Celine Dion’s return: how the star is preparing to sing despite stiff-person syndrome

Celine Dion is preparing for a high-stakes return to the stage. On Sept. 12, the Quebec star is due to begin a landmark tour at Paris La Défense Arena, after six years without giving a full concert.

The comeback is eagerly awaited, but it is also being closely watched because of Dion’s health. In December 2022, she revealed that she had stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disease that causes muscle stiffness and spasms. The condition forced her to cancel her Courage World Tour.

The illness affects many muscles, with a major impact on the voice and, even more directly, on singing. That makes the Paris performances an especially bold gamble after years away from live concerts.

Dion surprised audiences during the 2024 Paris Olympics by singing “Hymne à l’amour” from the Eiffel Tower in heavy rain. Fans feared that the characteristic spasms could occur, but she completed the performance live. On March 30, 2026, she announced the return her admirers had long hoped for, saying, “I feel good, I am strong…”

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I feel good, I am strong…