Celine Dion absolutely wowed at the Paris Olympics when she returned to the stage Friday for the first time in years amid her health battle with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) after being diagnosed in 2022.
In clips that surfaced on X, the 56-year-old Grammy winner appeared on a stage on the Eiffel Tower singing in French Edith Piaf’s “Hymne A L’Amour” as she performed the final act in the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics, The Guardian reported.
Performing in a sparkling silver sequined gown, she sounded just as incredible as ever as she was accompanied by a pianist with the five Olympic rings appearing to float above her. At the end of her song, the crowd can be heard cheering loudly and clapping.
“Si je dois revenir chanter, ce sera pour les Jeux Olympiques.”
4 ans après sa dernière performance sur scène, voici la sublime performance de Céline Dion qui reprend “L’hymne à l’amour” d’Edith Piaf.#ceremoniedouverture #paris2024 pic.twitter.com/Y7qM4ARKNO
— France tv (@FranceTV) July 26, 2024
Reading through the comments online, social media users appeared to be just as blown away, calling her performance “inspirational,” “spectacular,” and more.
In 2021, Dion stopped her Las Vegas residency, and it wasn’t long after that she revealed she’d been dealing with the debilitating symptoms connected to the autoimmune neurological disorder, which she said started as early as 2008, the New York Post reported.
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Speaking to Vogue France in April, the singer opened up about her life-altering illness and said she’s hoping to “find a miracle.”
“I haven’t beat the disease, as it’s still within me and always will be,” Dion said. “I hope that we’ll find a miracle, a way to cure it with scientific research, but for now I have to learn to live with it. So that’s me, now, with Stiff Person Syndrome.”
🇫🇷 CÉLINE DION POUR LE FINAL DE LA CÉRÉMONIE D’OUVERTURE. UNE LÉGENDE. (France 2) #ceremoniedouverture #Paris2024
— Mediavenir (@Mediavenir) July 26, 2024
“Five days a week I undergo athletic, physical and vocal therapy,” she added. “I work on my toes, my knees, my calves, my fingers, my singing, my voice … I have to learn to live with it now and stop questioning myself. At the beginning I would ask myself: why me? How did this happen?What have I done? Is this my fault? Life doesn’t give you any answers. You just have to live it!”
“I have this illness for some unknown reason,” the legendary singer continued. “The way I see it, I have two choices. Either I train like an athlete and work super hard, or I switch off and it’s over, I stay at home, listen to my songs, stand in front of my mirror and sing to myself. I’ve chosen to work with all my 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!”
