Celine Dion is preparing to return to the stage for the first time since revealing her harrowing 17-year battle with stiff-person syndrome, according to reports.
The legendary singer, 56 years oldwho has recounted her harrowing battle against the incurable rigid person syndrome.In her new documentary, she will be presenting herself at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Céline had already promised that she would return to the stage despite her suffering, “even if she had to crawl.”
And holding firm in her stance, Céline is preparing to make her comeback in the French city.
Céline’s last live performance was during her Courage World Tour in Newark, New Jersey on March 8, 2020. She then cancelled her tour amid the Covid pandemic.
Celine Dion, 56, is preparing to return to the stage for the first time since revealing her harrowing 17-year battle with stiff-person syndrome (pictured in 2018)
The legendary singer, who has chronicled her harrowing battle with incurable stiff-person syndrome in her new documentary, will perform at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Variety The singer is reportedly rumored to be opening the ceremony on Friday, marking her first performance since stepping away from the spotlight.
He had previously announced that his long-awaited return would be in Paris, in a recent interview with Vogue France.
She said: ‘I have chosen to work with my whole body and soul, from head to toe, with a medical team. I want to be the best I can be. My goal is to see the Eiffel Tower again!’
‘I’ve been telling myself for four years that I’m not going back, that I’m ready, that I’m not ready… The way things are, I can’t just stand here and say: ‘Yes, in four months.
-I don’t know… My body will tell me.
Céline appeared in high spirits as she arrived at her hotel in Paris on Tuesday ahead of the Olympics.
Céline’s harrowing documentary, I Am: Céline Dion, has been praised by critics following its release last month.
The heartbreaking film, captured over a year of filming, follows the star as she struggles to continue her normal life and career amid her diagnosis and earned a perfect 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Céline had already promised that she would return to the stage despite her suffering, “even if she has to crawl” (she appears in the photo in her documentary).
And holding firm to her stance, Céline is preparing to make her comeback performance in the French city.
The singer is rumoured to be opening the ceremony on Friday, marking her first performance since stepping away from the spotlight (pictured in 2019).
Céline appeared in high spirits as she arrived at her hotel in Paris on Tuesday ahead of the Olympics.
Céline announced in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with the syndrome, an extremely rare disorder that causes muscles in the torso and limbs to alternate between spasms and stiffness.
Time Critic Rich Juzwiak called the film “the opposite of a vanity project” and praised Dion for her candor, including recording a difficult moment in which she struggles to sing Foreigner’s “I Want To Know What Love Is” because of the condition that causes her chest to tighten.
The review says: ‘In some ways, I Am: Celine Dion is a meditation on aging and what happens to stars whose abilities diminish over time, whether a rare diagnosis or not. As tragic and debilitating as it is, Dion’s condition gives her a reason to externalize a lot of feelings that many stars never want to acknowledge.
“No one wants to talk about what it means to be in the prime of their life, but SPS has forced Dion to contemplate just that.”
New York TimesChris Azzopardi praised Dion for allowing “unedited footage” to be included in the film, as well as handling her condition with humour.
In one such scene, Dion suffers a 10-minute spasm while moaning in anguish and is administered painkillers.
‘Dion’s spontaneously expressive personality already shines through her pain in raw images that seem more connected to her healing process, as when her physical therapist scolds her for a cream she hasn’t been applying to her feet. “Give me a break,” she says with playful exasperation.
‘These awkward segments undermine the powerful emotional atmosphere of witnessing Dion transcend her circumstances. Especially when she allows the cameras to linger close, showing some of the bleakest health-related scenes I’ve ever seen from a superstar on screen.’
A synopsis of the film reads: ‘From visiting her haute couture tour wardrobe and personal effects to spending time in the recording studio, the documentary captures the never-before-seen private life of a global megastar.
‘A moving, energetic and poetic love letter to music, I Am: Celine Dion captures over a year of filming as the legendary singer navigates her journey toward living an open and authentic life in the midst of illness.’
Amazon MGM has secured worldwide rights to the documentary and the film will stream on Prime Video.
Irene Taylor directed the documentary produced by Sony Music Vision, Sony Music Entertainment Canada and Vermilion Films.
“I’ve been dealing with health issues for a long time and it’s been really hard for me to face these challenges and talk about everything I’ve been going through,” she said in an emotional video announcing her condition for the first time.
Although she initially postponed her Courage World Tour until spring 2024, the Golden Globe winner decided to cancel it in May.
“As much as it breaks my heart, it’s best that we cancel everything now until I’m truly ready to get back on stage,” she told her loyal fans.
The determined artist seems to have kept her promise to keep working on her health. “I want everyone to know that I will not give up… and I can’t wait to see you all again!” she said at the time.
Celine’s condition has affected her distinctive voice and she has stepped away from performing while she works on her health (photo from 2015)
She revealed her diagnosis in 2022 and previously said it can cause spasms so strong they can break ribs and feel like your throat is being strangled (pictured in 2019)
Celine’s sister recently revealed that the singer had lost control of her muscles due to her condition.
“Celine is a fighter,” a source told US Weekly. “She doesn’t have as much control over her muscles as she used to, but she’s working with doctors and physical therapists to get better.”
The source said: “Celine has taken some time off to focus on her health but plans to return to the stage once her medical team gives her the all clear.”
A second informed person backed up the comments.
“She remains positive and optimistic and does physical therapy every day,” the source said.
‘Getting back on stage in some form is her constant dream, even if she can’t sing anymore; she just wants to see those bright faces.’
Stiff-person syndrome is a “rare autoimmune neurological disorder that typically causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms that come and go and may worsen over time,” according to John Hopkins Medicine.