For 17 years, she concealed her health issue.

Celine Dion's performance was awe-inspiring. - For 17 years, she concealed her health issue.

Celine Dion, 56, tearfully admitted that she had been concealing her Stiff-Person Syndrome from the public eye for 17 years prior to her public disclosure in 2022. In a sneak peek of her interview with Hoda Kotb on the "Today Show," the singer of "My Heart Will Go On" expressed her struggle with the constant lying. The whole conversation is scheduled to air on NBC on June 11 at 10 pm. Diagnosed with the uncommon neurological autoimmune condition in 2022, Dion had been battling it covertly for years. She spoke of how challenging it was to conceal her condition from her fans, whom she felt she had to appear like a hero, while simultaneously sensing her body leaving her. She suffered from a failing voice, stumbling, or even falling.

Furthermore, Dion recollected that she sensed something amiss but was reluctant to uncover the cause.

The death of her husband, René Angélil, in 2016 from throat cancer further impeded her efforts in juggling her career with her declining health while keeping it a secret from the public. Raising her children, René-Charles, 23, and twins Nelson and Eddy, 13, added to her load. She shared, "I had to raise my children, I had to hide, I had to try to be a hero. I held onto my own dreams."

"It's like someone is choking you"

Even though Dion had been grappling with the disease for 17 years, she kept performing until 2022. Then she informed the world about her condition and canceled all her forthcoming performances. In the new interview, she also discussed how singing now feels to her: "It's like someone is choking you. It's like someone is constricting your throat." Due to the spasms, she finds it challenging to manage her pitch. The spasms can additionally occur in her abdomen, spine, and ribs. She had even sustained a rib fracture as a result.

In her newest documentary "I Am: Celine Dion" which will be accessible on Amazon Prime Video on June 25, she also offers insights into her ailment. Despite her incapacitations, she remains hopeful of making another comeback to the stage. Rumors have emerged of a potential final TV concert.

Read also:

1. Despite her struggles with Stiff-Person Syndrome, Celine Dion continued to perform on the "Today Show" on NBC, singing songs like "My Heart Will Go On."
2. In her upcoming documentary on Amazon Prime Video titled "I Am: Celine Dion," she opens up about the challenges she faces with the condition, such as the sensation of someone choking or constricting her throat.
3. Her husband Rene Angélil's death in 2016 from throat cancer compounded her health issues and the need to keep her Stiff-Person Syndrome a secret, especially while raising her three children.
4. Celine Dion's admission of her health condition and the cancellation of her concerts have resulted in heightened interest in her career, with rumors circulating about a potential final TV concert.
5. In her long career, she has managed to conceal her Stiff-Person Syndrome from the public eye for 17 years, a feat that she carried out even while appearing on popular shows like the "Today Show" and releasing beloved songs such as "Children of the World."

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