Celine Dion is opening up about a frightening health experience during her battle with stiff person syndrome.
In her upcoming documentary “I Am: Celine Dion” set to release on Prime Video next month, the singer shared that stiff person syndrome nearly took her life.
“She is much better now, but at one point, she was on the brink of death,” said “Today” show host Hoda Kotb, discussing an interview she had with Dion.
Kotb mentioned on NBC that she flew to Las Vegas for the interview with Dion, which will be broadcasted in a few weeks.
In a trailer for the documentary, Dion expressed her love for singing and performing, along with her determination to return to the stage despite the challenges.
“I’m working hard every day, but it’s been tough. I miss it a lot,” Dion shared in the trailer.
“If I can’t run, I’ll walk, if I can’t walk, I’ll crawl – but I won’t give up,” she tearfully stated.
Dion initially revealed in the fall of 2022 that she was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, a rare autoimmune neurological disorder causing muscle stiffness, spasms, and other symptoms like double vision and slurred speech, as per Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
In December, Dion’s sister Claudette Dion shared an update stating Celine had lost control of her muscles. This led to the cancellation of her European tour scheduled from August 26, 2023, to April 22, 2024.
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Documentary about Celine Dion’s health journey coming to Prime Video
11:14 AM, Jan 31, 2024
Despite the challenges, Dion told Vogue France in April that she remains optimistic.
“My dream is to live in the present. One day at a time. I am truly very lucky,” she shared.
“Today, I am a woman who feels strong and positive about the future. One day at a time,” Dion expressed.
In February, Dion made a surprise appearance at the 66th annual Grammy Awards.
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine explains that while there is no cure for stiff person syndrome, working with specialists and managing symptoms can make living with the disease more bearable.
