In December, Celine Dion announced that she had been diagnosed with a “one in a million” neurological disorder, forcing her to take a break from performing and canceling all shows of her world tour. The world-famous artist announced that she was working with a great team of doctors, and since then, she has gotten support from fans worldwide.
Since Dion announced the incurable condition, things have been quiet around her. But now, in an interview with the French-Canadian tabloid Journal De Montreal, Celine’s sister, Claudette Dion, gives new details about the singer’s health.
In an emotional video shared with fans on Instagram in December, Celine Dion announced that she has a condition called stiff-person syndrome, a progressive nervous system disorder that affects the brain and spinal cord and can cause painful spasms and limit mobility. The condition is incurable, but symptoms can be treated.
“I’ve always been an open book and I wasn’t ready to say anything before, but I’m ready now,” Dion said.
Celine Dion – stiff-person syndrome
The Canadian singer’s issues with muscle spasms had been previously known to fans, which caused her to cancel North American tour dates in January, but this is the first time she has revealed the underlying disorder.
“While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms that I’ve been having,” Celine Dion said. “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.”
Due to her medical issues, Celine Dion has had to change her scheduled world tour. As a result, expected shows from February 24 to April 11, 2023, have been delayed for about a year, while summer shows from May to July are canceled.
Dion’s fans worldwide will no doubt be heartbroken to hear the disorder’s impact on her singing voice and performing career — but Dion expressed hope – she can take the time to continue treatments, regain her voice and get back to what she loves most.
“I’m working hard with my sports medicine therapist every day to build back my strength and my ability to perform again. But I have to admit it’s been a struggle.”
“I have a great team of doctors working alongside me to help me get better and my precious children who are supporting me and giving me hope,” she concluded.
“I really hope I can see you again real soon”
“All I know is singing, it’s what I’ve done all my life and it’s what I love to do the most… I miss you so much. Seeing all of you, being on the stage, performing for you. I always give 100 percent when I do my shows, but my condition is not allowing me to right now.”
Celine Dion concluded, “I have hope that I’m on the road to recovery, I want to thank you so much for your encouraging wishes of love and support, I really hope I can see you again real soon.”
In response to that emotional announcement, Dion’s fans gave words of support and wished her a recovery:
“Sweet Celine, take your time and focus on getting back on track with your health and regaining strength. I’d love to see you on stage when you’re ready to perform and share the gift of your voice with us again.”
“Love and prayers for you, momma Celine. You’ve been there for us through music in our darkest times and now we get the privilege of returning the favor.”
“We love you so much beautiful soul ❤️❤️❤️ Feel better soon for us please.”
Celine Dion began her musical career at a very early age. At five, she began performing at her parent’s piano bar. And just a few years later, manager and producer Rene Angelil received a demo tape with Celine’s voice.
Celine Dion – breakthrough, career, hits
At the time, Angelil was in charge of famous french singer Ginette Reno’s career. After listening to the demo, he invited the young girl to an audition, which started a legendary career.
“She was this homely little kid named Celine Dion. The mother did all the talking, and the girl never said a word,” Rene Angelil recalled. “Then she started singing into a pencil, pretending it was a microphone. And what I heard was enough to make me cry. I heard a special voice like I had never heard before.”
He dumped all his other clients and even mortgaged his house to put out Dion’s first album. Celine then went on tour in Canada, Japan, and Europe.
In 1988, Dion got her big international breakthrough when she competed in the Eurovision Song Contest. Dion won the contest by 1 point over the United Kingdom, and it didn’t take long before she was an international star.
Celine went on to become one of the biggest-selling recording artists of all time. With songs like the classic Titanic soundtrack My Heart Will Go On, Because You Loved Me, The Power of Love, and Where Does My Heart Beat Now, she established herself as one of the biggest stars of the 1990s and 2000s.
Celine Dion is one of the most successful and best-selling recording artists of all time. She’s the best-selling Canadian artist ever, the best-selling French-language artist of all time, and the top-earning artist of the 2000s.
Highest-grossing residency in music history
She has sold more than 200 million records worldwide. Hit singles include “The Power of Love,” “Because You Loved Me,” “It’s All Coming back to Me Now,” and Titanic theme “My Heart Will Go On.” Her albums Falling into You and Let’s Talk About Love are both diamond-selling records and are among the best-selling albums in history.
Not only has Celine given us beautiful songs, but she’s also won many awards, including an Academy Award and a Grammy Award in 1991 for her version of Beauty and the Beast. Six years later, she won the Academy Award for Best Original Song with My Heart Will Go On.
She has won five Grammy Awards in total, including Record of the Year and Album of the Year. In addition, her previous concert residency in Las Vegas is the highest-grossing residency in music history.
While the Canadian singer is still a massive star, she’s been through plenty of tragedies. The biggest one happened in 2014 when her beloved husband Rene – who first discovered Celine Dion – passed away.
Their love story is quite extraordinary. As of today, she lives in Las Vegas with her three children, Rene-Charles, Nelson, & Eddy.
While Dion – who is said to have a net worth of around $800 million – doesn’t have to perform to put food on the table, it is what she loves the most. Her passion for singing her songs worldwide to millions of people has never faded, but as previously described, now she might be forced to end her career no matter what.
Celine Dion’s sister speaks out
Dion has had trouble with muscle spasms for years and has several times been forced to cancel shows. But as she delivered the news of the incurable stiff-person syndrome, things got worse.
Dion gave the shocking news on December 8, but it’s been quiet around her since then. Her official Instagram page has not seen any new pictures of her published, but instead, throwback videos of her performing.
`Celine Dion has the support of her family, friends, and millions of fans. And now, her sister has decided to give an update on what’s happening.
Speaking to the French Canadian paper Journal De Montreal, the singer’s sister, Claudette Dion, spoke out on Celine Dion’s health and what had happened.
She said that once her sister announced the news about the incurable condition, Claudette turned off the phone so she didn’t have to hear or read about it online.
“I had a lot of calls, but I closed down my phone because I had trouble talking about it,” she said.
“I truly believe in the power of love”
Two months have now gone by since Celine Dion dropped the news. The video was brutal to watch for everyone.
But while it was very sad, Claudette says that Celine shared the information with great confidence.
“I know she held back. It was not a crisis, in tears and distress. She just explained what it was.,” she said.
“I am confident that life will give her back what she gave because she is an extremely intelligent woman, very generous and talented and in love with life as well. Rather than crying over her fate, I try to send her positive vibes in the hope that one day she will go back on stage. I truly believe in the power of love. I wish her the best of luck, that’s for sure.”
Claudette added that Celine Dion had been in Denver and is “surrounded by specialists.” However, she can’t imagine a future in which the singer won’t return to the stage.
What will happen in the nearest future is yet to be seen. And whether Celine Dion can return to the stage and perform in front of her fans, time will tell.
Still, there are more important things in life; for Celine, it’s all about her family. She finds the greatest joy in spending time with her family.
