Celine Dion shared an emotional message after she stunned fans on Friday night when wrapping up the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony with a powerhouse performance.
The Canadian star, 56, made an incredible public comeback with her first live performance since she announced her diagnosis with the neurological condition stiff-person syndrome (SPS) almost two years ago.
Dion had cancelled her Las Vegas residency due to health concerns in 2021, before revealing her SPS diagnosis in December 2022 and cancelling her Courage World Tour. She hadn’t performed in public since.
As the ambitious opening ceremony approached its final minutes after the Olympic cauldron had been lit, signalling the official start of the Games, Dion stepped out onto a special stage beneath the iconic Eiffel Tower.
After much speculation around which song would mark her return to the spotlight, Dion performed a rousing rendition of L’Hymne à L’Amour, made famous by the French singer Edith Piaf.
Following the incredible moment, she took to Instagram to reflect on her return to the spotlight, declaring it an ‘honour’ to have been asked to close the prestigious ceremony in front of fans worldwide.
She penned: ‘I’m honoured to have performed tonight, for the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony, and so full of joy to be back in one of my very favourite cities!
‘Most of all, I’m so happy to be celebrating these amazing athletes, with all their stories of sacrifice and determination, pain and perseverance.’
She added to the Olympians: ‘All of you have been so focused on your dream, and whether or not you take home a medal, I hope that being here means that it has come true for you!
‘You should all be so proud, we know how hard you have worked to be the best of the best.’
Offering words of encouragement, she concluded: ‘Stay focused, keep going, my heart is with you!’
The music icon was met with an outpouring of love and support following her performance, as Tyra Banks commented: ‘Whenever I see you, the word “royalty” comes to mind. Keep going, Queen! You got this!’
‘WE LOVE YOU CELINE’, wrote Michelle Visage.
‘Sublime! So happy for you. I was balling my eyes out 👏😭🙌 xxxx’, added actor Jamie Campbell.
‘Absolument parfaite. MERCI ❤️❤️❤️’, commented Yanis Marshall.
Dion also shared a series of photos from the night, as she wore a glittering beaded silver gown with glamourous makeup and sparkling accessories to deliver her faultless vocals in the pouring rain.
It’s fair to say it was an overwhelming night for Dion, who looked visibly tearful when she came to the climax of her song.
As millions tuned in for the spectacle, among those to share their admiration was Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
‘A proud Quebecer from Charlemagne is on stage at the Opening Ceremony!,’ he tweeted from his official X account, adding: ‘@celinedion is a Canadian icon, an incredible talent, and she overcame a lot to be there tonight.
‘Celine, it’s great to see you singing again.’
Others rushed to heap praise on Dion on social media after an opening ceremony that had left some viewers cold with its decision to stretch itself across the River Seine and various Parisian landmarks.
‘The performance of a lifetime from a lady who is unfortunately suffering beyond belief. This is your legacy,’ commented Paul Bavister.
‘Is it just me, or was it the absolute crowning highlight of the #Olympics2024 #openingceremony, seeing and hearing @celinedion,’ suggested Julie Forester.
Others praised the star as ‘glorious’, ‘unbeatable’ and ‘an inspiration’.
‘After everything she’s experienced, this is such a wonderful, beautiful thing to see. Celine Dion. An inspiration,’ shared TV critic Scott Bryan.
Meanwhile, videos circulated online of fans in the French capital showering Dion with love after her big moment, with one handing her a rose in a sweet exchange.
Dion previously performed at the Olympics for the Summer Games held in Atlanta in 1996, singing a song called The Power of the Dream, written specially for the occasion.
Her performance had been highly anticipated – especially after sightings of her in the French capital earlier this week encountering enthusiastic fans.
However, given her health struggles of the past few years, which were covered in unflinching detail in her new Prime Video documentary, I Am: Celine Dion, there were fears that she might pull out if she was struggling.
The other headline performance came from US singer Lady Gaga, who surprised viewers by singing in French during her performance of the classic song Mon Truc En Plume.
They had been rumoured to be pairing up for a duet of La Vie en Rose, but nothing happened to that effect.
What is stiff-person syndrome?
What is stiff-person syndrome?
Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare autoimmune movement disorder that affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).
SPS is characterised by fluctuating muscle rigidity in the trunk and limbs and a heightened sensitivity to stimuli such as noise, touch, and emotional distress, which can set off muscle spasms. Stiff-person syndrome is extremely rare.
Only about one out of every one million people have been diagnosed with this syndrome. Twice as many women have stiff person syndrome as men. Symptoms can occur at any age but usually develop between ages 30 and 60.
After her rendition, she said it was her ‘supreme honour’ to perform at the event.
On X she posted: ‘I feel so completely grateful to have been asked to open the Paris @Olympics 2024 this year.
‘I am also humbled to be asked by the Olympics organising committee to sing such a special French song – a song to honour the French people and their tremendous history of art, music, and theatre.
‘This song was sung by Zizi Jeanmaire, born in Paris a French ballerina, she famously sang Mon Truc En Plumes in 1961.
‘The title means My Thing With Feathers. And this is not the first time we’ve crossed paths.
‘Zizi starred in Cole Porter’s musical Anything Goes which was my first jazz release. Although I am not a French artist, I have always felt a very special connection with French people and singing French music.’
The Oscar and Grammy winner went on to add that she ‘wanted nothing more than to create a performance that would warm the heart of France, celebrate French art and music, and on such a momentous occasion remind everyone of one of the most magical cities on earth – Paris’.
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