part of her tour last week. She'll be in North America from now until April.

Madonna isn't called the Queen of Pop for no reason: she has been THE entertainer since the 80s.

We scoured through footage from her live performances over the last 40 years and compiled the best ones (in no particular order) in celebration of her birthday today (August 16).

Take a look below:

Complete with crosses and nuns, this high-energy performance took place during her Blond Ambition World Tour in 1990.

Madonna went full-on Marie Antoinette at the 1990 MTV VMA's. We love the theatrics with the fans.

During the 1991 Oscars, the song won the award for Best Original Song. Madonna attended the ceremony with Michael Jackson as her date and performed "Sooner or Later" in a look inspired by Marilyn Monroe.

Madonna was joined by The Tonight Show's Jimmy Fallon and The Roots in 2022 to play "Music" using classroom instruments.

In a televised performance of “Ghosttown” in 2015, Madonna was supported by Taylor Swift on guitar.

This classic performance from Madonna took place during her 1990 The Blond Ambition World Tour, her third concert featuring her fourth studio album Like a Prayer.

Madonna showed off her savvy footwork and put on her dancing shows for this performance during her 2006 during The Confessions Tour.

Joined by two other women with big hair, Madonna got "into the groove" during her 1993 The Girlie Show.

At 27 years old, Madonna performed "Crazy For You" during her debut concert, The Virgin Tour.

We absolutely love gothic Madonna, performing on France's TF1 in 1998.

Madonna brought the drama from the 80s in 1987 during The Who's That Girl World Tour.

Combining inspiration from Japan's culture, she performed "Frozen" during 2001's Drowned World Tour.

The energy and costumes for Madonna's debut tour are unmatched. This is from 1985's The Virgin Tour.

During the 2006 Confessions Tour, Madonna had a cage-like structure that her dancers climbed upon.

In 2006, Madonna performed the dance hit "Hung Up" with a little help from Gorillaz during the Grammys.

Madonna performed this classic on 1980's variety show Solid Gold.

Name a more 2000's performance than this, we dare you. Performed in Michigan during her 2001 Drowned World Tour.

The Queen of Pop took the King of Pop's "Billie Jean" and mashed it up with "Like A Virgin" in 1985 during The Virgin Tour.

5 years after 50 Cent released "Candy Shop," Madonna released her own version and her sugar is raw. Performed during her 2008-2009 Sticky & Sweet Tour.

During her 2012 MDNA tour, Madonna proved she's still a powerhouse entertainer while performing her hit, "Celebration" in Miami.

In a moving acoustic set accompanied by her friend Isaac, Madonna's voice sends chills down our spine. From her 2006 Confessions Tour.

In another great live performance from her 1985 The Virgin Tour in Detroit, Madonna incorporates a big fan to show she's a superstar.

During her 2008-2009 Sticky & Sweet Tour, Madonna keeps the dance hits going strong in this electrifying dance mix version of the song.

While "robbing" one of her dancers knocked out cold in a bit during her 2012 MDNA tour, Madonna drops their chain into her cleavage and stuffs dollar bills in their mouth.

In 2015, during her Rebel Heart Tour, Madonna whipped out the ukulele for a rare performance of "True Blue."