Madonna won’t have much time to fret about turning 50.

While many people passing the milestone may prefer to pause and reflect, the “queen of pop” is in the midst of final preparations for her world tour which kicks off in Cardiff, Wales, on August 23, a week after her birthday.

If previous shows are anything to go by, the 40-plus “Sticky & Sweet” dates around the globe will put Madonna under the kind of physical and mental strain that would test a woman half her age.

But the world’s most successful female recording artist has never let age, sex or background get in her way, and has remained in the ascendancy with an uncanny ability to reinvent herself just when the old Madonna was nearing her sell-by date.

Her latest reincarnation is a shrewd businesswoman, after she severed ties with long-term record label Warner Brothers to sign up with Live Nation, a company that until recently specialized in music tours.

As well as earning a reported $120 million over the life of the agreement, Madonna appeared to be among the first to recognize which way the music industry was heading.

Recorded music, many artists now believe, is making them less money than live performing, meaning they are looking to spend less time in the recording studio and more on the stage.

Shock jock Don Imus is set to make his radio comeback December 3 on New York’s WABC-AM, just nine months after his career seemed to be in the toilet, after making racist and sexist comments about the Rutgers women’s basketball team.

The announcement was made today by WABC president Steve Borneman who said, “We are ecstatic to bring Don Imus back to morning radio. Don’s unique brand of humor, knowledge of the issues and ability to attract big-name guests is unparalleled. He is rested, fired up and ready to do great radio.”