Madonna Cancels Gigs Due to 'Unexpected Turn of Events'

Madonna's grueling schedule on her Madame X tour is taking its toll. The singer says she has had to cancel three dates in Boston on doctor's orders because she is in "overwhelming" pain, the Guardian reports. "Please forgive this unexpected turn of events," she wrote on Facebook. "Doing my show every night brings me so much joy and to cancel is a kind of punishment for me but the pain I'm in right now is overwhelming."

The BBC notes that Madonna is "notoriously reluctant" to cancel shows, but she has had to cancel other dates earlier in this tour, including a New York date called off due to injury. While she didn't provide details on her current malady, she did say in early November that she was dealing with a "torn ligament" and "bad knee." She promised to return "stronger and better" for upcoming shows, which include four nights in Philadelphia, seven in Miami, and 15 nights in London starting in January. (A Miami fan is suing Madonna for pushing back concert start times.)