Madonna Substitutes ‘Express Yourself’ in Her Celebration Tour and Expresses ‘Gratitude’ as She Enters 2024

“Girls, let’s get into it!” Madonna pleasantly surprised her concert audience with a special treat.

During Monday night’s performance in Boston as part of her Celebration Tour, the pop icon, at 65 years old, delighted fans by unexpectedly performing her beloved track “Express Yourself.” This impromptu rendition took place during the fifth act of the concert, where Madonna decided to switch out an acoustic cover of Gloria Gaynor’s 1978 disco anthem “I Will Survive” for an unplugged version of her own 1989 single.

In a fan-captured video shared on YouTube, Madonna lifted a beer to the crowd, expressing, “I’m kicking off 2024 with gratitude — I appreciate you,” before taking a sip. Playfully, she reached for her acoustic guitar, removing her cowboy hat in the process, remarking, “I have too many props. I feel like I’m in a saloon and everyone is hootin’ and hollerin’.”

She also expressed how grateful she was to perform onstage every night with her “four beautiful children.” She added that she wished “the other two” were there with her as well but “they’ve moved on.” Madonna has 11-year-old twin daughters Estere and Stella on the road with her, along with daughter Mercy James, 17, and son David Banda, 18. Her eldest daughter Lourdes, 27, and son Rocco, 23, on the other hand are not.

“I’m very grateful, because while they may need me as a mother, I must admit that I need them,” she said. “And I need you, and we need each other, because family isn’t just what you’re born into. Family is the family that you create. And if you feel like you’re part of my family turn the lights on your phone.”

She then sang an a cappella version of “This Little Light of Mine” with some help from the crowd.

“While I’m telling you right now what I need — I also want to tell you what I don’t need,” she said, before starting to sing the second verse of “Express Yourself.”

Madonna continues her tour with a performance at TD Garden in Boston on Tuesday night, followed by a show at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Thursday.

The iconic “Material Girl” began her career-spanning tour in October in London, overcoming a serious bacterial infection. Sources revealed to PEOPLE in September that Madonna is thrilled to be back on stage, feeling strong and working closely with her longtime collaborators Jamie King and Stuart Price to perfect the show. Described as her “most ambitious tour ever,” the run of shows has been a significant milestone for the singer.

In October, during a show at Sportpaleis in Antwerp, Belgium, Madonna candidly opened up to her fans about her recent health scare. She shared, “Less than four months ago, I was in a hospital and I was unconscious, and people were thinking, predicting that I might not make it. So, it’s a f—ing miracle that I’m here right now. My mother, God bless her, she must be watching over me — she said, ‘Girl, it’s not your time to go.'”