Céline Dion has given fans an update on her Stiff Person Syndrome diganosis.
On June 17, the singer appeared on Australian breakfast program Sunrise and said:
“I want my fans to know that I am taking good care of me. I am well surrounded. My voice is coming back. My passion has never left. My body is getting stronger. I am going to come back on stage. I am Celine Dion and I am going to come back and I can’t wait because I miss you so much.”
Céline also sang while on Sunrise; the first time she’s publicly done so since July 2019.
She sang a few lines from Aussie icon John Farnham’s song Help. And we have to say, Céline sounded incredible considering her SPS.
Céline went on to discuss her friendship with John – who underwent health problems of his own in the last few years – before revealing he appears in her upcoming documentary, I Am: Céline Dion.
“I love him so much. I have had the honour and the privilege of singing The Voice with him… He’s one of my favourite singers of all time.”
Céline publicly revealed her SPS diagnosis in 2022 and has spoken out about her condition multiple times since then.
For instance, on June 11, the singer sat down with Hoda Kotb for NBC News and shared that trying to sing feels “like somebody is strangling you”.
“It’s like somebody’s pushing your larynx, pharynx this way,” Céline continued while miming someone strangling her.
She also shared that despite first showing symptoms during her Taking Chances World Tour in 2008, she kept her condition a secret – and not just from the public but from her loved ones as well because her late husband René Angélil was undergoing treatment for throat cancer at the time.
“I did not take the time. I should have stopped, take the time to figure it out… My husband as well was fighting for his own life,” Céline said.
“I had to raise my kids, I had to hide. I had to try to be a hero, while feeling my body leaving me. [I was] holding on to my own dreams.”
Ultimately, though carrying the secret became too much, with Céline admitting, “I could not do this anymore. Lying for me, the burden was too much. Lying to the people who got me where I am today, I could not do it anymore.”
Then, in April of this year, the singer spoke with Vogue France about living with SPS and whether she’ll ever return to music and touring.
“I can’t answer that… Because for four years I’ve been saying to myself that I’m not going back, that I’m ready, that I’m not ready,” Céline told the publication.
“As things stand, I can’t stand here and say to you: ‘Yes, in four months.’ I don’t know… My body will tell me. On the other hand, I don’t just want to wait.
“It’s morally hard to live from day to day. It’s hard, I’m working very hard and tomorrow will be even harder. Tomorrow is another day. But there’s one thing that will never stop, and that’s the will. It’s the passion. It’s the dream. It’s the determination.”
Likewise, on March 16, Céline posted on Instagram in honour of International SPS Awareness Day. The singer wrote alongside a picture of her and her three sons:
“As many of you know, in the fall of 2022, I was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome. Trying to overcome this autoimmune disorder has been one of the hardest experiences of my life, but I remain determined to one day get back onto the stage and to live as normal of a life as possible.
“I am deeply grateful for the love and support from my kids, family, team and all of you,” she continued.
“I want to send my encouragement and support to all those around the world that have been affected by SPS. I want you to know you can do it! We can do it!”
Furthermore, in December 2023, Céline’s sister Claudette Dion told 7 Jours, “She’s working hard, but she doesn’t have control over her muscles. What breaks my heart is that she’s always been disciplined.
“She’s always worked hard. Our mother always told her, ‘You’re going to do it well, you’re going to do it properly,'” she continued.
Claudette then said Celine is hoping to start singing and performing again but she’s unsure whether it’s possible.
“It’s true that in both our dreams and hers, the goal is to return to the stage. In what capacity? I don’t know.”
What happened to Céline Dion?
French Canadian singer Céline Dion’s health slowly began declining in the early 2000s and she was ultimately diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome in 2022. The singer explained that the syndrome had been causing muscle spasms.
Céline subsequently cancelled her tour dates in May 2023 after previously cancelling tour dates in 2022.
“I’m so sorry to disappoint all of you once again. I’m working really hard to build back my strength, but touring can be very difficult even when you’re 100 per cent… I want you all to know, I’m not giving up… and I can’t wait to see you again!” Céline wrote on her official tour website at the time.
Following this, the powerhouse vocalist stayed out of the public eye for quite a while; however, in 2024, she’s made quite the comback!
For instance, Céline attended the 2024 Grammy Awards and presented Taylor Swift with the prestigious Album of the Year Grammy. Plus, the documentary I Am: Céline Dion, set to be released in June this year, will detail her resoluteness to perform once more despite her Stiff Person Syndrome diagnosis.
What is stiff person syndrome?
Stiff Person Syndrome is a rare neurological disorder which causes the body’s muscles to stiffen or spasm.
According to the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), people with Stiff Person Syndrome may also develop sensitivity to noise and touch which can cause distress and trigger muscle spasms.
According to the NINDS, there is currently no cure for Stiff Person Syndrome, however, the symptoms of the disorder can be managed with muscle-relaxant medications, anti-seizure medication and immunotherapy.
How is Céline Dion’s health now?
Prior to the aforementioned updates Céline gave in June 2024 and Claudette gave in December 2023, Claudette told Hello! Canada that Celine is a “strong woman” who is doing “everything to recover”.
Claudette also revealed that her sister had been suffering muscle spasms as a result of her Stiff Person Syndrome, saying, “It’s an illness we know so little about. There are spasms – they’re impossible to control. You know who people often jump up at night because of a cramp in the leg or the calf? It’s a bit like that, but in all muscles.
“There’s little we can do to support her, to alleviate her pain.”
Her sister Suzette also provided an update on the singer in 2023. “We can’t find any medicine that works, but having hope is important,” she told French Canadian publication Le Journal de Montreal.
Furthermore, Céline’s sister Linda has reportedly moved into the singer’s Las Vegas home to care for her, alongside her sons.
