From the beginning, the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony was touted to be one for the history books, swapping an open-air boat parade down the Seine in place of traditional stadium fare for the first time. And, as viewers learned as they watched the event unfold, for another reason, too: The opening ceremony marked a highly anticipated return to stage for five-time Grammy winner Céline Dion.
Singing from the first stage of the glittering Eiffel Tower, Dion belted a beautiful rendition of “Hymne à l’amour” by Edith Piaf to close out the ceremony. It was the first time the singer performed since being diagnosed with stiff person syndrome in December 2022. The rare autoimmune neurological disorder—there are fewer than 5,000 people living with it in the US, according to the Genetic and Rare Disease Information Center (GARD)—most commonly causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms that can worsen over time. There’s no cure for the progressive disorder, but medications and other therapies can help manage it.
In an emotional Instagram video two and a half years ago, Dion shared her diagnosis and announced she would postpone her 2023 tour to focus on her health. “I have to admit it’s been a struggle,” she said in the video. “All I know is singing. It’s what I have done all my life. It’s what I love to do the most.”
Dion said she had been dealing with problems with her health for a “long time” before sharing her diagnosis. And the effects she’d been experiencing were far-reaching. “Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to,” she said.
Some spasms with stiff person syndrome can generate enough force to fracture bone; in fact, in an interview with Hoda Kotb on the Today show just two months ago, Dion said one was so severe that it broke her rib.
So it’s not surprising that the spasms can make singing difficult, too. “It’s like somebody is strangling you. It’s like somebody is trying to push your larynx this way,” Dion said on the Today show, while pushing against her neck with her hand. “It gets into a spasm.”
In April, Dion told Vogue France she’s learning to live with the disorder by undergoing athletic, physical, and vocal therapy five days a week to help manage the symptoms. “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,” she said. “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.”
At the time, Dion wouldn’t comment on whether she would (or could) return to the stage, but she was adamant about her resolve to keep trying. “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,” she said.
To Vogue France, Dion shared that her goal was “to see the Eiffel Tower again,” and she did that and more at the Olympics opening ceremony, commanding the first stage of the historic landmark while wearing a beaded white gown with tassels. Dion’s return was a riveting close to an impressive display of French art, culture, history and community at the opening ceremony. From Lady Gaga’s rendition of “Mon truc en plume” along the Seine to a lavish light show at the Eiffel Tower, the kick-off to the Paris Games did not disappoint. So yep, the opening ceremony started off on an inspiring note, which likely foreshadows more stirring performances to come in the next couple of weeks.
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