Celine Dion gave a powerhouse performance at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris on Friday, July 26. The French-Canadian singer, 56, delivered a rousing rendition of “L’Hymne à l’amour” from the first stage of the Eiffel Tower. Dion wore a full-length sparkly silver gown.
It was Dion’s first major live performance since she revealed in 2022 that she has stiff person syndrome . Stiff person syndrome is described by RareDiseases.org as a “rare acquired neurological disorder characterized by progressive muscle stiffness (rigidity) and repeated episodes of painful muscle spasms.
” Dion was swarmed by fans as she left her hotel just hours before she showed up at the opening ceremony. Police were on hand to hold back the crowd. Dion’s performance came as a bookend to Lady Gaga’s performance that opened the opening ceremony.
Gaga sang, “Mon Truc En Plume,” or “My Thing Made of Feathers.” Lady Gaga’s opening ceremony number paid tribute to French singer Zizi Jeanmaire and her cabaret-style version of “Mon Truc En Plumes,” which she performed on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1956. Earlier in the day, Gaga did a final dress rehearsal of the song, exciting fans as pics spread on social media.
Gaga and Dion’s show-stopping duet ended days-long speculation that they would be singing together. Both were photographed around Paris in the days leading up to the opening ceremony. Dion was spotted blowing kisses and showing her fans some .