Celine Dion, the renowned Canadian music icon, recently shared in her first interview following the announcement of her career-altering diagnosis that she is managing her situation by taking each day as it comes.
Dion, aged 56, disclosed in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare neurological condition that causes stiffness in the muscles of the torso, arms, and legs, often triggered by noise or emotional stress. In her feature in Vogue France’s May issue, she mentioned that she is doing well but emphasized that her condition demands significant effort.
Dion revealed that she dedicates five days a week to rigorous physical, vocal, and athletic therapy sessions. Despite acknowledging that she has not overcome the illness and that it will persist, she expressed hope for a medical breakthrough in the future.
Stiff Person Syndrome, a progressive disorder with no known cure, predominantly affects women, as stated by the US National Institutes of Health. Dion had to cancel several shows planned for 2023 and 2024 due to her health, admitting that she was not in a condition to tour. When asked about the possibility of returning to the stage, she indicated that she is unable to provide a definitive answer at this time.
She mentioned that she would rely on her body to guide her decision-making process.
Dion made a surprise appearance at the Grammy Awards in February, where she presented the Album of the Year award to Taylor Swift.
In January, she revealed plans to create a documentary for Amazon Prime Video to raise awareness about her condition.
Throughout her career, Dion has sold over 250 million albums.
The “Courage World Tour” by the Quebec-born singer began in 2019, following the passing of her husband and manager, René Angelil.
Dion had completed 52 shows before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the remaining tour dates to be postponed.
