You'll have seen the rumours: Celine Dion could make a long-awaited return to the stage for the 2024 Paris Olympics later this week. It would mark the first time the Canadian singer has performed since she cancelled a Las Vegas residency and tour dates after being diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, an incurable and rare neurological disorder which causes muscle stiffness and spasms. She's remained coy about a potential Olympics performance, as have the event's organisers.
So why is hype building around an emotional Dion return on Friday? Here's what we know. How did speculation start? It seemingly started as merely wishful thinking from Dion fans, but the singer herself inadvertently added fuel to the fire. Celine Dion receives emotional standing ovation at film premiere Celine Dion took life-threatening doses of Valium to ease muscle spasms Grammys 2024: Celine Dion's rare appearance and Jay-Z's 'truth' - nine key moments In her first broadcast interview since her diagnosis, Dion opened up about her struggles with stiff-person syndrome, revealing she took life-threatening doses of Valium to ease muscle spasms .
It was an emotional talk with NBC's Today host Hoda Kotb released in June. Then on 9 July, Kotb made an appearance on Watch What Happens Live! on Bravo, where she was asked by a Dion fan whether she thought the singer might have a surprise performance on her schedule - such as at the Olympics. Kotb said a conversation they had after the interview might have reveale.