Renowned Canadian singer Celine Dion has made a courageous declaration, vowing to return to the stage despite her struggles with stiff person syndrome.
In an interview with Hoda Kotb on the Today Show, Celine, 56, promised to resume live performances, even if it meant crawling to the stage and using her hands to speak. “I’m going to go back on stage, even if I have to crawl. Even if I have to talk with my hands, I will. I will,” she vowed in the interview, which aired on Tuesday, June 11.
The interview came ahead of the release of her documentary, I Am: Celine Dion, set for release on June 25 on Amazon Prime. “I am Celine Dion, because today my voice will be heard for the first time, not just because I have to, or because I need to. It’s because I want to and I miss it,” said the Grammy-winning singer.
Celine Dion first disclosed her diagnosis with Stiff Person Syndrome in December 2022, revealing she had been secretly battling the condition for 17 years. The syndrome causes stiff muscles in the torso, arms, and legs, with noise or emotional distress known to trigger spasms.
Dion confessed that she had been experiencing symptoms since 2008 and recently described her condition as feeling like she’s “being strangled.” Despite her struggles, Dion remains determined to return to the stage, although she recently canceled a string of shows scheduled for 2023 and 2024, citing a lack of strength to tour.
With over 250 million albums sold during her decades-long career, Celine Dion’s vow to return to the stage is a testament to her unwavering dedication to her craft and her fans.
