Celine Dion was emotional as she revealed she secretly struggled with stiff person syndrome for 17 years before revealing it to the public, admitting that ‘lying’ to her fans was ‘too much’ for her.
The singer, 56, revealed that she had been diagnosed with a rare autoimmune neurological disorder in 2022, but has now shared that she had been dealing with the horrible condition in secret for almost two decades before telling the world.
During a preview of an upcoming sit-down with Today show host Hoda Kotb, the hitmaker detailed the pain of having to hide the disorder from her followers.
She described hiding it from “the people who brought her to where she was” as a huge “burden,” and explained that she felt like she had to act like a “hero” while secretly feeling like her “body was abandoning her.”
In a preview of the upcoming chat, which will air in its entirety Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on NBC, Celine explained that when she started realizing something was wrong, she didn’t “take the time” to figure out what was going on. .
Celine Dion revealed that she secretly struggled with rigid person syndrome for 17 years before revealing it to the public, admitting that ‘lying’ to her fans was ‘too much’ for her.
During a preview of an upcoming sit-down with Today show host Hoda Kotb, the hitmaker, 56, detailed the pain of having to hide the disorder from her fans.
She recalled fighting while her husband, René Angélil, who died in 2016, battled throat cancer, explaining: “As if that wasn’t enough, my husband was also fighting for his own life.” She and René are seen in 2012.
She recalled struggling while her husband, René Angélil, battled his own health problems; She passed away from throat cancer in 2016.
“We didn’t know what was happening (with me),” he said. ‘I didn’t take the time… I should have stopped, taken the time to figure it out.
“And as if that were not enough, my husband is also fighting for his own life.”
After his death, Celine said she found it difficult to balance raising her children, René-Charles, 23, and twins Nelson and Eddy, 13, with her career, all while keeping her deteriorating condition a secret. health for the public.
“I had to raise my children, I had to hide, I had to try to be a hero, while I felt like my body was abandoning me,” she continued. “(I was) holding on to my own dreams.”
But he said ‘lying’ eventually became ‘too much’, adding: ‘Lying for me was… The burden was too much. Lying to the people who got me to where I am today, I couldn’t do it anymore.’
“Not telling the truth was too much,” host Hoda said, to which Celine responded, “I couldn’t do this anymore.”
After the interview preview aired on the Today show this morning, Hoda reflected on her and Celine’s conversation with her co-hosts, revealing that the My Heart Will Go On singer told her she had battled the illness for 17 years.
“I had to raise my children, I had to hide, I had to try to be a hero, while I felt like my body was abandoning me,” she continued. “(I was) holding on to my own dreams.” They saw it 17 years ago, in 2007.
She described hiding it from “the people who brought her to where she was” as a big “burden,” and explained that she felt like she had to “hide” while secretly feeling like her “body was abandoning her.”
“She had him for 17 years and she didn’t know what was wrong with him and she was worried,” Hoda said.
“His voice was gone, his body was failing him, he was tripping and falling, all these things were happening.”
While the TV star said Celine “almost died from it,” she insisted she is now “on the road” to recovery.
Stiff person syndrome is a degenerative condition that causes muscles to tense and spasm uncontrollably.
Ultimately, it leaves sufferers like “human statues as it progressively locks up the body, leaving people unable to walk or talk.”
There is no cure for SPS, but steps can be taken to lessen the symptoms, something Celine previously revealed she is exploring.
Despite battling the disease for 17 years, Celine continued performing until 2022, when she shared her diagnosis with the world and canceled all upcoming shows.
Elsewhere in her interview with NBC, the musician described what it’s like to sing with this condition and said she feels like “someone is strangling her.”
“It’s like someone is strangling you,” she told Hoda. “It’s like someone is pushing on your larynx/pharynx.”
He added that he finds it difficult to control his tone because of the “spasms.”
And it doesn’t just affect your voice, as he continued, ‘(Spams) can also be in the abdomen, they can be in the spine, they can be in the ribs.
Despite battling the disease for 17 years, Celine continued performing until 2022, when she canceled all upcoming shows. She has been seen performing in 2015.
Elsewhere in her interview with NBC, the musician described what it’s like to sing with this condition and said she feels like ‘someone is strangling her.’
‘If I point my feet, they will stay (stuck in that position), or if I cook – because I love to cook – my fingers, my hands, will get into a position.
“My feet are like cramps, but it’s like they’re in one position and you can’t unlock them.”
The My Heart Will Go On singer is preparing to release a tell-all documentary that will offer a heartbreaking look at her health battle, titled I Am: Celine Dion.
Celine even revealed that the condition caused her to have “broken ribs.”
“At one point I broke ribs because sometimes when it’s really bad, you can break some ribs too,” he shared.
Still, Celine revealed in March that she still had hopes of returning to the stage in an Instagram post in honor of International Stiff Person Syndrome Awareness Day.
“Trying to overcome this autoimmune disorder has been one of the most difficult experiences of my life, but I remain determined to one day return to the stage and live as normal a life as possible,” she wrote.
‘I am deeply grateful for the love and support of my children, my family, my team and all of you.
‘I want to send my encouragement and support to all those around the world who have been affected by MSF. I want you to know that you can do it. We can do it.’
In April, she said Vogue France who is still not sure what the future holds for her when it comes to acting.
In a trailer for the film, which will be released on June 25, Celine broke down in tears as she talked about the illness and the effects it has had on her.
She was seen desperately trying to save her voice, as she explained that she would do anything to sing again, stating: “My voice is the driver of my life.”
“I can’t answer that… Because for four years I’ve been telling myself that I’m not going to go back, that I’m ready, that I’m not ready,” she explained.
‘As things stand, I can’t sit here and tell them, “Yes, in four months.” I don’t know… My body will tell me.’
He also revealed that he undergoes ‘athletic, physical and vocal therapy’ five days a week to combat the symptoms.
The artist is currently preparing to release a revealing documentary that will offer a heartbreaking look at her health battle, titled I Am: Celine Dion.
In a preview for the Amazon Prime special, which will debut on June 25, Celine broke down in tears as she talked about the illness and the effects it has had on her.
She was seen desperately trying to save her voice, as she explained that she would do anything to sing again.
“My voice is the driver of my life,” he said. “When your voice brings you joy, you are your best self.”
She continued: ‘It’s hard to cancel a show. I work hard every day, but I must admit it has been a struggle. I miss him so much. People. I miss them.’
