Much to the dismay of her devoted fans, Céline Dion has needed to alter several dates on her European tour after receiving a diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome, an uncommon neurological condition. On Thursday, Celine Dion released two videos in both English and French on her social media accounts, where she shared that she is unable to sing as powerfully as she once could due to the effects of a debilitating illness.
Stiff-person syndrome is a life-changing and incurable disorder that leads to persistent muscle stiffness, spasms, and in some cases, complete disability. The Stiff Person Syndrome Research Foundation states that those with the illness may become so incapacitated by their condition they require assistance from others for daily activities such as bathing or dressing.
54-year-old Dion shared that the muscle spasms she experiences have impacted her entire life immensely. Furthermore, she addressed her fans and confided that the disorder has caused difficulty with walking and hindered her ability to sing. With her health issues being a seemingly never-ending battle, she confessed it was arduous to confront these difficulties and speak openly about them.
Dion was incredibly remorseful that her diagnosis prevented her from commencing the European leg of her tour in February. Unfortunately, her eight shows from May 31 through July 17 have been canceled completely. Dion’s 2023 tour has been postponed until the following year.
Despite the uncertainty, Celine Dion reaffirmed to her supporters that she, her family, and the healthcare team are doing all they can to foster a better prognosis. With five Grammy awards under her belt, the singer was optimistic that she would one day be able to take center stage again. She declared, “My life revolves around singing. It has brought me joy for as long as I can remember, and it’s the only thing I know how to do.”
On Thursday morning, Québec’s Premier Francois Legault compassionately expressed his well-wishes for Dion as he made his way to the National Assembly. “Gets well as soon as possible,” said Legault in response to Dion’s diagnosis. Legault beamed with enthusiasm and pride as he stated, “We are very proud of her. Additionally, she hails from Charlemagne in my district, and that’s truly noteworthy.”
At Queen’s Park in Toronto, a prestigious children’s choir paid homage to Dion with an incredible rendition of the iconic song “My Heart Will Go On.”
Dion highlighted that she had dedicated herself to rigorous daily sessions with a sports medicine therapist to amplify her vigor and propel herself into peak physical condition. “I miss all of you so much,” Dion said to her fan base. “And I always give 100% during my performances; however, today, my health condition prevents me from delivering that energy level.”
Earlier this year, Dion had to put her world tour on hold due to the overwhelming and prolonged occurrence of muscle spasms. Discover all the details of Dion’s upcoming tour and rescheduling on her official website.
According to the data presented by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, only 5,000 cases of stiff-person syndrome have been reported in the United States. The onset of this disorder could be at any age – nonetheless, it is more frequently uncovered during adulthood.
