Madonna: I’m glad I had my tour to distract me from sad split

Madonna has given her first interview since separating from Guy Ritchie last month - and has said she’s “sad” about the end of her marriage.

After months of speculation, the couple finally announced their separation last month in the middle of the North American leg of Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet Tour. The marriage will be officially dissolved in just six weeks time after a London High Court judge approved Madonna’s petition to divorce Guy last Friday, on the grounds of Guy’s “unreasonable behaviour”.

Madonna is said to have wanted to wait until her tour was over before announcing the news but speaking to the Associated Press recently, she explained she was glad that she was busy because her intense schedule “provides a distraction that keeps me going”.

She said: “I’m sad about my personal life, but I feel very blessed and very lucky that I have the opportunity to do what I do in my professional life.

“It would be horrible if I was just thinking about getting a divorce and had nothing to do.”

Madonna and Guy are believed to have agreed to share custody of their sons Rocco and David, while Madonna’s 12 year old daughter Lourdes from a previous relationship will live permanently with her mum in New York but will maintain contact with her step-dad of eight years.

In related news, Madonna’s much rumoured fling Alex Rodriguez has reportedly told his estranged wife that he’s going to be celebrating Thanksgiving this week with Madonna and her family.

An email apparently from Cynthia Rodriguez, leaked to Access Hollywood, explains: “My 6-foot-3, 220-pound soul-less, soon-to-be ex-husband is abandoning his kids on Thanksgiving to be with Madonna … She called and he ran on her command back to New York City … Gross!”

Cynthia filed for divorce from the baseball star, claiming he was having an “affair of the heart” with the singer. Madonna and A-Rod repeated denied rumours of a fling but are said to be in constant contact since Madonna’s split from Guy.

An inside source told the New York Post’s Page Six: “Alex likes a woman with a strong hand. He likes to be told what to do. He’s a bit of a cipher.”