Madonna announced the Nashville date before news of the fatal school shooting in the city broke (Picture: Getty Images)
Madonna has announced she will be adding a Nashville show to benefit trans rights organisations.
Later this year the singer, 64, will be embarking on her mammoth Celebration Tour, which will be a retrospective of her illustrious four-decade career.
In the most recent update, the Material Girl singer has added eight more US cities to the world tour, and she singled out being ‘especially happy’ to perform in Nashville to ‘celebrate drag and the trans community’.
The Nashville concert, which will take place on December 22 at the city’s Bridgestone Arena, will see the Queen of Pop donate a portion of the proceeds to trans rights groups.
The announcement was made before news broke of the devastating school shooting in the city on Monday, which killed three members of staff, and three children aged nine and under.
The Christian school has around 200 students, and those who were killed include adults Cynthia Peak, 61, Katherine Koonce, 60, and Mike Hill, 61, and children Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney.
Madonna has always been a staunch advocate for the LGBTQ+ community (Picture: Instagram @samsmith)
Police have said the suspect – later shot dead by officers – was 28-year-old Audrey Hale, who identified as transgender.
In a post on Instagram, before news of the shooting broke, Madonna wrote: ‘Excited to announce we are adding 8 more cities In the US for The Celebration Tour! 💃💃💃 Especially Happy to come to Nashville to celebrate Drag and the Trans community!!’
She continued: ‘The oppression of the LGBTQ+ is not only unacceptable and inhumane; it’s creating an unsafe environment; making America a dangerous place for our most vulnerable citizens, especially trans women of color.
‘Also, these so-called laws to protect. our children are unfounded and pathetic.
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‘Anyone with half a brain knows not to f*** with a drag queen. Bob and I will see you from the stage in Nashville where we will celebrate the beauty that is the Queer community!’
For the date, Madonna will be joined by RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Bob the Drag Queen.
This comes in response to the introduction of Tennessee’s s anti-LGBTQ+ bills, which have seen the state become the first in the US to effectively ban public drag shows – or ‘male and female impersonators’ – and drag shows for children.
Those violating the new law may face a misdemeanour criminal charge, while repeat offenders could be charged with a felony.
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For transgender minors, there is also a ban on gender-affirming healthcare, including puberty blockers and hormone therapies.
Meanwhile, Madonna will arrive in London for four O2 dates from October 14, before returning for two more in December due to popular demand.
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She’s always been an ally.