Celine Dion to return to stage for performance at Olympic Games opening ceremony in Paris
Dion will close the ceremony on Friday with a performance from the first stage of the Eiffel Tower, singing a timeless classic, Edith Piaf’s “L’Hymne à l’amour”.
The live performance marks the superstar entertainer’s first concert performance since revealing that she is living with stiff person syndrome, “a rare, progressive syndrome that affects the nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord,” according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Dion, 56, announced in December 2022 that she was taking time off from professional commitments to focus on her health after revealing her diagnosis. At the time, she said the condition did not allow her “to sing the way I’m used to.”
The last time the “My Heart Will Go On” singer performed live was in July 2019, in London, England.
Lady Gaga kicked off the opening event with a performance along the Seine river of “Mon truc en plume,” by Zizi Jeanmaire, France’s leading lady of Music Hall performances in the 1950s.
Last month, Dion shared more details about how difficult her life has become with stiff person syndrome, which can cause involuntary spasms and muscle rigidity, while promoting her new documentary “I Am: Celine Dion” released on Amazon.
In an interview with NBC’s Hoda Kotb at the time, the singer said trying to sing with her condition feels “like somebody is strangling you.”
The spasms can attack different parts of her body, including her abdomen, spine and ribs, she said.
“I have broken ribs at one point because sometimes when it’s very severe, it can break some ribs as well,” the Grammy-winner shared.
Dion has not allowed her diagnosis to sideline her completely however, as seen at the Grammy Awards earlier this year when she appeared onstage to present the final trophy of the evening.
In her documentary, Dion said she was determined to make her return to performing.
“If I can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl,” she said. “And I won’t stop. I won’t stop.”
CNN’s Lisa Respers France and Alli Rosenbloom contributed to this story.
The performance by Dion on the Eiffel Tower is a highly anticipated event for fans, offering a unique blend of entertainment and history. Despite her challenges with stiff person syndrome, Dion remains committed to continuing her music career, often mentioning her determination to perform, even if she has to walk or crawl.
