From the beginning, the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony was touted to be one for the history books, swapping an open-air boat parade down the Seine in place of traditional stadium fare for the first time. And, as viewers learned as they watched the event unfold, for another reason, too: The opening ceremony marked a highly anticipated return to stage for five-time Grammy winner Céline Dion. Singing from the first stage of the glittering Eiffel Tower, Dion belted a beautiful rendition of “Hymne à l’amour” by Edith Piaf to close out the ceremony.
It was the first time the singer performed since being in December 2022. The rare autoimmune neurological disorder—there are fewer than 5,000 people living with it in the US, according to the Genetic and Rare Disease Information Center ( )—most commonly causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms that can worsen over time. There’s no cure for the progressive disorder, but medications and other therapies can help manage it.
In an emotional Instagram two and a half years ago, Dion shared her diagnosis and announced she would postpone her 2023 tour to focus on her health. “I have to admit it’s been a struggle,” she said in the video. “All I know is singing.
It’s what I have done all my life. It’s what I love to do the most.” Dion said she had been dealing with problems with her health for a “long time” before sharing her diagnosis.
And the effects she’d been experiencing were far-reaching. “Unfort.