Initial reports were worrying enough, but it soon became apparent that her health scare was even more grave than first thought.

The Queen of Pop had been set to embark on her highly anticipated Celebration Tour in Vancouver on July 15 – which would have seen her perform her best hits from 1983 to now in 53 shows across North America and Europe – but was forced to postpone it after she was rushed to hospital with a bacterial infection.

Initial reports revealed Madonna had been found unresponsive on Saturday, June 24, and was subsequently to a New York City hospital where she was intubated.

Not long after, a relative of the Grammy winning artist told Entertainment Tonight that her family had been “preparing for the worst” after the news first broke. “For the past couple of days, no one really knew which direction this was going to turn, and her family was preparing for the worst,” they said.

“That is why it was kept a secret since Saturday,” they added. “Everyone believed that we may lose her, and that has been the reality of the situation.”

Radar Online, meanwhile, revealed that Madonna’s stint in hospital was more severe than initially thought – medics who treated the unresponsive star at her apartment were reportedly forced to administer a NARCAN injection.

Fortunately, the singer was eventually released from hospital and could continue her recovery at home. Her aforementioned Celebration Tour is now in full swing, with the Vogue star gaining widespread praise for her looks after uploading a series of photos from her tour.

According to reports, the Paris, France leg of Madonna’s tour attracted particular attention, with fans showering her with compliments. One even dubbed her “the most beautiful woman in the world.”

One person wrote on Twitter: “How is this woman sixty five years old? Please share your secrets with us and your filter. QUEEN ??“