Céline Dion returned to the stage for the first time since sharing her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome, performing during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics . Dion, 56, stood at the base of the Eiffel Tower for the powerful performance, which she performed in French, after the torch lighting. The beautiful show by Dion brought Olympic correspondent Kelly Clarkson to tears.
Dion’s performance also served as her Olympics comeback after previously opening the 1996 games in Atlanta with a rendition of “The Power of the Dream.” As for her recent hiatus, the singer revealed her diagnosis with the “very rare neurological disorder” known as stiff-person syndrome in December 2022. “I’ve always been an open book and I wasn’t ready to say anything before, but I’m ready now,” she said in an Instagram video at the time.
“I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time, and it’s been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through.” Dion explained that her illness triggers “spasms” that “affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to.” “I have a great team of doctors working alongside me to help me get better and my precious children, who are supporting me and giving me hope,” she continued.
“I’m working hard with my sports medicine therapist every.