Celine Dion makes spectacular comeback with Eiffel Tower performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Celine Dion amazed people around the globe with a show at the Eiffel Tower in Paris during the Olympics opening event - the first one since disclosing that she has stiff person syndrome (SPS).
The famous singer from Canada looked stunning in a gown decorated with beads while she performed an amazing version of Edith Piaf's L'Hymne A L'Amour.
The 56-year-old made an appearance at the initial event of the Eiffel Tower as an approximate one billion viewers watched the grand opening ceremony for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Dion had not been on stage since 2021, when she called off her Las Vegas concert series because of health issues. She then disclosed her SPS diagnosis in December 2022 and cancelled her Courage World Tour.
In the previous month, Dion admitted that she had been taking dangerously high amounts of diazepam to help alleviate muscle spasms in order to be able to continue performing on stage.
SPS is a unique neurological condition that results in gradual tightening of the muscles, leading to powerful spasms that may be so intense they can crack ribs and mimic the sensation of throat constriction, as previously explained.
Her challenges are captured in her upcoming movie titled I Am Celine Dion, where she talks about her wish to go back to singing on stage.
Following her performance in Paris on Friday, Dion expressed that she was extremely honored to be able to perform at the event. Approximately 10,500 athletes participated in the event, which took place along the famous Seine river.
In a recent interview, the vocalist expressed their immense gratitude for being invited to kick off the Paris @Olympics 2024.
I am honored and grateful to have been invited by the Olympics organizing committee to perform a significant French song. This song pays tribute to the French people and their incredible legacy in art, music, and theater, and I am humbled to be a part of this special moment.
She continued by expressing that she has always felt a strong bond with the French people and their music.
Dion expressed her desire to put on a show that would make France happy, honor its art and music, and also bring attention to the beauty of Paris, a truly enchanting city.
The singer explained that she practiced some skills she hadn't used in a while and worked hard to learn a lively French dance routine for her performance.
I'm willing to bet you didn't know that I used to dance at a 1960s French-themed party in the downtown area when I was just beginning my career," she mentioned.
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In the ceremony, viewers were shocked when Lady Gaga, the American singer, sang in French during her performance of the classic song Mon Truc En Plume.
Dion, known for popular songs like My Heart Will Go On, Think Twice, Because You Loved Me, and It's All Coming Back To Me Now, has sold over 250 million albums in her 40-year career. She has won five Grammys, two Oscars, and the Billboard Music Award lifetime achievement icon award.
