Céline Dion made a stunning return to the spotlight on Tuesday, marking her first public appearance since her captivating performance at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The My Heart Will Go On singer, 56, surprised guests at City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Gala in Los Angeles. where she was received with a great ovation.
He then took the stage to present Jay Marciano, President and CEO of AEG Presents, with the esteemed Spirit of Life Award.
“I feel very honored to be here tonight, to be part of this wonderful and important evening,” Céline told the crowd, looking radiant in an elegant black dress with a sheer neckline.
And he added with a smile: “This is the first time I’ve been on stage since I was in that tower,” jokingly referencing his performance at the Eiffel Tower during the Olympics.
Céline Dion made a stunning return to the spotlight on Tuesday, marking her first public appearance since her captivating performance at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The My Heart Will Go On singer surprised guests at City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Gala in Los Angeles, where she presented Jay Marciano, president and CEO of AEG Presents, with the prestigious Spirit of Life award.
The star-studded evening also featured a lively performance by Elton John, who brought his signature style, sporting a bright yellow suit and purple glasses to match his eccentric style.
Céline, who has been battling stiff person syndrome for the past two years, also took a moment to express her gratitude to the charity for giving patients hope, which she described as “the most precious ingredient of all.” .
Her appearance on stage comes three months after her triumphant return at the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
In July, the legendary singer closed the event with a powerful performance of Édith Piaf’s classic (Hymn to Love).
Their impressive performance, which took place live from the base of the Eiffel Tower, left the audience in awe and was a highlight of the hours-long ceremony.
Twenty-eight years after her Olympic debut at the 1996 Atlanta Games, Céline showed she’s still at the top of her game with an emotional performance in Paris.
After the unforgettable moment, Céline addressed X with a heartfelt message, reflecting on the importance of the performance and thanking her fans for their unconditional support.
She wrote: “I feel honored to have performed tonight, for the opening ceremony of Paris 2024, and very happy to be back in one of my favorite cities!
‘Above all, I am so happy to celebrate these incredible athletes, with all their stories of sacrifice and determination, pain and perseverance.
“I feel very honored to be here tonight, to be part of this wonderful and important evening,” Céline told the crowd, looking radiant in an elegant black dress with a sheer neckline.
The star-studded evening also featured a lively performance by Elton John, who brought his signature style, sporting a bright yellow suit and purple glasses to match his eccentric style.
‘You have all been very focused on your dream, and whether you take home a medal or not, I hope that being here means it has come true for you!
‘You should all be very proud, we know how hard you have worked to be the best of the best. Stay focused, keep going, my heart goes out to you! -Céline xx…’
In 2022, Celine revealed that she had been diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, a neurological disorder that causes stiffness and spasms in the muscles.
Céline had previously promised that she would return to the stage in the midst of her suffering “even if she had to crawl.”
Céline last performed live during her Courage world tour in Newark, New Jersey, on March 8, 2020. She then canceled her tour amid the Covid pandemic.
Her appearance on stage comes three months after her triumphant return at the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
28 years after her Olympic debut in 1996 at the Atlanta stadium (pictured), Celine showed that she still has strength after her emotional act in the French city.
Although she initially postponed her Courage World Tour until spring 2024, the Golden Globe winner decided to cancel it in May.
“Although it breaks my heart, it’s best that we cancel everything now until I’m really ready to get back on stage,” she told her loyal fans.
The determined artist seems to have kept the promise she made to continue working on her health. ‘I want you all to know that I won’t give up… and I can’t wait to see you again!’ he said at that time.
Stiff person syndrome is a “rare autoimmune neurological disorder that commonly causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms that come and go and may worsen over time,” according to John Hopkins Medicine.